King Charles’ cancer was caught early, says Rishi Sunak
King Charles’ cancer was discovered early, Rishi Sunak said, wishing him a full recovery.
The king, 75, is facing mainstream cancer treatment after receiving a shock diagnosis during a recent hospital stay for an enlarged prostate procedure.
He has postponed all his public duties and has begun outpatient medical care in London under the supervision of his specialist team of doctors.
Sunak said he was “shocked and saddened” when he was told about the diagnosis. The Prime Minister told BBC Radio 5 Live: “All our thoughts are with him and his family. Fortunately, this was noticed early.”
He said he hoped King Charles “gets the treatment he needs and makes a full recovery. I am of course in regular contact with him and will continue to communicate with him as normal.”
When asked what it meant for the country’s day-to-day running of the country, Sunak said: “We’re getting on with everything. He will simply be in our thoughts and our prayers. Many families across the country listening to this will be touched by the same thing and they know what it means for everyone. So we’ll just encourage him and hopefully we’ll get through this as quickly as possible.”
Buckingham Palace announced on Monday that the king, who came to the throne seventeen months ago, had a “form of cancer”. The royal family has asked for privacy but said he did not have prostate cancer after he was diagnosed for a “separate area of concern” while being treated for a benign prostate condition.
The Duke of Sussex has cleared his schedule to fly to Britain to be with his father despite their rocky relationship, raising concerns about the seriousness of the king’s health.
The Prince of Wales’s return to official duties this week following the Princess of Wales’ abdominal surgery was announced just hours before news of the King’s diagnosis, suggesting William is stepping into action while his father is unwell . It is expected that there will be no need for state advisors, who are appointed when a monarch cannot fulfill his duties as head of state.
The king will still be busy with his red boxes of state affairs and official papers, holding secret council meetings, which can take place via video, and weekly audiences with the prime minister, which can take place via telephone.
Queen Elizabeth’s former press secretary Charles Anson told BBC Breakfast that the king “felt very strongly that the condition he has and the treatment for it should be known in general terms” out of a sense of public duty, but that people should not expect “daily bulletins”. The openness about the diagnosis was a “sign of the times,” he said.
He added that “the affairs of the country and the monarch’s constitutional role continue without really missing a beat,” with other family members able to intervene when necessary.
Charles personally called Harry and William, as well as his siblings the Princess Royal, the Duke of York and the Duke of Edinburgh, to tell them the news before it was announced publicly.
The palace said the king wanted to make his diagnosis public because of his long-standing support of cancer charities.
The chief executive of Maggie’s, Dame Laura Lee, told BBC Breakfast that as chair of the cancer charity, Queen Camilla was “very knowledgeable about the impact of cancer”. She understands that cancer is “a very specific experience for each individual,” but that it also affects family members, who go through an “adjustment process” after the shock of the news, Lee said.
“The king did a great job telling us about his cancer diagnosis. He tells others that he is going through this, they are not the only ones, he supports them in it, but he also gives his time to his family to come home. to understand what is going on and to see what lies ahead,” she said.
Lee added that people should take note of the King’s experience: “If you have a symptom, go to your GP, ask to speak to someone and look for tests that can reveal what may be an underlying problem. If they need someone to find that support, they can navigate the system to get the care you need.