King Charles III diagnosed with cancer, postponing public duties

“His Majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties,” the palace said in a statement.

A palace spokesperson said: “Regrettably, a number of The King’s forthcoming public engagements will have to be rearranged or postponed. His Majesty would like to apologize to all those who may be disappointed or inconvenienced as a consequence.”

The monarch is expected to continue to receive his so-called “red boxes,” or documents from the government that the monarch must sign. He is not expected to appoint a “counsellor of state,” or another senior member of the royal family whom he can delegate his duties to.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak posted on X, formerly Twitter, “Wishing His Majesty a full and speedy recovery. I have no doubt he’ll be back to full strength in no time and I know the whole country will be wishing him well.”

The palace said that the king returned from his royal estate at Sandringham to his London residence, Clarence House, on Monday morning to “commence treatment as an out-patient.”

Just a few weeks ago, Charles was hospitalized and underwent a “corrective procedure” for an enlarged prostate. At that time, the palace said it was a benign condition, common for men over 60.

Charles’s wife, Queen Camilla, was asked last week how her husband was recuperating and she replied, “He’s getting on, doing his best.”

The January news about the king’s enlarge prostrate came the same day that Kensington Palace announced that Catherine, Princess of Wales, had been hospitalized for abdominal surgery.

Both the king and Catherine were released and were recuperating at their homes.

The palaces are typically tight-lipped about the health of the royal family, but last month Charles appeared ready to have more information released, if it could help other patients seek tests and diagnosis.

In its statement on Monday about the discovery of cancer, the palace said that Charles is “grateful to his medical team for their swift intervention, which was made possible thanks to his recent hospital procedure. He remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible.”

The palace said that Charles “has chosen to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer.”

When the king’s mother, Queen Elizabeth II, died in September 2022 at 96, the official cause was “old age,” according to her death certificate. Before her death, the palace only noted that she was suffering from “mobility” issues to explain her use of a cane and her scaled-back schedule.

Charles’s father, Prince Philip, also died of “old age,” at 99. The palace did report on several of the prince’s earlier hospital visits — a bladder infection in 2012; exploratory abdominal surgery in 2013; and hip replacement surgery in 2018.