King Charles ‘hugely frustrated’ at slow recovery: Peter Phillips
Princess Anne’s son has given an insight into Charles’ state of mind as it’s revealed the King’s announcement of his cancer encouraged Kate to reveal her own battle.
King Charles is “hugely frustrated” that his recovery is taking longer than expected and is “keen” to get back to normality, his nephew has said.
Peter Phillips, Princess Anne’s son, gave an insight into the King’s state of mind in an interview with Sky News Australia, and heaped praise on the “remarkable” Princess of Wales.
“I think ultimately he’s hugely frustrated,” Mr Phillips, 46, said of the King. “He’s frustrated that he can’t get on and do everything that he wants to be able to do.
“But he is very pragmatic, he understands that there’s a period of time that he really needs to focus on himself,” he said.
“But at the same time he is always pushing his staff and everybody – his doctors and nurses – to be able to say ‘actually can I do this, can I do that?’”
Mr Phillips, in Australia to represent the International Foundation for Arts and Culture, added: “I think the overriding message would be that he’s obviously very keen to get back to a form of normality and is probably frustrated that recovery is taking a little longer than probably he would want it to.”
The King has been receiving treatment for cancer since February, after an undisclosed form of cancer was discovered during a procedure for an enlarged prostate.
His public disclosure about his cancer diagnosis reportedly “provided a template” for the Princess of Wales to release information about her cancer treatment.
Kate, 42, released a personal video on Friday, local time in which she explained that she was undergoing preventive chemotherapy for an unspecified cancer that had been detected in tests following her planned abdominal surgery in January, and vowed that she was “going to be OK”.
She described the “huge shock” of receiving the cancer diagnosis and said she had spent the past weeks trying to manage the news privately for the sake of her young family.
A Palace insider told The Times that Kate’s video was inspired by the “warmth” and overwhelmingly supportive public response to The King’s own revelation about his cancer diagnosis.
Mr Phillips praised the Princess over her video, saying she was “remarkable” adding that she and Prince William made a ”fantastic team” and had “got it right” in balancing their public life and family life.
The Princess’s announcement came just weeks after the King’s aides said he was undergoing treatment for “a form of cancer” on February 7.
“A factor in their decision to go public would have been the great warmth and affection received by the King as a result of his announcement. It meant a huge amount to him,” an insider told The Times.
Kate filmed the video on Wednesday and went to see the King for lunch the following day, who is understood to have offered his support.
“In some ways it provided a template. For the King, the issue was how to act quickly to share the information with an audience of millions, while for the princess the core audience was their three young children and a message that had to be sensitively handled at the right time before it could be shared with the wider public,” the insider told The. Times.
After Kate’s address to the nation, the King’s spokesman said Charles was “so proud of Catherine for her courage in speaking as she did.”
A statement from Buckingham Palace said the King “remained in the closest contact with his beloved daughter-in-law throughout the past weeks”.
Kate’s in-laws, Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, said: “We wish health and healing for Kate and the family, and hope they are able to do so privately and in peace.”
Kensington Palace released a statement late on Saturday, saying: “The Prince and Princess are both enormously touched by the kind messages from people here in the UK, across the Commonwealth and around the world in response to Her Royal Highness’ message.
“They are extremely moved by the public’s warmth and support and are grateful for the understanding of their request for privacy at this time.”
Kensington Palace released a statement late on Saturday, saying: “The Prince and Princess are both enormously touched by the kind messages from people here in the UK, across the Commonwealth and around the world in response to Her Royal Highness’ message.
“They are extremely moved by the public’s warmth and support and are grateful for the understanding of their request for privacy at this time.”
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