Buckingham Palace has announced that King Charles has been diagnosed with a form of cancer. The specific type of cancer has not been disclosed, but it was found during his recent treatment for an enlarged prostate. The King has begun regular treatments and remains optimistic about his prognosis.
Due to his treatment, King Charles will be postponing his public engagements, with senior members of the royal family expected to fill in for him. The Palace stated that the King is eager to resume his full public duties as soon as he can. No further details about the stage of his cancer or prognosis have been released.
King Charles personally informed his sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, about his diagnosis. Prince William has been in regular contact with his father, while Prince Harry, who resides in the U.S., plans to travel to the UK to visit his father soon.
Despite pausing his public events, King Charles will continue his constitutional role as head of state, which includes paperwork and private meetings. In the event that the head of state is unable to perform official duties, “counsellors of state” can be appointed to stand in for the monarch. Currently, this includes Queen Camilla, Prince William, Princess Anne, and Prince Edward.
King Charles, 75, returned to London from Sandringham in Norfolk on Monday morning and began outpatient treatment. He had previously undergone a prostate procedure at a private London hospital. The King had chosen to make his prostate treatment public in order to encourage more men to get prostate checks.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, and Commons Speaker Sir Lyndsay Hoyle have all wished the King a speedy recovery.
