The following statement was issued from the office of HM King Constantine, former King of the Hellenes:

My family and I would like to publicly extend our gratitude and congratulations to the medical team and the staff at Wellington Hospital, for successfully operating on my husband and for the care with which they have been looking after him.

A special ‘thank you’ to Professor Gilles Dreyfus, who performed the procedure, doctor Shane George, anaesthesiologist, and Professor George Dangas, doctor John Fruchaud and doctor John Roberts, who oversaw the procedure.

We would also like to thank everyone who has expressed their interest for my husband’s progress. The messages of support, which we have been receiving from Greece and other parts of the world, have touched us all.

Anne-Marie R.

Below is the medical announcement, issued by Professor G. Dreyfus, at 7pm GMT.

‘King Constantine today underwent successful aortic valve replacement and single aortocoronary bypass surgery at Wellington Hospital, London. The patient is currently recovering in the intensive care unit without any cardioventillatory support.’

Professor Giles Dreyfus is a Consultant Cardiothoracic Surgeon and the Director of Transplantation at Harefield Hospital, and Professor of Cardiovascular Surgery at Imperial College, London. He is a renowned expert in mitral valve surgery, aortic valve surgery, tricuspid valve surgery, pulmonary valve surgery, transplant and LVAD surgery.

Doctor Shane George is a Consultant at Royal Brompton and Harefield Hospitals.

George D. Dangas, MD, PhD, is Associate Professor of Medicine and Director of Postgraduate Training, Interventional Cardiology Fellowship Program, Division of Cardiology at Columbia University Medical Centre, as well as Medical Director of Education at the Cardiovascular Research Foundation of New York.

Doctor John Fruchaud, cardiologist.

Doctor John Roberts, personal GP of HM King Constantine.