King Charles III will have a prostate operation next week while Kate recovers from abdominal surgery

1 of 21 |

King Charles III and the Princess of Wales are both dealing with medical issues that will force them to delay previously planned public engagements over the coming weeks. (Jan. 17)

2 of 21 |

FILE - Britain’s King Charles III hosts a gathering of young UK community and faith leaders to discuss the challenges their communities face, at Buckingham Palace, in London, Wednesday, Dec. 13, 2023. Buckingham Palace says King Charles III will undergo a “corrective procedure” next week for an enlarged prostate. (Aaron Chown/Pool Photo via AP, File)

3 of 21 |

FILE - Kate, Princess of Wales, and Prince William travel in a coach following the coronation ceremony of Britain’s King Charles III in London, Saturday, May 6, 2023. The Princess of Wales has been hospitalized for planned abdominal surgery and will remain at The London Clinic for up to two weeks, Kensington Palace said Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/David Cliff, File)

4 of 21 |

FILE - King Charles III attends a group photo at the COP28 U.N. Climate Summit, Friday, Dec. 1, 2023, in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. Buckingham Palace says King Charles III will undergo a “corrective procedure” next week for an enlarged prostate. (AP Photo/Peter Dejong, File)

5 of 21 |

FILE - From left, Britain’s Kate, Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte, Prince George, William, the Prince of Wales, Prince Louis and Mia Tindall arrive to attend the Christmas day service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham in Norfolk, England, Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. The Princess of Wales has been hospitalized for planned abdominal surgery and will remain at The London Clinic for up to two weeks, Kensington Palace said Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, file)

6 of 21 |

FILE - Britain’s Prince William, known as the Duke of Rothesay while in Scotland, and King Charles III during the National Service of Thanksgiving and Dedication for King Charles III and Queen Camilla, and the presentation of the Honours of Scotland, at St Giles’ Cathedral, in Edinburgh, Wednesday, July 5, 2023. Buckingham Palace says King Charles III will undergo a “corrective procedure” next week for an enlarged prostate. (Jane Barlow/Pool photo via AP, File)

7 of 21 |

FILE - Britain’s Kate, Princess of Wales, arrives to attend the Royal Variety Performance at the Royal Albert Hall in London, Thursday, Nov. 30, 2023. The Princess of Wales has been hospitalized for planned abdominal surgery and will remain at The London Clinic for up to two weeks, Kensington Palace said Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, file)

8 of 21 |

FILE - Britain’s Kate, Princess of Wales, is all smiles as she visits the Dame Kelly Holmes Trust and meets with some of the young people that the charity supports in Bath, England, Tuesday, May 16, 2023. The Princess of Wales has been hospitalized for planned abdominal surgery and will remain at The London Clinic for up to two weeks, Kensington Palace said Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, pool, file)

9 of 21 |

FILE - Britain’s King Charles III toast with Queen Camilla during a visit to the sustainable vineyard Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte in Martillac, southwestern France, near Bordeaux, Friday Sept. 22, 2023. Buckingham Palace says King Charles III will undergo a “corrective procedure” next week for an enlarged prostate. (Christophe Archambault, Pool via AP, File)

10 of 21 |

FILE - Kate, Princess of Wales smiles as she speaks to a woman during her visit to Sebby’s Corner in north London, Friday, Nov. 24, 2023. The Princess of Wales has been hospitalized for planned abdominal surgery and will remain at The London Clinic for up to two weeks, Kensington Palace said Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, Pool)

11 of 21 |

FILE - Prince William, right, Kate, Princess of Wales, centre, Princess Charlotte, bottom right, Prince George, left, and Prince Louis greet the crowd from the balcony of Buckingham Palace after the Trooping The Colour parade, in London, Saturday, June 17, 2023. The Princess of Wales has been hospitalized for planned abdominal surgery and will remain at The London Clinic for up to two weeks, Kensington Palace said Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024. (AP Photo/Alastair Grant, file)

12 of 21 |

FILE - Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla arrive to attend the Christmas day service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham in Norfolk, England, Monday, Dec. 25, 2023. Buckingham Palace says King Charles III will undergo a “corrective procedure” next week for an enlarged prostate. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, File)

