What we know and full palace statement as Princess of Wales returns home after surgery
The Princess of Wales was admitted to hospital on Tuesday 16 January for the planned surgery.
Monday 29 January 2024 12:19, UK
The Princess of Wales has undergone abdominal surgery in London and is recovering at home after a stay in hospital.
Kensington Palace has said she will most likely be off royal duties for several months.
Here's everything we know about the surgery and how long the princess will need to recover.
When did she have surgery?
The Princess of Wales was admitted to hospital on Tuesday 16 January for the planned surgery, exactly a week after her 42nd birthday.
Kensington Palace confirmed on Wednesday 17 January that the procedure was successful.
Sky News understands the planned surgery was routine and the princess's condition is non-cancerous.
It was revealed on 29 January that the Princess of Wales was discharged from hospital to recover at home in Windsor.
Which hospital was she treated in?
The London Clinic, a private hospital in Marylebone, central London.
The facility is one of England's largest private hospitals, treating about 23,000 inpatients a year, according to the Care Quality Commission.
It has in-patient rooms with en-suite bathrooms, air conditioning, TV and radio and Wi-Fi access.
It also has a concierge service, a café and a catering team which the hospital says bases the meals they serve on what will help each patient recover.
On its website, it adds: "We prepare all our dishes with fresh produce and, where possible, we buy our ingredients locally and source our fish sustainably.
"We have long-standing relationships with Smithfield meat market, Billingsgate, Home Counties farms and Cornish day boats."
Recovery from surgery
Kensington Palace said on 17 January that she was expected to remain in hospital for 10 to 14 days, after which she would return to her home in Windsor to continue her recovery.
They signalled it would be unlikely the princess would return to public duties before Easter.
Sky News understands her recuperation is likely to take two to three months.
Any return to royal duties for the princess will be only restarted upon medical advice that she can do so, Sky's royal correspondent Laura Bundock said.
Kate was last seen at the Royal Family's annual Christmas Day service in Sandringham.
Is William adjusting his schedule?
Sky News' royal correspondent said she understands that Prince William would also be postponing several engagements to support his wife and their three children.
It was revealed the couple would not be taking part in any engagements abroad for the foreseeable future.
Kate's release from hospital
Kensington Palace said in a statement on 29 January:
"The Princess of Wales has returned home to Windsor to continue her recovery from surgery. She is making good progress.
"The Prince and Princess wish to say a huge thank you to the entire team at The London Clinic, especially the dedicated nursing staff, for the care they have provided.
"The Wales family continues to be grateful for the well wishes they have received from around the world."
Kate's priorities
The palace has earlier said Kate is keen to "maintain as much normality for her children as possible" while she recovers.
It also said that while she "appreciates" the level of interest the public will have in her wellbeing, she hopes they will respect her desire for her personal medical information to remain private.
Expanding on the impact the surgery will have, Laura Bundock said: "Don't forget, she is very much a working royal. She undertakes, alongside Prince William, a number of engagements.
"They often look at the royal year in terms of a school calendar, describing it in terms of terms."
And of course, this would be the start of a new term, a term that would be busy with a number of engagements.
"She held this really significant international symposium at the beginning of last year where she brought together huge numbers of significant people connected to the early years, brought them under one roof to discuss ways of improving outcomes for the very youngest members of society.
"That was due to celebrate its one-year anniversary in a few weeks' time.., but for now all of this is taking a back seat. For now, all of the focus is on her recovery from this planned abdominal surgery."
The full statement from Kensington Palace on Kate's admission to hospital, 17 January
"Her Royal Highness The Princess of Wales was admitted to The London Clinic yesterday for planned abdominal surgery.
"The surgery was successful and it is expected that she will remain in hospital for 10 to 14 days, before returning home to continue her recovery.
"Based on the current medical advice, she is unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter.
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"The Princess of Wales appreciates the interest this statement will generate. 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.
"Kensington Palace will, therefore, only provide updates on Her Royal Highness' progress when there is significant new information to share.
"The Princess of Wales wishes to apologise to all those concerned for the fact that she has to postpone her upcoming engagements. She looks forward to reinstating as many as possible, as soon as possible."