On Tuesday, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak expressed his feelings of “shock and sadness” upon learning about King Charles III’s cancer diagnosis but found relief in the early detection of the illness.
On Monday evening, Buckingham Palace announced that the king has commenced outpatient treatment for a form of cancer, which was discovered during recent medical care for an enlarged prostate.
The palace clarified that the two conditions are unrelated. “Fortunately, this was detected early,” Sunak conveyed to BBC radio, affirming his commitment to maintaining regular communication with the king in his role as prime minister.
“We’ll keep him in our thoughts and prayers.Many families across the nation have faced similar challenges, and they understand the significance of this situation,” Sunak remarked.
“We’ll offer our support and hope for a speedy recovery.” Less than 18 months into his reign, the 75-year-old monarch has put a halt to public engagements but remains committed to state affairs, including regular meetings with the prime minister. He will retain his constitutional duties as head of state without delegation.
The palace stated that Charles, who has generally been in good health, “remains entirely optimistic about his treatment and eagerly anticipates resuming his full public duties as soon as possible.”
Charles ascended to the throne in September 2022 following the passing of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, who reigned for 70 years until the age of 96. The news of the king’s diagnosis coincides with his daughter-in-law Kate, Princess of Wales, undergoing abdominal surgery that required her hospitalization for approximately two weeks.
Kate continues to take a hiatus from her royal obligations as she recuperates. Meanwhile, her husband, Prince William, the heir to the throne, temporarily stepped away to assist in caring for her and their three children. However, he is scheduled to officiate an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle and attend a charity dinner on Wednesday.
The king’s younger son, Prince Harry, who stepped back from royal duties in 2020 and relocated to California, has communicated with his father about the diagnosis. According to a statement from Harry and his wife, Meghan, he plans to travel to the UK to visit his father in the near future.
British media reported that he was en route from Los Angeles on Tuesday. Charles ascended to the throne with the intention of overseeing a more streamlined monarchy, reducing the number of senior royals engaged in ceremonial public duties. However, with both Charles and Kate currently unable to fulfill their roles, coupled with Prince Harry’s relocation to California and Prince Andrew’s diminished public presence due to his association with Jeffrey Epstein, there is a risk of the royal institution becoming significantly overstretched.
Both William and Queen Camilla, Charles’s wife, are anticipated to assume additional public duties while the king undergoes treatment. Presently, there are no arrangements to enlist the “counsellors of state,” comprising senior royals like the queen and the heir to the throne, to stand in for the monarch regarding constitutional responsibilities such as signing legislation and hosting diplomatic meetings.
Leaders worldwide conveyed their well wishes to Charles, including a message from U.S. President Joe Biden, who tweeted, “Jill and I stand with the people of the United Kingdom in hoping for His Majesty’s swift and complete recovery.
” Charles broke from royal tradition by being open about his prostate condition. For centuries, the British royal family has maintained a tradition of keeping health matters private. Sharing details about his cancer diagnosis, albeit in a restrained manner, represents another departure from tradition.
The statement from Buckingham Palace highlighted that the king has opted to disclose his diagnosis to prevent speculation and potentially aid public comprehension for individuals worldwide affected by cancer.
