King Charles III diagnosed with cancer, Buckingham Palace says
King Charles has been diagnosed with a form of cancer, says Buckingham Palace.
The King has cancer, but the type hasn’t been revealed. Doctors found it while treating his enlarged prostate. He started treatment on Monday and will take a break from public duties. The King, 75, is positive about treatment but no details about the cancer stage or outlook are shared.
Prince Charles told his sons about the diagnosis, and Prince Harry plans to visit from the US soon. The King will handle his official duties like paperwork and meetings but will skip public events. He’ll still meet the Prime Minister unless doctors say otherwise.
If the King can’t fulfill his duties, others can take over temporarily.
Right now, Queen Camilla, Prince William, Princess Anne, and Prince Edward can stand in for the King if needed. Prince Harry and Prince Andrew don’t have official roles anymore.
Prince William took a break from public events to help his wife Catherine recover from surgery. But he’ll be back to work later this week.
The King went to church in Sandringham on Sunday, walking for about 10 minutes and waving to people. He had a prostate procedure in a London hospital over a week ago. Initially, it was said to be for a non-serious condition, but during the procedure, doctors found a type of cancer.
The King decided to share his cancer treatment because he’s supported cancer charities in the past and wants to encourage men to get prostate checks. He’s happy that his experience has raised awareness and led more men to seek help.
The Royal Society of Medicine thanked the King for highlighting the importance of cancer screenings and urged people to get checked. They say knowing more helps in getting the right treatment.
In the UK, one out of every two people might get cancer during their life. There are over 200 types of cancer, with the most common being breast, lung, prostate, and bowel cancer.
As people get older, their chances of getting cancer increase. About a third of new cancer cases each year happen in people aged 75 and over.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer, and Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle all wished the King a speedy recovery. US President Joe Biden also expressed concern and said he would talk to the King. He understands the challenges of dealing with cancer because his son Beau died of brain cancer, and his friend Senator John McCain also died from cancer.
Prince Charles became King after his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, passed away in September 2022, and he was officially crowned in May the following year.
The King and Queen have plans to visit Canada in May and attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Australia, New Zealand, and Samoa in October. However, it’s uncertain if these tours will happen, and there’s no set date for the King to resume his full duties.