Royals don't often visit each other in hospital, so there couldn't be a stronger signal of Charles and Kate's bond than his visit to her bedside before his prostate surgery. The family is more united than ever, says REBECCA ENGLISH

It is of course a coincidence that they are receiving medical treatment in the same hospital in London.

But don't underestimate the significance of King Charles' decision to spend a few moments earlier today at his beloved daughter-in-law's bedside.

Accompanied by his wife, Queen Camilla (her presence there another historic break with royal tradition), His Majesty made his way to Catherine's room at the private London Clinic in Marylebone, where she had spent a tenth night after what was only described as 'planned abdominal surgery'.

Simply put, royals don't visit each other in the hospital often, or at least very rarely.

Although they lead a very public life, the monarchy can be quite a lonely road at times.

Older family members generally do not like to draw attention to themselves or their loved ones.

And they are also acutely aware that the extra security and media attention that inevitably comes with them is the last thing a busy hospital – or other patients – need.

But as we quickly learn, Charles, 75, isn't afraid to do things differently.

He has come to adore Kate, with whom he has bonded not only through mutual loves such as music and art, but also through his grandchildren.

The King thinks she is doing a “great” job raising George, Charlotte and Louis, and appreciates the very stable little family unit she and William have created.

And he's enjoying the time he gets to spend with them in Windsor now that he's spending more time at the Castle, where they live just a few minutes' drive away.

Surely there can't be a stronger signal of their bond than the princess being so happy to see her father-in-law after what was clearly a serious and debilitating operation?

It should also be noted that Queen Camilla's presence today in the hospital at her husband's side is equally notable.

While the late Queen Elizabeth II occasionally visited her husband, Prince Philip, in the hospital during some of his longer (and more serious) recoveries, Camilla insisted on also accompanying her husband when he was admitted.

It is understood that she plans to spend several hours at his bedside and may even stay until doctors confirm that his surgery to treat an enlarged prostate has been successful.

Friends tell me she wouldn't have it any other way. “They are a truly devoted and very sweet couple,” said one.

Annabel Elliot, Camilla's sister, recently described her as the king's 'rock'.

'They are the yin and yang. They are really polar opposites, but I think it works brilliantly,” she said.

Another friend added: 'It sounds a bit cheesy, I know, but they really are a team. I'm not surprised she would be there.”

That's why I know reports earlier this week that the Queen had urged her husband to slow down were somewhat wrong.

Admittedly, it's a phrase she uses often: She once told me jokingly, with an eye-roll, that she might have to jump up and down while holding a sign reminding him it was his birthday if she wanted any chance of that he looked up. from his desk.

But Charles is a workaholic, reportedly having ten to twelve appointments and meetings a day and spending many nights alone in his study, furiously writing letters and keeping up with his paperwork, until the early hours. His wife knows he won't change, and she wouldn't want him to either.

Despite being told by his doctors to cancel his public appointments ahead of his operation, the king has insisted on not only keeping up with his paperwork but even holding meetings behind the scenes.

Just yesterday, at Sandringham, hours before flying back to Buckingham Palace for today's hospital admission, he had an audience with Dame Polly Courtice of Cambridge University's Institute for Sustainability Leadership and Professor Robert Miller, director of the Whittle Laboratory .

I can also tell that the staff even expects him to take paperwork to the hospital later this afternoon, depending on how he recovers from the anesthesia.

“I really wouldn't be surprised if he returns to work down the line,” the source said.

It is for this reason that the king, who is expected to remain in hospital for two days despite his absence from public duties, has made it clear that he does not need state advisers to replace him.

Historically, the State Advisors, the sovereign's spouse and the next four people in the line of succession, have been authorized to carry out the monarch's official duties if they were to be incapacitated.

With Prince William emptying his diary to be by his wife's side, Prince Andrew and Prince Harry could theoretically have intervened in the situation.

Fortunately, many will think that this will not be the case now.

It is, of course, far from ideal that the king should have been hospitalized so early in his reign – albeit briefly and for a fairly routine operation for a man his age.

There will be those who remember with gritted teeth the frequent concerns about his late mother's health toward the end of her life.

But the fact that Buckingham Palace is keen to emphasize that it is 'business as usual' on state affairs should remove any cause for concern.

For King Charles, having his near and dear ones with him today will no doubt also be a huge comfort.

The royal family has suffered more than its fair share of brickbats in recent years, with Harry and Meghan in particular doing their best to draw attention to what they believe is division.

And yet today – in perhaps the rather unexpected environment of a London hospital – we see a family more united than ever.