Palace officials are said to have been left furious after a Spanish news show’s ‘made up’ claims that Kate was in a ‘coma’ and in ‘great danger’ following abdominal surgery.
Overseas journalist Concha Calleja claimed doctors had to act quickly as they were ‘saving her life’ in a broadcast the day before she was released from hospital
The writer, 59, who has appeared on Spanish TV as a royal expert, said the medical team’s ‘drastic’ actions included intubating the 42-year-old Princess of Wales and putting her in an induced coma.
She claimed: ‘There were serious complications that they didn’t expect because the operation went well, but the post-operative period didn’t go so well.’
She continued that Kate’s recovery was ‘possibly going to require a bit of assistance, and I’m not just referring to her family’ – as she said ‘practically an entire hospital’ was being set up to support her at their Windsor home.
But the Spaniard’s claims – made on news channel Fiesta – have been rubbished by the palace.
The writer, who has appeared on Spanish TV as a royal expert, said the medical team’s ‘drastic’ actions included intubating the 42-year-old Princess of Wales and putting her in an induced coma. Pictured: The Princess of Wales attends the Royal Variety Performance in November
Overseas journalist Concha Calleja claimed doctors had to act quickly as they were ‘saving her life’ in a broadcast the day before she was released from hospital
Flowers left for Kate by a wellwishers are seen being taken back to Windsor by a royal aide
The Princess of Wales was discharged from hospital just hours before King Charles also left the London Clinic (pictured) after a three-day stay to recover from prostate surgery
‘It’s total nonsense,’ a source told The Telegraph. ‘No attempt was made by that journalist to fact-check anything that she said with anyone in the household.
‘It’s fundamentally totally made up, and I’ll use polite English here: it’s absolutely not the case.’
The most-watched channel in Spain for 13 years, Fiesta is known for its gossip shows and was founded by an Italian media company formerly owned by Silvio Berlusconi.
The claims about the Princess of Wales quickly went viral – and was even taken up by the country’s more serious sites including El Confidencial, La Vanguardia and La Razon.
Calleja claimed to have gained the insight from an aid in the royal household ‘in a completely confidential manner’ – something the Palace has completely refuted.
They also strenuously denied her assertions that Kate had been taken to hospital for the first time on December 28, where she stayed for several days, as she said she ‘began to feel unwell, not for the first time.’
Kate Middleton returned home at the start of this week after a two-week stay in hospital following abdominal surgery – with flowers and a gift bag left by wellwishers driven back to Windsor by a royal aide.
She went into The London Clinic 14 days before on Tuesday, January 16 – with royal sources saying she was ‘making good progress’ and would now continue her recovery from home.
Calleja claimed to have gained the insight from an aid in the royal household ‘in a completely confidencial manner’ – something the Palace has completely refuted. Pictured: William and Kate at Bisham Abbey on Mental Health Day in October
Royal aides at Kensington Palace said the Princess of Wales was ‘making good progress’
MailOnline understands her return to official duties will depend on medical advice closer to the time, and William will return to public engagements once she is settled.
The Princess of Wales was discharged from hospital just hours before King Charles also left the London Clinic after a three-day stay to recover from prostate surgery. The beaming was pictured leaving the clinic with Queen Camilla by his side.
Charles visited Kate last Friday morning before his operation and has also been visited by his wife Queen Camilla four times at the hospital in in Marylebone.
Kate, who is said by Kensington Palace to be ‘doing well’, left the London Clinic in Marylebone yesterday morning after being admitted for surgery on January 16.
The Mail revealed on Monday that Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis were not taken to visit their mother in hospital after she recovered ‘abdominal surgery’.
As her children would have been in school when she arrived back, it is likely they would only have seen her for the first time when they returned to Adelaide Cottage later in the afternoon from Lambrook School, a ten-minute drive away.
It will almost certainly be the longest period the Princess has been away from them.
William and Kate have both prioritised their children over everything, arranging engagements so at least one is able to do the school run where possible.
Charles visited Kate last Friday morning before his operation and has also been visited by his wife Queen Camilla four times at the hospital in in Marylebone. Pictured together at the World Premiere of the James Bond 007 film ‘No Time to Die’
They have also ensured that foreign tours are shorter to allow them to be home at weekends, the only exception being their 2022 trip to the Caribbean.
It is understood that Prince William, who had cleared his diary to be by his wife’s side throughout, was at the hospital when she was discharged and is likely to have driven her home.
In a statement, a Kensington Palace spokesman said: ‘The Princess of Wales has returned home to Windsor to continue her recovery from surgery. She is making good progress.
‘The Prince and Princess wish to say a huge thank you to the entire team at The London Clinic, especially the dedicated nursing staff, for the care they have provided.
‘The Wales family continues to be grateful for the well wishes they have received.’
Charles walked out of The London Clinic in Marylebone with Queen Camilla by his side today following three nights under observation.
The 75-year-old monarch was admitted last Friday morning at about 9am as he underwent a corrective procedure for the benign condition.
The road had been cleared but a large crowd of children and onlookers had gathered to watch as they got into a waiting car.
There was a strong presence of uniformed police officers who stood guard as the royal couple were driven away.
It has been reported Charles could take up to a month off from public duties as he recuperates.
The King was twice visited by Queen Camilla yesterday, the third and fourth times she has been to see him at the private hospital since they arrived.
