As Kensington Palace and Buckingham Palace shared surprise health updates about members of the British royal family undergoing medical procedures, halfway around the world in California, Prince Harry took care of his own health by hitting the gym.
Harry, who with his wife Meghan Markle shocked the world in 2020 by announcing that they would resign from official royal duties, was spotted leaving a gym near his home in Montecito, California on Tuesday. That was the same day that Harry’s estranged sister-in-law, Kate Middleton, underwent a “planned abdominal surgery” with a lengthy recovery period that’ll keep her away from public engagements. Kensington Palace shared the news of Middleton’s successful procedure and regrets over changes to planned appearances on Wednesday. Middleton’s husband, Harry’s brother Prince William, is also expected to take time off from public engagements to help support Middleton’s recovery and care for their three children.
Middleton isn’t the only royal receiving medical attention: Mere minutes after Middleton’s health news was released Wednesday, Buckingham Palace announced that King Charles III will be admitted to the hospital next week to treat an enlarged prostate. His condition is reportedly benign. A palace source said Charles chose to make the news public “to encourage other men who may be experiencing symptoms to get checked in line with public health advice.”
Harry, 39, was seen post-workout Tuesday heading through the parking lot in athletic clothes, a jacket, and a beanie, clutching his phone. He and Markle are parents of two children: 4-year-old Prince Archie and 2-year-old Princess Lilibet. Harry served in the British military for a decade, and has been known to take an interest in sports and physical activity, including co-founding the Invictus Games. The Paralympics-style competition honors active military personnel, veterans, and their families.