King Charles keeps up the pace as he is driven from Clarence House on public duty after Queen Camilla joked she had been ‘trying to hold him back’ during cancer treatment

King Charles is keeping the pace high after his triumphant return to royal duties earlier this week, as Queen Camilla yesterday joked that she was ‘trying to hold him back’ during his cancer treatment.

The King was pictured being driven out of Clarence House today, wearing a blue suit and tie with a checked handkerchief, on his third consecutive day after returning to public duties.

It comes after Queen Camilla yesterday joked that she had tried to ‘hold him back’ during his cancer treatment.

She spoke of the monarch’s dedication to his work at her reception at Buckingham Palace to relaunch the Wash Bags Project, saying: ‘I think he was very happy to be away.’

The monarch smiled and waved to the crowds who gathered to welcome him on Tuesday as he visited University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Center with his wife, meeting patients and staff in his role as patron of the charity.

Yesterday he met the King of Lesotho, Letsie III, in the 1844 Room on the ground floor of Buckingham Palace.

The king was first admitted to hospital in January for surgery on an enlarged prostate. He stayed at the London Clinic for three days.

There was no suggestion at the time that his condition was cancer, but tests subsequently diagnosed loose evidence of the disease and his condition was announced to the nation on February 5.

He immediately began an unspecified form of treatment that is still ongoing.

Apart from attending an Easter Sunday church service at St George’s Chapel in Windsor four weeks ago, on March 31, the King has so far abstained from public events.

But Buckingham Palace provided a positive update last Friday that doctors were encouraged enough by his progress to allow him to take on more public duties.

A Palace spokesperson said: ‘His Majesty is greatly encouraged to resume a number of public duties and is very grateful to his medical team for their continued care and expertise.’

Sources have stressed that despite the welcome news, the king still has cancer and will continue to be treated for the undisclosed form of the disease.

The Palace spokesperson added: “His Majesty’s medical team is very encouraged by the progress made to date and remains positive about the King’s continued recovery.”

Royal aides also said it was too early to say how long Charles’ treatment would last.

His Majesty has been working, undertaking state business and meeting with dignitaries and small groups privately throughout his diagnosis and treatment.

Current engagements will be carefully tailored to his illness, but as the Daily Mail revealed in March, the King is now expected to attend key events such as Trooping the Colour, the Order of the Garter and next week’s first Buckingham Palace . garden party of the season.

Charles’ diary of events will not be a full summer programme, and participation will be announced closer to the time and ‘subject to the advice of the doctors’, with ‘adjustments made where necessary to reduce the risk’ to the King’s recovery to minimize.

The Macmillan Cancer Support account on can mean different things. .

‘It is important to understand that some people may still be receiving treatment and still dealing with the side effects. Adjustments at work may be necessary.

‘They may also continue to feel the impact of their diagnosis on themselves, their families and friends, or they may be relieved that things are starting to get ‘back to normal’. Returning to work can help you get back into the routine and reconnect with colleagues and friends.”

The charity said it is ‘here to help everyone affected by cancer, including family, friends, carers and employers’.