Buckingham Palace announced that King Charles has been diagnosed with a form of cancer, which was discovered during his recent treatment for an enlarged prostate. While the specific type of cancer has not been disclosed, it has been confirmed that it is not prostate cancer.
The 75-year-old King has initiated “regular treatments” as of Monday and will be temporarily postponing public duties during this period.
Despite the health challenge, the Palace emphasized that King Charles “remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible.”
No additional information has been provided regarding the stage of cancer or a prognosis. The King personally informed both of his sons about the diagnosis, with the Prince of Wales maintaining regular contact with his father. Additionally, Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, currently residing in the United States, has spoken to his father and plans to travel to the UK in the coming days to be with him.
The King returned to London from Sandringham in Norfolk on Monday morning and has commenced outpatient treatment, according to Buckingham Palace. While he will temporarily pause public events, the King intends to maintain his constitutional role as the head of state, involving paperwork and private meetings.
In cases where the head of state is unable to fulfill official duties, there is a constitutional mechanism in place. In such circumstances, “counsellors of state” can be appointed to act on behalf of the monarch. The current list of counsellors includes Queen Camilla, Prince William, the Princess Royal, and Prince Edward. Notably, Prince Harry and the Duke of York are no longer called upon as non-working royals.
In a parallel situation, Prince William had previously temporarily withdrawn from public engagements to assist his wife, Catherine, the Princess of Wales, during her recovery from “abdominal surgery.”
Earlier on Monday, it was announced that the King would resume public duties later this week. Despite the recent diagnosis of cancer, the King was seen at a church service in Sandringham on Sunday, where he waved to crowds.
Notably, he had undergone a prostate procedure at a private London hospital more than a week ago, with the Palace initially stating that the treatment was for a “benign” condition. However, it was revealed on Monday that during this intervention, a separate and concerning issue was noted and subsequently diagnosed as a form of cancer.
The King chose to make his prostate treatment public in an effort to encourage more men to undergo prostate checks. His openness about the issue led to a surge in inquiries about prostate conditions on the NHS website.
The Royal Society of Medicine expressed gratitude to the King for shedding light on the indiscriminate nature of cancer and urged eligible members of the public to schedule cancer screenings, emphasizing the importance of early detection and appropriate treatment pathways.
Various political figures, including Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, and US President Joe Biden, expressed well wishes for the King’s full and speedy recovery. President Biden mentioned his intention to speak with the King to convey his concern.
