King Charles returns to public duties as he continues cancer treatment
King Charles, who is being treated for an undisclosed cancer, will return to public duties, with doctors pleased and “very encouraged” by his progress and “positive” about his continued recovery, Buckingham Palace said.
Charles, who announced in early February that he had been diagnosed with an unspecified form of cancer, will continue treatment while resuming some public activities, although he will not follow a full summer schedule.
His first assignment will be to visit a cancer treatment center with Queen Camilla on Tuesday, although it is not a center directly involved in his medical care. There he will meet medical specialists and patients as patron of Cancer Research UK and Macmillan Cancer Support.
In June, he will also host a state visit by the Emperor and Empress of Japan.
A palace spokesman said Charles was “strongly encouraged to resume a number of public duties and was very grateful to his medical team for their continued care and expertise”.
In a statement, Buckingham Palace said: “His Majesty The King will soon return to public duties following a period of treatment and recovery following his recent cancer diagnosis.
“To help mark this milestone, the King and Queen will make a joint visit to a cancer treatment center next Tuesday, where they will meet medical specialists and patients. This visit will be the first of a number of external engagements that His Majesty will undertake in the coming weeks.
“As the first anniversary of the Coronation approaches, Their Majesties remain deeply grateful for the many kindnesses and good wishes they have received from around the world during the joys and challenges of the past year.”
The spokesman said the king’s treatment program would continue, “but doctors are sufficiently satisfied with the progress so far that the king can now resume a number of public duties.”
The arrangements will be adjusted to minimize the risks for his further recovery. The spokesperson added that it is too early to say how long Charles’ treatment will continue, but his medical team “are very encouraged by the progress made to date and remain positive about the King’s continued recovery”.
“All public-facing engagements will be announced in the usual manner closer to the time and will remain subject to physician advice, but will not be a full summer program. His Majesty will of course continue with all official state business and selected audiences, as he has done during his period of treatment.”
Although Charles can now meet people both indoors and outdoors, each engagement will be carefully assessed and managed to reduce any risk to his continued recovery.
His appointments will also be adjusted to prevent him from overdoing it as he continues treatment. The “pace” will be “carefully calibrated as his recovery continues, in close consultation with his medical team,” the spokesperson said.
The King’s summer schedule would under normal circumstances include the Birthday Parade, D-Day commemorations, the annual Buckingham Palace garden parties, Royal Ascot and an autumn tour abroad.
“Plans continue to be made for ways for Their Majesties to attend such summer and autumn engagements, although nothing can be confirmed or guaranteed at this stage,” the spokesperson said.
Charles’ cancer was diagnosed after treatment for a benign enlarged prostate, although it is not prostate cancer. Buckingham Palace has said it has no plans to share further details about his specific condition or treatment plan at this stage.
The Princess of Wales announced on March 22 that she had also been diagnosed with an unspecified form of cancer and is undergoing preventive chemotherapy.
The king divides his time between his Sandringham estate in Norfolk and London, where he is receiving treatment.
A new photo of the King and Queen has been released to mark the anniversary of their coronation on May 6. The photo was taken in the garden of Buckingham Palace on April 10, the day after the couple’s 19th wedding anniversary.