King Charles III’s cancer was caught early and the whole country is hoping for a speedy recovery, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said yesterday, as the monarch’s son Prince Harry reportedly flew from the US to visit his father.
Buckingham Palace on Monday evening announced that the king has begun outpatient treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer.
It was found during his recent hospital treatment for an enlarged prostate, but is a “separate issue” and not prostate cancer, the palace said.
Photo: Punit Paranjpe, AFP
“Thankfully, this has been caught early,” Sunak told BBC radio, adding that as prime minister, he would “continue to communicate with him as normal.”
“Many families around the country listening to this will have been touched by the same thing and they know what it means to everyone,” Sunak said. “So we’ll just be willing him on and hopefully we get through this as quickly as possible.”
Less than 18 months into the reign that he had famously waited decades to begin, the 75-year-old monarch has suspended public engagements, but is to continue with state business — including weekly meetings with the prime minister — and would not be handing over his constitutional roles as head of state.
The palace said Charles, who has generally enjoyed good health, “remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible.”
The king’s younger son, Prince Harry — who quit royal duties in 2020 — has spoken to Charles about the diagnosis and “will be traveling to the UK to see His Majesty in the coming days,” said the office of Harry and his wife, Meghan.
British media reported that he was en route yesterday from Los Angeles.
News of the king’s diagnosis comes as his daughter-in-law Kate, Princess of Wales, recovers from abdominal surgery that saw her hospitalized for about two weeks.
Kate is taking a break from royal duties as she recovers. Her husband, Prince William, who is heir to the throne, also took time off to help look after her and the couple’s three children, but is due to preside over a ceremony at Windsor Castle and a charity dinner today.
Charles departed from royal tradition with his openness about his prostate condition. Buckingham said that the king “has chosen to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer.”
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