On a day full of engagements in London, King Charles visited St Bartholomew Hospital, the theatre of his father’s last surgery, a mere month before his death.
His Majesty was there to visit the North Wing of the facility, which has been granted a Grade I listing for its historic and artistic significance. The King praised their new “Sharing Historic Barts” project, supported by the Barts Heritage Foundation.
The King was also there to watch the last preparations as the Wing is readied for an extensive three-year-long renovation, which will begin in 2023. This all falls in the activities that the hospital, charity and foundation will undertake to celebrate the 900th anniversary of the foundation of the facility.
King Charles, therefore, met with some supporters, as well as some of the craftspeople and conservators that will be working on the project over the next three years.
The Barts Heritage appeal will support the renovation project, which aims to lead “the rescue and rejuvenation of the historic buildings of national importance of St Bartholomew’s Hospital,” according to the Royal House’s website.
The King had already visited the appeal in 2021, when he was still Prince of Wales, as he was a royal patron of the effort.
His Majesty also had a chance to meet hospital workers that have been on the frontlines of the facility and some of those who will be working on medical projects for the 900th-anniversary celebrations.
These will include the opening of a new centre of excellence for breast cancer surgery, which will be funded through the Barts Charity and will go on to become a part of London’s second biggest cancer centre (the first one is Royal Marsden Hospital, of which Prince William is patron).
King Charles has displayed a passion for art and conservation for his entire life, which makes it not surprising that he chose to support this effort.
The connection with his father made this a very poignant visit. The late Prince Philip was transferred from King Edward VII Hospital to St Bartholomew’s Hospital on the 1st of March 2021 to undergo cardiac surgery for a pre-existing condition; St Bartholomew is one of England’s excellencies in cardiac healthcare. He was transferred back to King Edward VII four days later and was discharged back to Windsor Castle on the 16th of March after undergoing successful surgery and displaying encouraging recovery trends.
He, of course, passed away “peacefully” less than a month later, but his death certificate doesn’t show any links between the surgery and his passing, instead attributing it to “old age”; he was just eight weeks away from celebrating his 100th birthday.
