Buckingham Palace has announced that King Charles III, aged 75, has been diagnosed with cancer. The specific type of cancer has not been disclosed, except that it is not prostate cancer, as the king recently underwent treatment for a benign prostate enlargement.
The discovery was made during this recent medical intervention. The palace expressed gratitude for the swift medical intervention and emphasized the king’s positive outlook on treatment, anticipating a return to full public duty soon.
Despite undergoing treatment and pausing public engagements, King Charles will maintain his constitutional responsibilities as head of state and commander in chief of the armed forces.
His last public appearance was outside a church service in Sandringham on Sunday, where one of his residences is located.
Prince Harry has reportedly spoken with his father about the diagnosis and plans to travel from California to the UK in the coming days to be with him.
In response to the news, Speaker Lindsay Hoyle in the House of Commons interrupted regular proceedings to wish the monarch a full recovery. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak conveyed the nation’s well-wishes on social media.
King Charles ascended to the throne in May and had been the heir apparent for over 70 years, succeeding his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, who passed away in September 2022.
His recent prostate procedure aimed to raise awareness about men’s health, with the king choosing to publicly share information to encourage others to undergo prostate checks.