Camilla admitted for hysterectomy

The Duchess of Cornwall has been admitted to a private hospital in London in preparation for a hysterectomy operation.
It is thought Camilla, 59, will have the major procedure at the exclusive King Edward VII hospital on Monday.

The duchess returned to the UK a few days ago after a ten-day tour of the Gulf with the Prince of Wales.

She will need to rest for up to six weeks following the operation. Her engagements have been postponed.

The duchess arrived at the hospital in Beaumont Street, central London, just before 2300 GMT on Sunday.

Clarence House confirmed Camilla had been admitted to the hospital but declined to comment on when the operation would take place.

About one in five women in the UK under go a hysterectomy operation, which involves the removal of the womb, before the age of 60.

The operation can be performed for a number of medical reasons, including fibroids or "lumps" in the uterus, cancer, and heavy or irregular periods.

Clarence House has described the operation as routine and said it was not cancer-related.

Royal patients

During the royal couple's recent five-country tour of the Arabian peninsula, it appeared that the strain of the trip was taking its toll on Camilla.

In Qatar, mid-way through the tour, there were doubts about whether she was fit enough to join her husband on an evening visit to a traditional market.

But after a rest, Clarence House that she was well enough to attend.

The Royal Family, including the Queen and the late Queen Mother, have used the King Edward VII hospital many times.

The Queen, who is patron of the hospital, first went there in 1982 when she had a wisdom tooth extracted. She underwent a knee operation at the hospital in 2003.

The hospital has 61 private en-suite rooms, which cost £500 a night.

[link to news.bbc.co.uk]