13 of 21 |

FILE - Britain’s King Charles III salutes as he attends the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph on Whitehall in London, Sunday, Nov. 12, 2023. Buckingham Palace says King Charles III will undergo a “corrective procedure” next week for an enlarged prostate. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, Pool, File)

14 of 21 |

Police officers stand guard outside The London Clinic where Kate, Princess of Wales is recovering from surgery, in London, Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024. Kensington Palace says the Princess of Wales has been hospitalized after undergoing planned abdominal surgery and will remain at The London Clinic for up to two weeks. AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

15 of 21 |

A police officer stands guard outside The London Clinic where Kate, Princess of Wales is recovering from surgery, in London, Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024. Kensington Palace says the Princess of Wales has been hospitalized after undergoing planned abdominal surgery and will remain at The London Clinic for up to two weeks. AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

16 of 21 |

17 of 21 |

A general view of The London Clinic where Kate, Princess of Wales is recovering from surgery, in London, Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024. Kensington Palace says the Princess of Wales has been hospitalized after undergoing planned abdominal surgery and will remain at The London Clinic for up to two weeks. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

18 of 21 |

Media gather outside The London Clinic where Kate, Princess of Wales is recovering from surgery, in London, Wednesday, Jan. 17, 2024. Kensington Palace says the Princess of Wales has been hospitalized after undergoing planned abdominal surgery and will remain at The London Clinic for up to two weeks. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung)

19 of 21 |

20 of 21 |

21 of 21 |

By DANICA KIRKA

LONDON (AP) — King Charles III and the Princess of Wales are both dealing with medical issues that will force them to delay previously planned public engagements over the coming weeks.

Charles will undergo a “corrective procedure” for an enlarged prostate next week, Buckingham Palace said on Wednesday. The palace said the king’s condition is benign.

Moments earlier, the princess’ office announced that Kate would remain at a private hospital in London for up to two weeks after undergoing planned abdominal surgery. The princess, formerly Kate Middleton, is the wife of Prince William, the heir to the throne.

While it is somewhat unusual for members of the royal family to release details about their health, the twin announcements may help to avoid speculation if events featuring Charles or Kate have to be postponed or canceled over the coming weeks.

The publicity around the king’s surgery is seen as an opportunity to encourage other men to have their prostates checked in line with public health advice. The 75-year-old monarch sought treatment “in common with thousands of men each year,” the palace said.

Not PARSE.LY: Royalty

Hank Aaron Awards

King Charles III and Kate attend remembrance event as both slowly return to duty

Prince William wraps up his South Africa trip with visit that reminded him of his rescue pilot days

An enlarged prostate is common in men over age 50. The condition affects how one urinates and isn’t usually a serious health threat. It’s not cancer and doesn’t lead to an increased risk of developing prostate cancer.

The U.K. and foreign media have been focused on the health of Britain’s senior royals in recent years, first as the late Queen Elizabeth II faded from public view during the last months of her 70-year reign, then when Charles ascended the throne at an age when most of his contemporaries were long retired.

A series of events on the monarch’s schedule have already been postponed, including plans for a number of foreign dignitaries and members of Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Cabinet to travel to Dumfries House in Scotland.

Kate, 42, was admitted to The London Clinic on Tuesday.

The princess’ office at Kensington Palace didn’t offer further details, but said her condition wasn’t cancerous. Though she has generally experienced good health, Kate was hospitalized while pregnant because of severe morning sickness.

Kate apologized for postponing upcoming engagements, and the palace said she wouldn’t return to public duties until after Easter, Kensington Palace said.

“The Princess of Wales appreciates the interest this statement will generate,” the palace said. “She hopes that the public will understand her desire to maintain as much normality for her children as possible; and her wish that her personal medical information remains private.”

After Prince Harry and Meghan’s stormy departure to California in 2020, the Prince and Princess of Wales have solidified their position as being among the most popular members of the royal family.

Kate, in particular, has remained a reliable royal in the public eye — the smiling mother of three who can comfort grieving parents at a children’s hospice or wow the nation by playing piano during a televised Christmas concert.

___

AP journalists Jill Lawless and Sylvia Hui contributed to this report.

DANICA KIRKA

Short bio for DANICA KIRKA