King Charles III Diagnosed with Cancer, Buckingham Palace Announces

Buckingham Palace has made a somber announcement, revealing that King Charles III has been diagnosed with a form of cancer. The palace disclosed that the type of cancer has not been specified; however, it was discovered during recent treatment for an enlarged prostate, ruling out prostate cancer.

The 75-year-old monarch commenced “regular treatments” on Monday and will temporarily suspend his public duties during this period, the palace stated. Despite the diagnosis, King Charles III remains optimistic about his treatment and eagerly anticipates returning to full public duty as soon as possible, according to palace sources.

Details regarding the stage of cancer or prognosis have not been disclosed.

The King personally informed his sons about his diagnosis, with the Prince of Wales maintaining regular communication with his father. Additionally, Prince Harry, currently residing in the United States, spoke with his father and plans to travel to the UK to be with him in the coming days.

Returning to London from Sandringham in Norfolk on Monday morning, King Charles III has commenced outpatient treatment at a private hospital. Although public events will be paused, he will continue with his constitutional responsibilities as head of state, including paperwork and private meetings.

The palace reassured that the King’s weekly audiences with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will persist, likely in person unless advised otherwise by doctors.

In the event that the head of state is unable to carry out official duties, a constitutional mechanism allows for “counsellors of state” to be appointed. Presently, this includes Queen Camilla, Prince William, the Princess Royal, and Prince Edward, as Prince Harry and the Duke of York are non-working royals.

Prince William, who had temporarily withdrawn from public engagements to support his wife Catherine during her recovery from abdominal surgery, is set to return to public duties later this week.

The announcement comes after the King’s recent prostate procedure, initially reported as being for a “benign” condition. However, during this intervention, a separate issue was discovered, subsequently diagnosed as a form of cancer.

King Charles III chose to go public about his cancer treatment, having previously advocated for cancer-related charities during his tenure as Prince of Wales. The Royal Society of Medicine expressed gratitude for his efforts in raising awareness about cancer, urging eligible individuals to undergo screenings.

Messages of support poured in from both domestic and international leaders, including UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, and US President Joe Biden, who expressed concern and pledged to speak with the King.

As the King navigates through this challenging time, the Palace has yet to confirm whether scheduled tours to Canada in May and to Australia, New Zealand, and Samoa for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in October will proceed, pending the King’s return to full public duties.

Buckingham Palace statement in full:

Input from BBC