Buckingham Palace announced that Britain’s King Charles, who ascended to the throne in September 2022 following Queen Elizabeth’s passing, has been diagnosed with a form of cancer.
The 75-year-old monarch, while remaining “wholly positive,” will temporarily suspend his public engagements to undergo treatment.
Charles has already commenced a series of treatments, and the palace expressed his eagerness to return to full royal duties as soon as possible.
Hospital stay
This revelation comes on the heels of Charles’s recent three-night hospital stay in January, during which he underwent a corrective procedure for a benign enlarged prostate. During that hospitalization, medical professionals identified a separate health issue, which has now been confirmed as a “form of cancer.” The palace provided no further details on the specific type of cancer.
However, the statement explicitly stated that Charles does not have prostate cancer. It emphasized that throughout his treatment, the king will continue to fulfill his State business and official paperwork as usual.
Queen Camilla will maintain her royal engagements, and King Charles will continue to meet with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during his treatment.
Sunday appearance
In a recent public appearance on Sunday, the king, who gave no indication of his diagnosis, was seen smiling and waving to onlookers as he attended a church service with Queen Camilla. This marked his first public outing since leaving the London hospital a week earlier, where he and his daughter-in-law, Kate, had both undergone planned treatments.
Kate, the Princess of Wales and wife to the heir to the British throne, Prince William, spent two weeks at the London clinic for abdominal surgery related to a non-cancerous condition. She is expected to return to royal duties after Easter.
While the British royal family traditionally maintains privacy regarding their health, Charles has chosen to share his cancer diagnosis to prevent speculation and raise awareness about cancer’s impact worldwide.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak conveyed his best wishes to the king, expressing confidence in his swift recovery and noting that the entire country is sending well-wishes.
Freogin dignitaries
U.S. President Joe Biden also expressed concern about the king’s health, stating that he planned to call Charles personally.
The monarch informed his immediate family about his diagnosis, and Prince Harry, his younger son, is expected to travel to the UK in the coming days to see him.
Charles, known for his long-standing commitment to environmental causes, became king after a prolonged wait, making his first year on the throne memorable with his coronation ceremony.
While there was speculation about radical changes to the monarchy during his reign, Charles has largely followed in his mother’s footsteps while adding his own touches.
Royal family
Public opinion polls suggest that most Britons view his reign favorably, although younger generations appear less enthusiastic about the royal family in general.
Before his recent health issues, the ongoing rift between his son Harry and the rest of the family, especially his elder son Prince William, was the biggest challenge facing the royals.
Ingrid Seward, Editor in Chief of Majesty Magazine, noted that Charles, a known workaholic who often worked late into the night, may need to adopt a slower pace of work after his recent health concerns.
She emphasized that he had been under immense mental strain since Queen Elizabeth’s passing.
