Princess Kate Middleton‘s health has been thrust into the spotlight after she underwent abdominal surgery in 2024, with previous incidents like her trampolining accident, head scar and childhood operation gaining attention.
The royals have been praised by fans and commentators for being more open about their health battles over recent years. King Charles spoke about his enlarged prostate and separate cancer diagnosis last spring to raise awareness.
Despite Kate being subject to cruel conspiracy theories as she grappled with her own cancer diagnosis, she continued to give updates. The royal announced she was in remission with a sweet video with Prince William and her family.
We take a look back at Kate Middleton’s previous health battles, from a childhood surgery, abdominal operation, head scar and morning sickness.
Kate Middleton’s abdominal surgery
Kensington Palace announced Kate Middleton underwent a “planned abdominal surgery” at The London Clinic on the previous day on January 17.
It was the first time the palace disclosed information about the Princess Of Wales’ health, aside from her severe morning sickness during her pregnancy with Prince Louis. One health concern that has remained unexplained is her head scar, which royalists first noticed in 2011.
They explained she would recover in private and would not resume royal duties until after Easter.
Husband Prince William scaled back his appearances to support his wife in hospital. It became a ‘brutal year’ for the future king.
Trampolining accident
In 2023, Kate Middleton attended a royal engagement but was seen with two of her fingers bandaged up after a trampolining accident.
While visiting the England Wheelchair Rugby League’s training session she revealed she had injured her hand a month before.
Ahead of the match she uttered: “I’m worried about my finger, but willing to try.”
Kate Middleton’s accident took place after she was injured while playing on the trampoline with her children, Prince George, Louis and Princess Charlotte.
Kensington Palace confirmed it was a “small injury” at the time, adding it was “nothing serious”. They clarified she had “taped [them] up as a bit of a precaution”.
Kate Middleton is tight-lipped about her head scar
Kate’s go-to hairstyle is leaving her brunette bouncy curls loose, but she has sported updo’s over the years, particularly when wearing a fascinator.
In October 2011, six months after her wedding to Prince William, Middleton appeared at her first solo engagement at Clarence House, London, wearing her hair in a half-up half-down style.
Royal watchers noticed the princess had a large white line peeping through her hair on the left side of her scalp. The three-inch scar runs down her temple towards the ear.
Some suggested it was a hockey injury during her stint as captain of the female field hockey team at Marlborough College, while others speculated the royal was wearing hair extensions.
Kate Middleton’s operation as a child
But the palace did give some details on Kate Middleton’s surgery, but has remain tight-lipped ever since.
A spokesperson for the royals put the rumours to bed, telling E News the scar was the result of a “childhood operation”.
Their short statement read: “The scar is related to a childhood operation”.
No further details were disclosed, and Kate has never talked about it since.
Royal was candid about her severe morning sickness
In addition to announcing their pregnancy with Louis in September 2017, Kensington Palace revealed Kate was suffering from Hyperemesis Gravidarum (HG), a severe form of morning sickness, for the third time. It is much worse than the normal nausea and vomiting of pregnancy. Symptoms include prolonged and excessive vomiting. It affects between 0.5 and 3 per cent of pregnant women and can cause dehydration and weight loss.
In 2020, the royal revealed how the condition made her pregnancies “challenging”.
“I got very bad morning sickness, so I’m not the happiest of pregnant people,” she told Giovanna Fletcher on the Happy Mum, Happy Baby Podcast. Middleton recalled feeling “rotten” and was unable to eat the necessary foods.
When asked if she had it for all her pregnancies, Kate replied: “Yes, unfortunately. Lots of people have it far, far worse, but it was definitely a challenge.”
“Not just for me but also for your loved ones around you – and I think that’s the thing – being pregnant and having a newborn baby and things like that, impacts everybody in the family.”
Kate used hypnobirthing throughout all three of her labours, a method of pain management that involves relaxation, deep breathing techniques, and visualisations.
