Prince William and Princess Kate's public statements regarding her recent surgery and recovery. On January 17, 2023, Kensington Palace announced that Princess Kate underwent a successful, non-cancerous abdominal surgery and would remain in the hospital for several days. They also emphasized her desire for privacy and maintaining normalcy for her children.
While specific details about their private communication remain unknown, Prince William did postpone some royal engagements during the initial recovery period. This led some royal commentators to suggest he prioritized being present for his family, which aligns with the couple's known emphasis on family life.
She explained: “William choosing not to do engagements is completely in line with their view that they make the family the most important thing as much as they possibly can.
“They prioritise their family life, and I always applaud them for doing that. This is a time when the kids are going to need their dad more than ever, with their mum in hospital, so he's going to be there to reassure them.”
Soon after the surgery was announced, Kate’s Easter royal duties were cancelled on the basis of “the current medical advice”.