Inside The London Clinic: Private hospital treating King Charles and Kate Middleton has its own concierge, offers meat from Smithfields market, fish from Cornish boats and counts Prince Philip, Liz Taylor and JFK as former patients
The private hospital treating the King and Kate Middleton offers its own concierge, meat from Smithfields market and fish from Cornish boats, while Prince Philip, Liz Taylor and John F Kennedy are counted as former patients.
The King is preparing to undergo treatment for an enlarged prostate after checking into the London Clinic today, where he visited his daughter-in-law Princess Kate in her department before his own operation.
The private clinic in Marylebone has been the hospital of the royal family for decades, but also provides care for major politicians and celebrities.
The Princess of Wales has been a patient since last Wednesday after abdominal surgery, while Charles is now undergoing a corrective procedure after being diagnosed with a benign prostate condition.
The king has been there before; as then Prince of Wales, he opened the physiotherapy department of the London Clinic in 1989.
King Charles arrives at the London Clinic in Marylebone this morning for treatment
The service offered to patients at the private hospital – including meals delivered on silver trolleys – has been compared to that of a five-star hotel
Meals on offer include fish from Cornish boats and meat from Smithfield market
Other royal visits included the unveiling of the MRI unit by Princess Margaret in 1991 and the launch of a new cancer unit by the late Queen in 2010.
The clinic, opened by the then Duke and Duchess of York in 1932, offers patients their own concierge service, while the hospital's chef heads a kitchen serving fish from Cornish boats and meat from Smithfields Market.
Chef Paul O'Brien, who was awarded in 2021 for supporting patients during the coronavirus pandemic, leads a team providing bespoke meals for patients, also sourcing ingredients from Home Counties farms.
A concierge can help patients arrange travel and accommodation, as well as book tours, theater shows and restaurants in the capital.
Kate is not expected to resume royal duties until after Easter – and a former London Clinic patient advised her to enjoy the peace, privacy and cake.
Dimple Mistry, who also underwent abdominal surgery and spent five nights at the London Clinic in 2021, told the Mail: 'Far from feeling like a hospital, it felt like staying in a five-star hotel.
'Kate will be well looked after, with such delicious food that I would love to go back to hospital for that alone.'
She described “plentiful and fresh” hot food arriving on silver trolleys, bathrooms stocked with Molton Brown toiletries and staff offering to help her wash her hair.
She added: 'The blinds and room temperature were controlled by a remote control and the ceiling was full of stars that I could turn on at a moment's notice.
'The care itself was also significantly better, with staff having the luxury of introducing themselves every time they entered the room.
Queen Camilla (centre) was also seen arriving at the London Clinic this morning
The London Clinic, where the Princess of Wales is being treated after abdominal surgery, first opened in 1932. Above: Police outside the hospital as Kate is treated
The Princess of Wales Kate Middleton, pictured here during a visit to Factory Works in Birmingham on October 23, has been a patient at the London Clinic since last Wednesday
The London Clinic has previously treated Prince Philip. The late Duke of Edinburgh is pictured above leaving the private hospital in 2013
Queen Elizabeth II is pictured leaving the London Clinic after visiting her husband Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, on June 15, 2013
'The best part of all this was the afternoons, when I could call the kitchen every day and order a cake for myself.
'I would love to go back and experience this kind of service – and the extensive food selection – again.
'Overall, the delicious menu, combined with efficient nursing and attentive advisors, made for a great week.'
Prince Philip was admitted to the clinic in 2013 for what was described as an 'abdominal examination', while Princess Margaret was previously treated there in 1980 to have a benign skin lesion removed.
In 1947, future President Kennedy – then a US Congressman – was diagnosed with Addison's disease in the clinic.
Hollywood actress Taylor underwent knee surgery there in January 1963 after falling on a film set during the making of the film The VIPs at Shepperton Studios in Surrey.
Other former patients include former Labor Prime Minister Clement Attlee, who was admitted for surgery on his prostate in 1939 – when he was Leader of the Opposition.
Another former Prime Minister, Conservative Anthony Eden, had his gallbladder removed at the clinic in 1953 when he was Foreign Secretary – and the current Foreign Secretary David Cameron, Prime Minister from 2010 to 2016, was born there in 1966 .
Hollywood star Elizabeth Taylor underwent knee surgery at The London Clinic in January 1963. Above: Taylor left the hospital with her leg bandaged
Princess Margaret was treated there in 1980 to have a benign skin lesion removed
Future Labor Prime Minister Clement Attlee – then Leader of the Opposition – is seen in bed at the London Clinic in 1939, after undergoing surgery on his prostate
Former Chilean dictator Augusto Pinochet was arrested there in 1998 for crimes against humanity.
The London Clinic was the brainchild of a group of Harley Street doctors in the 1930s who wanted to plan a new nursing home to the highest medical standards of the time.
According to its website, the hospital was “founded on the principles of delivering excellence in one place.”
The facility said it could treat 155 conditions, with hundreds of treatments, tests and scans available.
It also acted as a charity, reinvesting in research, education and innovation.
At the last Care Quality Commission inspection, carried out in June 2021, The London Clinic was rated as 'good' overall.
According to the health watchdog, the hospital has about 23,000 inpatients and another 110,000 outpatients every year.
It is registered to provide surgery, diagnostics and screening, treatment of diseases, conditions or injuries, management of the blood supply and blood derived products.
US President John F Kennedy, pictured here with the Queen at a state dinner at Buckingham Palace in 1961, was diagnosed with Addison's disease at the London Clinic in 1947.
Lord Cameron, former Prime Minister and now Foreign Secretary, was born at the London Clinic in October 1966
The clinic at 20 Devonshire Place has a leading cancer center where patients are received for chemotherapy, radiotherapy and other treatments.
The company boasts that it can provide 'CyberKnife' radiotherapy for prostate cancer patients, 'SpyGlass' technology for patients requiring endoscopy and CAR-T immunotherapy for cancer patients.
And in 2019, a specialized center for robotic surgery was opened.
The building also has seven large operating theaters and three additional theatres, plus six specialist departments for operations in urology, gynaecology, thoracic surgery, orthopedics and spine procedures.