King Charles to resume public duties after positive response to cancer treatment
The King is to return to public duties after his doctors declared they were “very encouraged” by the monarch’s response to his ongoing cancer treatment.
The announcement from Buckingham Palace that King Charles is well enough to resume attending some public events is positive news for the Royal Family, after a turbulent period in which both the monarch and the Princess of Wales have undergone treatment for unspecified cancers.
But while the medical team caring for the 75-year-old King are “pleased” with his progress since he began receiving care as an outpatient in early February, royal sources stressed that the monarch still has cancer and his treatment is continuing.
A Palace spokesperson said: “His Majesty’s medical team are very encouraged by the progress made so far and remain positive about the King’s continued recovery.”
Aides added that Charles, who has continued to perform his non-public facing state duties including his weekly audience with the Prime Minister during his illness, is personally “greatly encouraged” to be returning to the royal frontline.
His daughter-in-law announced last month that she was in the early stages of a course of preventative chemotherapy after an unspecified cancer had been found to be present when she underwent abdominal surgery in January.
Catherine, 42, who had been the subject of a firestorm of social media speculation about her health prior to the announcement, appealed for privacy during her treatment and no date has been set for her own return to royal duties.
The Prince of Wales last week returned to work for the first time since his wife’s recorded statement disclosing her illness, visiting a charity supplying food for those in need.
Perhaps appropriately, the King’s first public outing in nearly three months will be on Tuesday to a cancer care centre to meet patients and clinicians with the aim of raising awareness of the importance of early diagnosis as well as highlighting innovative research.
It is understood the facility is not linked to Charles’s own cancer care.
The King has at several points made it clear that he wanted to disclose his own illness to encourage others to seek early diagnosis and treatment for potential cancer symptoms.
He will be accompanied on Tuesday’s visit by Queen Camilla, who along with other royals including the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh has taken on additional duties in the absence of her husband and Catherine.
The Palace said the King and Queen will also host a state visit by the Emperor and Empress of Japan in June.
But in an indication that the monarch is not ready for a full resumption of duties, aides underlined that he will not undertake a “full summer programme”.
Decisions on whether or how the King will attend forthcoming events including next month’s D-Day commemorations, Royal Ascot and a possible royal tour of Australia in the autumn will be made “subject to doctors’ advice”, the Palace said.
Aides emphasised that particular care was being taken to ensure that the monarch, whose wife once declared him a “complete workaholic”, is not taking on too much and that “appropriate adaptations” are taken to minimise any risk to the King’s recovery.
Friday night’s statement added: “The pacing of The King’s programme will be carefully calibrated as his recovery continues, in close consultation with his medical team.”
It is understood that the arrival of warmer weather will allow the King to attend outside events, thereby reducing exposure to any additional infections.
Neither the precise nature of the King’s cancer, which was discovered after he underwent a corrective prostate procedure, nor any details of his treatment have been disclosed.
Palace officials said in February that his condition was not prostate cancer.
The update on Charles’s health was accompanied by the release of a photograph of the King and Queen to mark the first anniversary of the coronation on 6 May.
The statement concluded: “Their Majesties remain deeply grateful for the many kindnesses and good wishes they have received from around the world throughout the joys and challenges of the past year.”
