King Charles in health scare, appointments cancelled
King Charles was admitted to hospital in connection with his ongoing cancer treatment, requiring the cancellation of appointments.
King Charles was admitted to hospital on Thursday (local time) after suffering side effects from his ongoing cancer treatment, requiring the cancellation of appointments.
Buckingham Palace announced on Friday (AEDT): “Following scheduled and ongoing medical treatment for cancer this morning, The King experienced temporary side effects that required a short period of observation in hospital. His Majesty’s afternoon engagements were therefore postponed.”
The palace said His Majesty had returned to Clarence House and as a precautionary measure, acting on medical advice, tomorrow’s diary program will also be rescheduled.
Aides said the King is on good form, and is continuing to work on State papers and make calls from his study. It is anticipated that his planned visit to Italy the week after next will still go ahead as planned.
A palace aide said the King’s diary cancellations would impact a host of engagements.
“His Majesty was due to receive credentials from the ambassadors of three different nations this afternoon,’’ the aide said.
“Tomorrow, he was due to undertake four public engagements in Birmingham and is greatly disappointed to be missing them on this occasion.
“He very much hopes that they can be rescheduled in due course and offers his deepest apologies to all those who had worked so hard to make the planned visit possible.”
The King, 76, is well known for his long working hours and he even rearranged his cancer treatment in order to embark on a short royal tour to Australia and the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Samoa last October.
King Charles’ next overseas trip is to Italy, and the itinerary for that visit has already been changed to accommodate the recovery of Pope Francis.
The King has been receiving treatment for more than a year after an unspecified cancer was detected in January 2024 during treatment on his prostate.
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