LONDON (AP) — King Charles III was admitted to a private hospital on Friday to undergo a “corrective procedure” for an enlarged prostate, Buckingham Palace said, confirming a pre-planned treatment announced last week.

The 75-year-old monarch is being treated at the London Clinic, where the Princess of Wales, his daughter-in-law, is recovering from abdominal surgery. The King visited Kate after his arrival at the hospital.

“The King was admitted to a London hospital this morning for planned treatment,” the palace said. “His Majesty would like to thank everyone who has sent their well wishes over the past week.”

Charles, who took the throne 16 months ago, was diagnosed with the benign condition on January 17 after experiencing unknown symptoms. He canceled engagements and was told to rest before the procedure.

The king decided to announce the operation in advance to encourage other men to have their prostates examined in accordance with public health recommendations.

The palace said the king was “delighted to learn that his diagnosis is having a positive impact on public health awareness.”

The prostate is a small gland that surrounds the urethra – the tube that carries urine out of the body. An enlarged prostate can put pressure on the urethra and make urination difficult.

The UK’s National Health Service recommends that men see their doctor if they notice any problems or changes in their usual urinary pattern. Surgery is usually only recommended when a patient experiences moderate to severe symptoms that do not respond to medication.

Benign prostate enlargement is common in men over 50 and does not usually pose a serious health risk, according to the NHS.

“The risk of developing prostate cancer is no higher for men with an enlarged prostate than for men without an enlarged prostate,” it says on its website.

News of the royal’s treatment came amid a spate of royal medical news over the past 10 days.

The Princess of Wales’ office at Kensington Palace said on January 16 that the princess had undergone planned abdominal surgery for an undisclosed medical condition. The palace did not provide further details but said her condition was not cancerous.

The 42-year-old princess, formerly Kate Middleton, is the wife of Prince William, heir to the throne. She is on her 11th day in hospital and is expected to stay in hospital for up to two weeks, the palace said.

Although she is physically active and enjoys generally good health, Kate was hospitalized with severe morning sickness during her pregnancy.

Shortly after Kate was admitted to hospital last week, the Duchess of York was diagnosed with a malignant skin cancer that was discovered during breast cancer treatment. The melanoma was discovered after she had several moles removed during reconstructive surgery following a mastectomy.

The 64-year-old duchess, the ex-wife of Prince Andrew and mother of Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie, was once a popular target of the British tabloids. The former Sarah Ferguson, often referred to by her nickname “Fergie,” has written a number of children’s books as well as a historical romance novel for adults.

While it is unusual for members of the royal family to reveal details about their health, the announcements about Charles and Kate’s health were seen as a way to avoid speculation as appearances would have to be postponed or canceled.

Stories about the health of senior British royals have been in the news again and again in recent years.

Speculation about the late Queen Elizabeth II’s health increased in the final months of her 70-year reign as unknown “mobility problems” limited her public appearances. The focus then shifted to Charles, who came to the throne at an age when most of his contemporaries had long since retired.