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King Charles Is Out of the Hospital & This Royal Was the First to Visit (It’s Not Who You Would Expect!)

We love their bond

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It was not the week’s end that King Charles, 76, was anticipating—the monarch was unexpectedly hospitalized on Thursday due to side effects from his cancer treatment. He was quickly released, with a royal source saying that this was “the most minor bump in the road that’s very much heading in the right direction,” according to People. But that didn’t stop his sister, Princess Anne, 74, from prioritizing a royal visit to check in on her brother immediately after.

Just ahead of the king’s exit this morning from Clarence House, where he was seen waving to well wishers who came out to see him, Princess Anne was spotted leaving, too. (She was driven out of the royal residence in a black Bentley and was en route to host an investiture ceremony at Buckingham Palace, per Hello.)

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Aaron Chown/Getty Images

It makes sense—the king and his sister, who are closer in age in comparison with their younger siblings, Princes Andrew and Edward—have shared a unique bond since their youth. In fact, earlier this week they attended a rare joint event at St. James’s Palace on behalf of the Butler Trust, which Anne is patron of. The pair could be seen laughing and chatting together throughout the night.

As for where Charles is off to? The monarch is said to be on his way from London to his Highgrove estate in Gloucestershire for a bit of R&R as he focuses on his health (and where we’re sure his other family members will be checking in on him soon). It makes sense, given his Friday full of engagements was put on hold as a precautionary measure. A statement from Buckingham Palace read: “His Majesty would like to send his apologies to all those who may be inconvenienced or disappointed as a result,” nodding to the change in plans.

Bottom line: We love that Anne—who is regularly deemed the hardest-working royal—made time for her big bro.



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Senior Director, Special Projects and Royals

  • Writes and produces family, fashion, wellness, relationships, money and royals content
  • Podcast co-host and published author with a book about the British Royal Family
  • Studied sociology at Wheaton College and received a masters degree in journalism from Emerson College