KING Charles missed a church service yesterday — days before his scheduled hospital operation.
Well-wishers had gathered outside in the hope of seeing His Majesty walking to the service, but found the gates to the paddock outside the church were locked.
It meant they could not reach the roped-off path where they are usually allowed to stand at the Sandringham estate in Norfolk.
And there was no sign of Charles as the bells pealed for the start of the 11am service at St Mary Magdalene Church.
The King returned to the 20,000-acre estate with Queen Camilla on Friday ahead of corrective surgery for an enlarged prostate.
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He is due to go into hospital to be treated for the benign condition this week.
Victoria Martin, 67, who is holidaying there from Rye, East Sussex, said: “It’s a shame we haven’t seen him, but it’s understandable if he wants to keep quiet before going into hospital.”
Another onlooker, who asked not to be named, said: “I was a little disappointed that he didn’t come because I wanted to wish him the best of luck for his surgery.”
Meanwhile, the Princess of Wales was expected to remain in hospital for ten to 14 days following planned abdominal surgery last week.
Kate said she plans to work from her bed at the London Clinic while she recovers.