Hours after British royal Kate Middleton’s abdominal surgery came to light on Wednesday, Buckingham Palace notified the world that King Charles will undergo treatment for an enlarged prostate.
“In common with thousands of men each year, The King has sought treatment for an enlarged prostate,” Buckingham Palace announced Wednesday. “His Majesty’s condition is benign, and he will attend hospital next week for a corrective procedure.”
The 75-year-old monarch is postponing a number of planned engagements, which is what led to the announcement, Reuters reported. He’ll resume his duties after a “short period of recuperation,” the palace said.
Among the canceled events are meetings he was supposed to have with foreign dignitaries and cabinet members in Scotland on Thursday, BBC News reported.
Enlarged prostates are common among men over age 50 — hitting at least one in three of them — though the condition is “so common that it has been said all men will have an enlarged prostate if they live long enough,” according to U.S. government website Medline Plus. The condition is not related to prostate cancer and does not cause it.
The condition’s prevalence is what led King Charles to divulge his personal medical situation, which is not often done, the palace said. A royal source told People that the king shared the diagnosis partly as a way to encourage men to get checked if they experience symptoms.
The king’s news comes hours after Kensington Palace announced that Kate Middleton would be hospitalized for 10 to 14 days as she recovers from planned abdominal surgery for an also-benign condition. Details of what was ailing her were not disclosed.
With News Wire Services
