King Charles III to undergo hospitalization for enlarged prostate, palace says

King Charles III will undergo treatment for an enlarged prostate, the palace said Wednesday, coming amid news of Princess Kate's recent hospitalization.

"In common with thousands of men each year, The King has sought treatment for an enlarged prostate," Buckingham Palace said in a Wednesday statement. "His Majesty's condition is benign and he will attend hospital next week for a corrective procedure."

The palace said the king's public engagements will be postponed for a brief period of rest as he heals from the procedure, and the timing of announcement can also be seen as offering an explanation for Charles' absence. Foreign dignitaries and members of the Cabinet had been due to travel to Dumfries House in Scotland later this week.

Though it is unusual for members of the royal family to offer much detail on their health, the publicity about Charles' revelation may encourage other men experiencing symptoms to get checked in line with public health advice.

How old is King Charles? Monarch took over the throne after death of Queen Elizabeth II

King Charles, 75, was crowned alongside his wife Queen Camilla at a coronation on May 6 of last year. In November, he celebrated his birthday, which marked his first as a monarch.

In recent months, King Charles made state trips to Kenya and France. In Kenya, he expressed the "greatest sorrow and the deepest regret" for the "abhorrent and unjustifiable acts of violence" committed against Kenyans as they sought independence.

How to treat an enlarged prostate

According to Mayo Clinic, an enlarged prostate is a common condition as men get older. By age 60, about 30% of men show moderate to severe symptoms of BPH or benign prostatic hyperplasia, the medical term for the condition. An enlarged prostate can cause a weak urine stream, a urine stream that starts and stops and frequent urination at night.

Lloyd Austindidn’t want to share his prostate cancer struggle. Many men feel similarly.

The prostate is a smaller organ that sits at the bottom of the bladder. In a man's early life, the prostate is the size of a walnut or small tangerine. But around age 50, the prostate begins to increase in size. A common treatment for prostate issues is a removal of prostate tissue.

Prostate cancer affects more than 1 in 8 U.S. men, and 1 in 6 African American men during their lifetime, the doctors who oversaw Austin's treatment said in a statement released by the Pentagon Tuesday. The nonprofit American Cancer Society said it's the most common form of cancer in men other than skin cancer, and the risk of getting it increases with age. Austin, the first Black defense secretary, is 70.

Lloyd Austindidn’t want to share his prostate cancer struggle. Many men feel similarly.

What surgery did Princess Kate have?

The news of Charles' prostate treatment comes amid Kensington Palace's announcement that Princess Kate has been admitted to the hospital for a "planned abdominal surgery." Kensington Palace also announced that the Princess of Wales, 42, underwent a "successful" surgery on Tuesday and is expected to remain hospitalized for 10 to 14 days before returning home to recover.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla recognized Kate's 42nd birthday, honoring her with a photo of Kate from the coronation last year and a "very happy birthday" message, posted on the royal family's social media accounts on Jan. 9.

More:Princess Kate hospitalized for abdominal surgery, postpones royal engagements, palace says

Contributing: Naledi Ushe and Charles Trepany, USA TODAY; Danica Kirka, Evelyne Musambi and Emmanuel Igunza, The Associated Press