British King Charles III, who waited more than seven decades to become monarch, was diagnosed with a “form of cancer” less than 18 months after taking the throne. Buckingham Palace announced on Monday, the 5th of February, that the 75-year-old monarch would temporarily step down from public duties to receive treatment, but the King has expressed hope that he will soon be able to resume his public duties, reports Reuters.
Charles became monarch after the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth on the 8th of September 2022. As the longest-lived heir in British history, he was crowned on the 6th of May 2023.
Buckingham Palace said that after a recent three-day stay in hospital, where he underwent corrective procedure for a benign enlarged prostate, a separate problem was spotted, and
tests revealed that the King has a “form of cancer”.
The Palace has indicated that the King has not been diagnosed with prostate cancer and no further details will be revealed at this time, but “His Majesty will continue to conduct state business and official business as usual”.
Britain’s King Charles, who was discharged from hospital last week after a planned procedure, attended a service on Sunday, smiling, in good spirits and giving no indication of his recent cancer diagnosis.
Despite the usual confidentiality surrounding the health of royals, King Charles has chosen to reveal his cancer diagnosis to “prevent speculation and in the hope that it might help to raise public awareness of all those people in the world affected by cancer,” Buckingham Palace was quoted as saying.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak sent his best wishes to the King on X. “I have no doubt that he will be back to full strength soon and I know the whole country wishes him all the best,” he has said.
Opinion polls show that although Charles is not as popular as his mother,
people are more positive than negative about him. Andy Bloomer, manager of a central London hotel, said he was satisfied with the King’s work. “I’m a big fan,” he added. But as for his health, Bloomer said it was a big shock. As well as most Britons.
One of the main shadows over Charles’s reign is the attacks on the family and the monarchy by his son Prince Harry in his memoirs and in the Netflix documentary with his wife Meghan Markle.
However, Harry, who has rarely visited the UK since 2020, is on his way to see his father after learning of his illness, hinting at a possible reconciliation between the two sides.
Also read: Britain’s new monarch Charles III – what’s planned on the first day of his rule?
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