The Princess of Wales has returned home after spending nearly two weeks in hospital for abdominal surgery, but Kensington Palace has not revealed the nature of her illness.
Meanwhile, King Charles has undergone prostate surgery and shown off his recovery for the cameras. What is behind this contrast?
What was Kate Middleton’s abdominal surgery?
On January 17, the world learned that Kate Middleton had undergone surgery the day before at The London Clinic, the largest private hospital in the U.K.
Kensington Palace said the abdominal surgery had been successfully planned and that the Princess was expected to remain in hospital for 10 to 14 days.
An hour later, Buckingham Palace announced that King Charles would also undergo surgery at the same medical center for a benign and very common problem in older men: an enlarged prostate.
As expected, all eyes were on the 75-year-old monarch.
However, Kate Middleton’s health continued to generate all kinds of speculation, from cancer to a hysterectomy to post-operative complications that would have left her in a coma, according to some Spanish media.
Princess Kate leaves hospital
This Monday, January 29, Kensington Palace returned to social media to announce that the wife of Prince William was already recovering satisfactorily at her home in Windsor.
A news that delighted royal fans, but did not clarify anything about the reason for her surgery.
A few minutes later it was announced that King Charles had also been released from the hospital.
Charles arrived at the clinic last Friday, January 29, for his prostate surgery, days later Queen Camilla was photographed arriving to visit her husband on several occasions.
But unlike Kate, who was not seen by reporters, Charles walked out after his surgery, dressed in a suit, and got into the car that would take him home on his own.
Before leaving, he greeted the journalists and thanked them for their interest.
The contrast between the news treatment of the two operations is evident.
Kate Middleton’s health diagnosis
While the British press has followed the King’s every step, from his admission to his visits, the media has kept its distance from the Princess, respecting a pact of silence.
Even the reporters stationed outside the London clinic were withdrawn to prevent any images of Kate from being leaked.
What is it about Kate Middleton’s health that remains a mystery? Why is the Crown hiding the details of her surgery? Is it a strategy to completely shield her situation and divert attention to her father-in-law?
These are some of the questions asked by many observers who see in this case a repetition of the trick used to announce her operation by announcing other important news of the royal family.
A theory that is gaining strength with each passing day and does not seem far-fetched at all.