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King Charles III
needs to be treated in hospital.
Princess Kate is also out for months (archive photo).
© Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire/dpa
Princess Kate will be out for months due to an operation, and King Charles is also facing hospital treatment.
If necessary, others would have to take over - an observer has two names in mind.
London - With hundreds of employees, it is difficult to speak of a staff shortage, but the British royal family is now facing this problem in the front rows.
King Charles III
(75) will be out for a short period of time due to hospital treatment, his daughter-in-law Princess Kate (42) will be out for months after an operation, and her husband, heir to the throne Prince William (41), will probably also be taking less time to look after their three children in the meantime.
Their calendars are usually well filled, but some appointments will have to be cancelled.
“It is possible that other members of the Royal Family will now step in for other people's engagements, but that also depends on their calendars,” says constitutional lawyer Craig Prescott from London's Royal Holloway University.
Charles' sister Princess Anne, for example, has numerous appointments of her own.
The king is doing well, said his wife, Queen Camilla, when asked on Thursday during a visit to Aberdeen, Scotland.
He is looking forward to returning to work.
He is scheduled to undergo surgery next week after being diagnosed with an enlarged prostate.
Charles' duties as head of state
Should Charles be absent as head of state for a longer period of time, say several weeks, then Prescott assumes that the monarch will appoint senior family members as representatives.
The “Counsellors of State” could then take on royal tasks, such as signing state documents, meeting ambassadors or taking part in the Privy Council.
It is required that at least two work together.
“Although the Palace is at pains to emphasize that this will not be necessary on this occasion.
But you never know, his procedure will probably require general anesthesia,” says Prescott in an interview with the German Press Agency.
Charles' wife Queen Camilla (76), his son William, his brother Prince Edward (59) and his sister Princess Anne (73) could take over.
Charles' second brother Prince Andrew (63) and his second son Prince Harry (39) are also basically on the list, but do not take on any public tasks - they are no longer “working royals”.
Harry and his wife Duchess Meghan (42) broke away from the royal family and left the country;
Andrew was forced to withdraw due to his involvement in the Jeffrey Epstein abuse scandal.
Prescott assumes that Edward and Anne would take over if necessary, especially if William was with his wife.
Worry about Princess Kate
There was just an hour and a half between the two messages from the royal family on Wednesday afternoon.
It was first revealed that Kate had abdominal surgery.
She is expected to stay in hospital for up to two weeks and will probably not appear again until after Easter.
Details were not disclosed due to privacy reasons, but it was reported that it was not cancer.
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Shortly afterwards, Buckingham Palace announced that Charles would also have to undergo hospital treatment for an enlarged prostate.
The palace's approach has always been that the health of the royal family is private, explains Prescott.
Normally a statement would be released after someone is admitted to the hospital.
For King Charles, it is a routine procedure and the monarch is trying to use his platform to raise awareness and encourage others to get checked too.
“Men in particular are reluctant to go to the doctor for such examinations.
In that sense, the king shows leadership,” says Prescott.
Unusual communication for the palace
“Never before has there been a double dose of royal medical announcements to remind us of the fragility of humanity,” said the Daily Mail tabloid.
But while the king is at an age where such interventions could be expected, Kate exudes youth.
She brought the royal family the much-needed modern impetus.
Reporters were waiting in front of the London Clinic where Kate is being treated.
Police officers guarded the building.
The Times newspaper said abdominal surgery could be serious, but Kate's healthy lifestyle would help with her recovery.
For example, she is considered very sporty.
The fact that you have to stay in hospital for two weeks, even though you are the Princess of Wales and can be cared for around the clock at home, suggests that it is serious, said commentator Jennie Bond on the Sky News television channel.
She assumes that Charles will be back quickly.
Prescott emphasizes that canceling appointments does not mean that meetings will no longer take place.
They could also be made up for - sometimes in a different form.
dpa