King Charles extends hospital stay as he recovers from prostate surgery, sparking concerns for his health: Royals had planned for monarch to stay at The London Clinic for two nights only, insider claims

The 75-year-old monarch was said to be 'doing well' after the successful surgery 

The King’s hospital stay has been extended as he recovers from surgery for an enlarged prostate, an insider has claimed, sparking concerns for the monarch’s health.

Charles, 75, planned on staying at The London Clinic for just two nights following the operation on Friday, but has now been kept in by doctors for a third.

A source told The Sun: ‘It is understood that Charles would only stay in hospital for longer than two nights if there was some kind of unexpected issue.’

They added that the additional night at the clinic ‘is entirely precautionary’ but may still have caused ‘some unease’.

The development comes as the palace confirmed the monarch could be out of action for a month when he is discharged, missing public engagements.

Queen Camilla smiles reassuringly as she leaves after visiting King Charles III at The London Clinic this afternoon

King Charles arriving at the London Clinic in Marylebone on Friday morning ahead of surgery for an enlarged prostate. It is understood he will not carry out any royal engagements for a month

Queen Camilla appeared to be in high spirits as she was pictured with a smile on her face as she made the trip to the London Clinic in central London to visit King Charles

Camilla sits in a car as she arrives at the London Clinic where King Charles has been receiving treatment for an enlarged prostate

Queen Camilla visited her husband in hospital yesterday and stayed for three hours. Camilla, wearing a white blouse and black jumper, arrived in a black Audi car at noon on Saturday

Queen Camilla made a visit to the King’s bedside on Sunday evening, and was seen smiling in the back of her black Audi as the car pulled away from the London Clinic at 7.06pm.

It was the Queen’s fourth visit to her husband, and she leaves the hospital less than four hours after her previous departure following a quick succession of trips to see him today.

It is understood King Charles will not carry out any royal engagements for up to a month as he recovers from prostate surgery.

He will have a ‘period of recuperation’, Sky News reports, but will be able to attend to government papers once he is discharged.

Queen Camilla was today seen smiling as she visited her beloved husband at midday and appeared to be in high spirits as she was snapped with a warm smile on her face

Wearing a teal-coloured top, smiled as she entered the hospital’s back entrance in a black Audi car at noon, followed by a Range Rover.

She stayed for three hours on Saturday at the London Clinic  – the same hospital where the Princess of Wales is being cared for following abdominal surgery.

She told people inside the London Clinic on Friday that the King was ‘doing well’ after the procedure.

Charles took time to visit his daughter-in-law, Kate, who is on the twelfth day of her hospital stay after undergoing a successful major operation last week.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman previously said the King was ‘admitted to a London hospital for scheduled treatment’.

The spokesman added: ‘His Majesty would like to thank all those who have sent their good wishes over the past week and is delighted to learn that his diagnosis is having a positive impact on public health awareness.’

The King arrived back in London from Norfolk on Thursday afternoon ready for the procedure after squeezing in a couple of behind-the-scenes official duties.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak wished Charles the ‘very best’ for his treatment and a ‘speedy recovery’ afterwards, a Downing Street spokeswoman said.

The 75-year-old monarch was diagnosed with the benign condition on January 17 while staying at Birkhall, Aberdeenshire, after going for a check-up because he was experiencing symptoms.

He had a series of meetings and events planned at Dumfries House in East Ayrshire last Thursday and Friday, which were postponed on his doctor’s advice.

Charles is known to be a workaholic who skips lunch and often stays at his desk dealing with his correspondence and official papers late at night and into the early hours of the morning. But he has generally enjoyed good health and keeps fit by walking and gardening.

The King is understood to have wanted to share the news to encourage other men to get themselves checked.

Charles, who only acceded to throne 16 months ago, cancelled engagements and was urged to rest by his doctors ahead of the corrective procedure.

The exact nature of his treatment is not known.

NHS England said the ‘enlarged prostate’ page on its website received one visit every five seconds on the day the King’s diagnosis was announced, with further huge boosts in visits in the days that followed.

Police officers stand guard outside the London Clinic, in London, this morning after King Charles spent a second night in hospital

The 75-year-old has spent a second night at the London Clinic – the same hospital where the Princess of Wales is recovering following abdominal surgery

9.30AM Friday: A Buckingham Palace statement about Charles being admitted to hospital

SATURDAY: Police guard the London Clinic private hospital in London where Charles stayed the night

The royal car drives out of the narrow street and past the police officer on duty outside

The Queen had been visiting the monarch, who is receiving treatment for an enlarged prostate

The Queen had previously said her husband is ‘fine’ and looking forward to getting back to work.

News of his diagnosis came on the same day that Kensington Palace announced the princess was in hospital after undergoing abdominal surgery.

Kate, 42, is not expected to carry out official engagements until after Easter, with the Prince of Wales clearing his diary of official duties for the time being.

One in every three men over the age of 50 will have symptoms of an enlarged prostate, which include needing to visit the toilet more frequently, with more urgency, and difficulty emptying the bladder.

An enlarged prostate, known as benign prostatic hyperplasia, does not usually pose a serious threat to health, and it is not cancer.

But patients may need to have several tests for the condition to rule out the possibility they have another illness with similar symptoms, such as prostate cancer.

Surgery is usually only recommended for moderate to severe symptoms that have not responded to medicine, the NHS website says.

Treatment can include a number of procedures, including removing part of the prostate gland with a laser, water ablation using the pressure of the water to destroy prostate tissue, or urethral lift implants, which hold the enlarged prostate away from the urethra so it is not blocked.

Other options include a prostate artery embolisation, during which tiny plastic particles are injected into blood vessels to shrink the prostate gland by reducing its blood supply.

NHS England said the ‘enlarged prostate’ page on the NHS website received one visit every five seconds on the day the King’s diagnosis was announced, with further huge boosts in visits in the days that followed.