The private hospital caught in a row over Kate Middleton’s medical records offers its own concierge, meat from Smithfield’s market and fish from Cornish boats, while Prince Philip, Liz Taylor and John F Kennedy count as former patients.
Kate, 42, revealed she is being treated for cancer after undergoing abdominal surgery at the London Clinic on January 16 this year, she announced in a video message to the nation on Friday.
In a brave speech to the nation, Kate shared an incredible and inspiring message of hope to other cancer survivors, telling them: ‘Please don’t lose faith or hope. You are not alone.’
She thanked the public for their ‘wonderful messages of support’ and said having her husband William by her side was a ‘great source of comfort and reassurance’.
The London Clinic has been visited by the Royal Family, major politicians and celebrities, and therefore prides itself on the discretion of its staff to maintain their privacy.
But the private clinic’s famous reputation in Marylebone has now fallen into disrepute after it was claimed staff tried to access the Princess of Wales’ private medical records.
It is claimed that at least one member of staff tried to access Kate’s personal information after she underwent stomach surgery at the London Clinic in January.
The king, who is being treated for a form of cancer, was also treated at the center for an enlarged prostate at the same time Kate visited earlier this year.
The London Clinic, where the Princess of Wales was treated after undergoing abdominal surgery, first opened in 1932. Above: Police outside the hospital in January
Kate Middleton underwent surgery at The London Clinic in January. It is claimed staff tried to access the Princess of Wales’ private medical records while she was there
Sitting on a bench in Windsor, surrounded by spring flowers, the Princess of Wales has taken the extraordinary step of revealing to the world that she has cancer
The service offered to patients at the private hospital – including meals delivered on silver carts – has been compared to a 5-star hotel
Meals include fish from Cornish boats and meat from Smithfield market
The London Clinic was officially opened by the then Duke and Duchess of York in 1932. Since the 1980s, a number of facilities on the site have been officially launched by members of the Royal Family.
The King, as the then Prince of Wales, opened the physiotherapy department in 1989, while Princess Margaret launched the MRI unit in 1991 and the late Queen unveiled a new cancer unit in 2010.
Prince Philip was admitted to the clinic for what were described as ‘abdominal examinations’ in 2013, while Princess Margaret was treated there in 1980 to have a benign skin lesion removed.
In 1947, Kennedy, then a US congressman, was diagnosed with Addison’s disease at the clinic.
Taylor underwent knee surgery there in January 1963 after falling on a film set.
Other past patients include former Labor prime minister Clement Attlee, who was admitted in 1939 – when he was opposition leader – for surgery on his prostate.
Another former Prime Minister, the Conservative Anthony Eden, had his gallbladder removed at The London Clinic in 1953 when he was Foreign Secretary.
Current Foreign Secretary David Cameron, who was Prime Minister from 2010 to 2016, was born there in 1966.
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
Hollywood star Elizabeth Taylor underwent knee surgery at The London Clinic in January 1963. Above: Taylor leaves the hospital with her leg bandaged
Lord Cameron, former Prime Minister and now Foreign Secretary, was born at the London Clinic in October 1966
EastEnders actress Wendy Richard died at the clinic in 2009 after suffering from breast cancer, while Augusto Pinochet, the former dictator of Chile, was arrested there in 1998 for crimes against humanity.
The London Clinic was the brainchild of a group of doctors in Harley Street who set out to plan a new nursing home using the highest medical standards of the day.
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 operated as a charity, reinvesting in research, education and innovation.
The clinic has a leading cancer center which hosts patients for chemotherapy, radiotherapy and other treatments.
It boasts of being able to deliver ‘CyberKnife’ radiotherapy to prostate cancer patients, ‘SpyGlass’ technology to patients needing an endoscopy and CAR-T immunotherapy to cancer patients.
In 2019, it unveiled a specialist center for robotic surgery.
The latest Care Quality Commission (CQC) inspection, carried out in June 2021, rated The London Clinic as ‘good’ overall.
According to the Health Service, the hospital has around 23,000 inpatients a year, with a further 110,000 outpatients.
It is registered to provide surgery as well as diagnostics and screening, treatment of disease, disorder or injury, management of the supply of blood and blood-derived products.
Princess Margaret was treated there in 1980 to have a benign skin lesion removed
Future Labor Prime Minister Clement Attlee – then the Leader of the Opposition – is seen recovering in bed at The London Clinic in 1939 after having surgery on his prostate
US President John F Kennedy, pictured here with the Queen during a state dinner at Buckingham Palace in 1961, was diagnosed with Addison’s disease at the London Clinic in 1947
The building at 20 Devonshire Place has seven main operating theaters and three additional theatres, as well as six specialist departments for operations in urology, gynaecology, thoracic surgery, orthopedics and spinal procedures.
In 2021, the clinic’s head chef, Paul O’Brien, was awarded for supporting patients during the coronavirus pandemic.
He leads a team that delivers customized meals to patients, also sourcing ingredients from Home Counties farms.
A concierge can help patients arrange travel and accommodation, while also booking tours, theater performances and restaurants in the capital.
The service offered to patients at the private hospital – including meals delivered on silver carts – has been compared to a 5-star hotel.
The hospital’s head chef heads a kitchen that serves fish from Cornish boats and meat from Smithfields Market.
Kate’s cancer battle in her own words: The Princess of Wales’ emotional video statement in full
I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you personally for all the wonderful messages of support and for your understanding as I recover from surgery.
It’s been an incredibly tough few months for our whole family, but I’ve had an amazing medical team who have taken good care of me, for which I’m so grateful.
In January I underwent major stomach surgery in London and at the time my condition was thought to be non-cancerous. The operation was successful. However, tests after the operation showed that there had been cancer. My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of pre-emptive chemotherapy and I am now in the early stages of that treatment.
This of course came as a huge shock and William and I have done everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family.
As you can imagine, this has taken time. It has taken me time to recover from a major operation to be able to start my treatment. But most importantly, it has taken us time to explain everything
George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that suits them and to reassure them that I will be fine.
As I have told them; I feel good and get stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal; in my mind, body and spirit.
Having William by my side is also a great source of comfort and reassurance. As well as the love, support and kindness shown by so many of you. It means so much to both of us.
We hope you will understand that we as a family now need some time, space and privacy while I finish my treatment. My work has always brought me a deep sense of joy and I look forward to returning when I am able, but for now I must focus on my full recovery.
At this time, I am also thinking of all those whose lives have been affected by cancer. For anyone facing this disease, in whatever form, don’t lose faith or hope. You are not alone.