How Prince William's major surgery left him scarred for life

October 2024 ยท 2 minute read

The Prince of Wales became injured during a game of golf

It's fairly commonplace for members of the royal family to suffer ailments while horse riding, with everyone from Sophie Wessex to Queen Elizabeth II sustaining horse-related injuries, but Prince William suffered a serious injury playing a different sport.

READ: Princess Kate and Prince William's unique sleeping arrangement in London

During a game of golf at his school in Wokingham in 1991, the future king was hit on the head by a golf club while playing with his school friends. The hapless accident resulted in a fractured skull that saw the then eight-year-old undergoing a 70-minute operation at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, followed by an overnight stay.

WATCH: Prince William and Princess Kate step out for a joint engagement

William's mother, Princess Diana stayed with him overnight, and the following morning, his brother Prince Harry was his first visitor, spending 15 minutes chatting before heading to school.

READ: Why the Prince and Princess of Wales have no royal engagements for two weeks

MORE: Why Prince William gave Princess Kate the 'chance to back out' of royal family

King Charles visited his young son after the injury, then left the hospital to go to the opera but kept in touch with doctors, the palace reported at the time.

Prince William spoke about his injury 18 years later, during a chat with a 10-year-old cancer patient for BBC's .

Prince William's surgery scar

"I got hit by a golf club when I was playing golf with a friend of mine," the royal said. "We were on a putting green and the next thing you know there was a seven-iron and it came out of nowhere and it hit me in the head."

READ: Meghan Markle and Prince William share this unexpected passion

He went on to explain that his scar sometimes 'glows' like Harry Potter's famous lightning bolt scar on his forehead.

Prince William said his scar 'glows' sometimes

"It glows sometimes and some people notice it - other times they don't notice it at all."

Sign up to HELLO Daily! for the best royal, celebrity and lifestyle coverage

By entering your details, you are agreeing to HELLO! Magazine User Data Protection Policy. You can unsubscribe at any time. For more information, please click here.

ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7qbHLpaammZeWx6q6xGeaqKVfnbKiuNOhmKeckpqutsDYaJ%2BemZyptW6tzZ1kn6Gko7K0v45rZ2tqYWV%2FdX2UbXBycV%2Blv6q6wp5ksKGcobaiuYymmKOnomLAtr7GnqmyZaOgwq24jJ%2Bpmpukqr%2Bmecaoo59n