King Charles has cancer, palace confirms immediate treatment will begin

King Charles III will step back from his duties after he was diagnosed with cancer following prostate surgery. 

King Charles has been diagnosed with cancer, Buckingham Palace has confirmed.

The cancer type has not been revealed but it is not prostate cancer. However, it was discovered during his recent treatment for an enlarged prostate.

Charles, 75, has postponed his public engagements and other royals will fill in for him.

But the Palace has stressed the King will continue in his role as head of state of the UK and the other Commonwealth Realms, including Australia.

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King Charles has been diagnosed with cancer. Image: Getty

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Harry returning to UK

It is understood the King personally told his sons Prince William and Harry about the diagnosis as well as princes Edward and Andrew and Princess Anne.

Prince Harry has confirmed he will travel to the UK in the coming days to be with his father.

On Sunday, he went to church with Queen Camilla in his first public outing since his hospital stay. The King travelled on Monday from his home in Sandringham, in Norfolk in England’s east, to London to being his treatment as an outpatient.

Prince Harry and Prince Charles haven't have the closest relationship of late. Photo by Niklas HALLE'N / AFP

King is ‘wholly positive’

“During The King’s recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted,” the statement reads.

“Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer.

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

“Throughout this period, His Majesty will continue to undertake State business and official paperwork as usual.”

As such there will be no need for “counsellors of state,” the monarch’s official stand ins, to take up their roles.

The Palace said Charles remained “wholly positive” about his treatment and said he “looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible”.

A statement from Buckingham Palace: https://t.co/zmYuaWBKw6

📷 Samir Hussein pic.twitter.com/xypBLHHQJb

— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) February 5, 2024

British prime minister Rishi Sunak said all of the UK would wish the King well.

“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.”

King Charles only left hospital one week ago after prostate cancer treatment.

The King was all similes as he left the hospital accompanied by his wife Queen Camilla.

Charles said he wanted to go public with his prostate issues to encourage other men to get checked.

It appeared tow ork with 26,170 visits to the enlarged prostate page on the website of Britain’s public National Health Service compared to a daily average of 1400 earlier in the week.

He emerged from the London Clinic on Monday after spending three nights being treated.

His departure came just a few hours after that of Catherine, Princess of Wales. She had been at the same hospital for two weeks for an abdominal issue. However Kensington Palace has specifically said Catherine’s illness was not cancer related.

Originally published as King Charles has cancer, palace confirms immediate treatment will begin