Cancer diagnosis clouds King Charles’ future

Buckingham Palace scrambles to line up senior royals to cover for the 75-year-old King after he suspends his public appearances, with renewed questions about the viability of his reign.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla on Sunday. Picture: Getty Images

The King’s retreat from public ­duties while battling cancer will jeopardise his first trip to Australia since he was crowned and will raise renewed questions about the viability of his barely-established reign.

Buckingham Palace was scrambling to line up senior royals to cover for the 75-year-old monarch after revealing he would step away from all “public-facing” engagements on medical advice.

It was a shattering blow for the royal family, coming less than 18 months after Charles acceded to the throne and when the next-in-line, Prince William, was off work while the Princess of Wales recuperated from major abdominal surgery.

It also comes as Anthony Albanese weighs a decision on who to name as governor-general when David Hurley’s term ends on July 1.

The Prime Minister said he had written to the King to say that Australians were thinking of him at this testing time.

“Australians know a cancer diagnosis is never easy, not for the person and not for their families,” he told parliament on Tuesday.

“His Majesty has always reached out to us when our country has needed him. He has always shown kindness and empathy to those doing it tough.”

Peter Dutton said the King’s illness had shone a light on the need for men, in particular, to be proactive with their healthcare.

“I know the palace has been pushing this message, particularly for men who don’t go to the doctor regularly … early diagnosis of many cancers will mean the ability to treat the cancer and for people to increase their chances of survival,” the Opposition Leader said.

Wishing the King a “speedy recovery”, General Hurley said: “On behalf of all Australians I wish His Majesty the King well. All our thoughts and best wishes are with His Majesty.”

The uncertainty was compounded by the palace’s failure to specify the type of cancer involved or what treatment the King would undergo. This was in contrast to the detail provided when he was admitted to hospital in January for a medical procedure to correct a benign enlarged prostate.

It was thanks to this condition that doctors identified a second area of concern, royal aides said.

The King was informed last week that follow-up tests had confirmed he had a “form of cancer”. He is understood to have quickly informed William and his estranged younger son, Harry.

Prince Harry was reported on Monday to be making his way to London from his home in Cali­fornia along with Meghan and their two children, stirring hopes of a possible reconciliation.

Royal historian Cindy McCreery, of the University of Sydney, said the diagnosis would underscore concern that Charles had come to the throne as the oldest monarch to be crowned in British history. “We are in new territory here,” she said.

“I’d also say that a diagnosis is not, by and of itself, the end of what the palace needs to share about the King’s condition.

“I think we need to be patient. But it should be accepted that it’s in the King’s interest and the ­palace’s interest to keep people ­informed of any major changes.

“While I do not expect them to disclose a lot of detail about the treatment, it is important that if there was a major change and the King could no longer perform his constitutional duties that this … be communicated.”

King Charles has been ‘advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties’. Picture: AFP

Charles and Camilla have not visited Australia since 2018, and were tipped to tie in their first trip as king and queen with the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Samoa in October.

That will now be dependent on his response to the cancer treatment.

The palace said he was to commence a schedule of “regular treatments” on Tuesday as a hospital outpatient, during which time he had been “advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties”.

He would continue to undertake state business and deal with official paperwork, working through the daily red box of government documents as usual.

The King’s weekly audience with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak would stay, though not necessarily in person.

Charles might also dial into meetings of the Privy Council.

For now, officially at least, it was not envisaged that other members of the royal family would step into his constitutional role.

If the King was incapacitated, the Queen, William, Princess Anne or Prince Edward could act as counsellors of state in his stead.

“The King is grateful to his medical team for their swift intervention, which was made possible thanks to his recent hospital procedure,” the statement said.

“He remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible.

“His Majesty 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.”

Hours before news of the King’s cancer was made public, Kensington Palace announced a surprise return by William to royal duties after he had taken leave to stay with his recuperating wife.

The 41-year-old heir to the throne will conduct investitures at Windsor Castle on Wednesday, then attend a charity gala in London in the evening.

Catherine is not due to return to official duties until Easter.

US President Joe Biden was among those who sent messages of sympathy and support to the King, saying: “Yes, I’m concerned about him.

“I just heard his diagnosis. Hopefully, I’ll be talking to him soon.”

Former president Donald Trump said the King was a “wonderful man” whom he had come to know well during his time in the White House.

“We all pray that he has a fast and full recovery,” the Republican’s presidential frontrunner said.

New Zealand Prime Minister Chris Luxon chimed in with a post on X, saying: “Kia Kaha King Charles. On behalf of all Kiwis I wish His Majesty all the very best for a speedy recovery.”

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he had no doubt the King would “be back to full strength in no time”.