What is healthcare like for the members of the British royal family? We’ve all heard about how Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, left the hospital just hours after giving birth to Prince Louis. How do you become a royal physician … or dentist … or eye doctor? If you are as curious as I am, don’t worry. I’ve got your back. Without further ado—here is the inside scoop on how the British royal family stays in such excellent health.
A team of support
The official “Medical Household of the Royal Household of the Sovereign of the United Kingdom (Whew—that’s quite a mouthful!) has been a part of the royal family for hundreds of years. It is made up of a multiple healthcare professionals from different specialties. As one Palace spokesman put it, “Royal physicians are appointed for their wide-ranging skills and abilities.” The current team is made up of:
- Physicians to the King (2)
- Sergeant Surgeon
- Surgeon to the King
- Surgeon Oculist to the King
- Surgeon Gynecologist to the King
- Surgeon Dentist to the King
- Orthopedic Surgeon to the King
- Physician to the Household
- Surgeon to the Household
- Surgeon Oculist to the Household
- Apothecary to the King
- Apothecary to the Household at Windsor
- Apothecary to the Household
- Apothecary to the Household at Sandringham
- Coroner of the King’s Household
The Medical Household takes care of not just the sovereign and family, but all of the staff at Buckingham Palace.
Guy Thorpe-Beeston (left) and Alan Farthing (right) with Sir Marcus Setchell (centre) after the birth of Prince George CREDIT: JONATHAN BRADY/PA
Regular preventative screenings
The family is known for getting regular screenings to stay ahead of any potential health issues. This includes everything from cancer screenings to bloodwork. They also work to regularly exercise and eat a healthy diet.
And while the British population has (often unfairly) found their teeth to be the butt of jokes, the royal household takes careful care of those pearly whites. Check out these pictures of Princess Eugenie and Prince Harry sporting their braces.
Hospital Care
There are times when the royal family needs more intensive care. This is especially true for the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip. When the royals need extra care, they are often found at King Edward VII’s Hospital, a private hospital established in 1899 and located in London. The hospital is dedicated to individual attention (they have four nurses for each patient) and excellent care. Here is a peek inside the hospital:
A combination of teamwork, preventative care, and specialized knowledge helps keep the royal family in tip-top medical shape.
If you want to build some lasting relationships with your patients (just like the royal family), check out the guide, ”The Patient-Provider Relationship Study.”
