William “will stay by Kate's side for as long as she needs” while she recovers

PRINCE William will step back from his royal duties to care for Kate as she recovers from abdominal surgery.

Kate, 42, underwent the planned operation on January 16 and spent almost two weeks in a private clinic in London before returning home to Adelaide Cottage in Windsor.

Prince William is said to be pausing his engagements as Kate recovers from surgeryCredit: Getty

William will reportedly help keep things running as smoothly as possible while Kate is on her feetCredit: Getty

The Princess of Wales was expected to pause her engagements to take time to recover, but William will also temporarily clear his diary.

'We still don't have a date for when William will return. So we're just in that situation where [the Princess of Wales] is at home, waiting for her to get settled before we see William again,” Matt Wilkinson, The Sun's royal editor, explained.

'We know Kate won't be back until after Easter. But I think William, as a devoted father and husband, can last as long as Kate needs him, and that's the message they're sending to us,” he told The Royal Beat.

Kate may choose to do some work from bed while she is home, but she will still take the time she needs to fully recover.

A palace spokesperson said: “The Princess of Wales has returned to Windsor to continue her recovery from surgery. She is making good progress.

“The Prince and Princess would like to thank the entire team at The London Clinic, and especially the dedicated nursing staff, for the care they provided.

“The Wales family remains grateful for the good wishes they have received from around the world.”

Some of the engagements Kate won't be able to attend include the Baftas, the annual Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey, as well as the St David's Day Parade in early March and the St Patrick's Day parade.

Wales' children, George, 10, Charlotte, eight, and Louis, five, were all at Lambrook School in Berkshire the day after Kate checked into the clinic.

William was also spotted on the school run between trips to visit Kate there, as the family tries to keep things as normal as possible.

And also help from the future King, Kate's parents also reportedly cleared their schedules to help with the kids.

Officials did not reveal the nature of the surgery due to Kate's “medical privacy,” but a source said she was doing well.

The private hospital where Kate underwent the operation has long been a hospital for the royal family and other established figures.

Queen Camilla is the hospital's patron and her mother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth II, opened an £80 million cancer center there in 2010.

The hospital was formed by a group of doctors and officially opened by the Queen Mother, then the Duchess of York, in 1932.

It's not just the Prince and Princess of Wales who are missing their royal duties.

Just an hour after Buckingham Palace revealed Kate's planned surgery, they announced that the 75-year-old royal would also undergo treatment for a benign enlarged prostate.

The palace said his royal engagements will also be “postponed for a short period of recovery” as he recovers from treatment at the same clinic as his daughter-in-law.