Prince Charles's wife Camilla to have hysterectomy

LONDON, Feb 12 (Reuters) Camilla, wife of Britain's Prince Charles, is to have a hysterectomy operation, the British royal family said today.

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, will have the operation early next month after accompanying her husband, heir to the throne, on a visit to the West Asia, a spokeswoman for Charles's Clarence House office said.

The spokeswoman would not say why the procedure, which involves the womb being removed, was being performed but described it as a ''routine scheduled operation'' performed on one British woman in five above the age of 55.

Camilla turns 60 this year.

''It's a routine scheduled operation but we wouldn't disclose any further details of a private medical condition,'' said the spokeswoman.

''It's something that's being done on advice of her doctor, but is something that's very common for women of that age.'' REUTERS KR KN2302