King Charles III, recovering well from cancer, to return to work
By Rob Harris
Warsaw: King Charles will return to full duties in coming days just 10 weeks after his shock cancer diagnosis, as Buckingham Palace moves to reassure the public the monarch is recovering well amid a horror start to the year for the royal family.
In a statement released at 3am Saturday Australian time, the palace said the 75-year-old would mark his return after a period of treatment and recuperation with a visit to a cancer treatment centre next Tuesday, where he and Queen Camilla would meet medical specialists and patients.
Britain’s King Charles III and Queen Camilla stand in Buckingham Palace Gardens the day after their 19th wedding anniversary. Credit: Buckingham Palace
A spokesperson said it was still “too early” to say how successful the King’s treatment had been, but his medical team was “very encouraged” by the progress made so far and remained positive about his continued recovery.
Charles’ return to public duties will lift hopes of a potential visit to Australia in late October or early November – his first since becoming King – with the palace confirming that planning was continuing for the couple’s northern summer and autumn engagements, while stressing “nothing can be confirmed or guaranteed at this stage”.
The royal family rallied around Charles since his diagnosis was made public on February 6 after he underwent a hospital procedure for a benign prostate enlargement revealed a second, more serious medical problem. He had only been King for 16 months.
His daughter-in-law, Catherine, Princess of Wales, was hospitalised around the same time for planned abdominal surgery and was also subsequently diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer.
The palace has struggled to combat wild speculation on social media about their prognoses but has been more open about their health challenge than any previous family members.
The King has undergone regular treatment at a London hospital, but has not revealed what type of cancer he has, other than confirming it is not prostate cancer. He has taken time away from public engagements to minimise the risk to his health but has continued to “undertake state business and official paperwork as usual”.
"His Majesty is greatly encouraged to be resuming some public-facing duties and very grateful to his medical team for their continued care and expertise," a palace spokesman said.
It has been reported that Charles was a “little frustrated” by the impact the diagnosis had on royal plans so early into his reign but was otherwise “in his usual good form”. Next week will mark one year since his coronation at Westminster Abbey.
Since the princess and the King’s diagnoses, a palace source says that the monarch has “remained in the closest contact with his beloved daughter-in-law throughout the past weeks”. The bond between the King and Catherine became official last week when he appointed her a Royal Companion of the Order of the Companions of Honour.
Charles’ planned visit to the cancer centre next week will be the first in a number of external engagements the monarchs will undertake in the weeks ahead, which will also include hosting the Emperor and Empress of Japan for a State Visit in June, at the request of British government.
However, palace sources said each engagement would be “carefully reviewed” and managed to reduce any risks to the King’s recovery. It is understood the palace has no plans to share further details of his specific condition or treatment plan at this stage.
“His Majesty’s treatment program will continue, but doctors are sufficiently pleased with the progress made so far that the King is now able to resume a number of public-facing duties,” they said.
"Forthcoming engagements will be adapted where necessary to minimise any risks to His Majesty’s continued recovery."
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