King Charles on Monday afternoon left the hospital in London where he’d spent the previous three nights after receiving treatment for an enlarged prostate.
The 75-year-old sovereign has rescheduled a series of upcoming public engagements to “allow for a period of private recuperation,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement. “His Majesty would like to thank the medical team and all those involved in supporting his hospital visit, and is grateful for all the kind messages he has received in recent days.”
Doctors’ decision to keep Charles in hospital for a third night after his prostate procedure had sparked “unease” because he was only due to stay in hospital for two nights, an insider said.
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Speaking to the Sun, a source said: “It is understood that Charles would only stay in hospital for longer than two nights if there was some kind of unexpected issue.
“The extra stay is entirely precautionary but has nevertheless reportedly caused some unease.”
The source added that Charles could remain out of public view for longer than anticipated, saying: “It’s now expected Charles will have to avoid public jobs for at least a month on medical advice. But knowing the king, he will try to keep some private audiences and insist on keeping on top of his paperwork.”
Charles was discharged on the same day—and from the same hospital—as Kate Middleton. The Princess of Wales left the facility after nearly two weeks following a “planned” abdominal surgery.
In a break with protocol, Charles was visited twice over the weekend by his wife, Camilla.
A friend previously told The Daily Beast: “Charles is an older man. He was 73 when his mother died, so even if he lives to 100 he is not even close to half of his mother’s reign [70 years]. I’m afraid the prostate problems are an unwelcome reminder of those simple facts.”
