King Charles III makes major announcement about his health

There has been an official update from Buckingham Palace concerning King Charles’ return to public duties.

King Charles III has received clearance to return to royal duties next week after his medical team have felt “very encouraged” that his cancer treatment is progressing well.

Telling wellwishers he is “deeply grateful for the many kindnesses and good wishes” he received during his eleven-week hiatus from work, the monarch announced he will officially take up front-facing royal duties from Tuesday with a visit to a London cancer charity with Queen Camilla.

Heralding at the same time the first anniversary of his coronation, the king signed off the release of a new photograph of him Camilla and has told royal staff he is “greatly encouraged” to be resuming work.

Buckingham Palace confirmed the King’s treatment is “continuing” but a spokesman said, “doctors are sufficiently pleased with the progress made so far that the king is now able to resume a number of public-facing duties.”

King Charles III (front R), followed by Queen Camilla (rear L) has received clearance to return to public duties. Picture: AFP

The spokesman added: “Forthcoming engagements will be adapted where necessary to minimise any risks to His Majesty’s continued recovery.

“It is too early to say (how much longer he will remain in treatment), but His Majesty’s medical team are very encouraged by the progress made so far and remain positive about The King’s continued

recovery.”

A statement from Buckingham Palace issued on Friday announced the king’s return to work, saying, “His Majesty The King will shortly return to public-facing duties after a period of treatment and recuperation following his recent cancer diagnosis.

“To help mark this milestone, The King and Queen will make a joint visit to a cancer treatment centre next Tuesday (April 30), where they will meet medical specialists and patients.

“This visit will be the first in a number of external engagements His Majesty will undertake in the weeks ahead.

“In addition, The King and Queen will host Their Majesties The Emperor and Empress of Japan for a State Visit in June, at the request of HM Government.”

“As the first anniversary of The Coronation approaches, Their Majesties remain deeply grateful for the many kindnesses and good wishes they have received from around the world throughout the joys and challenges of the past year.”

Following the statement a new photograph was released by Buckingham Palace of King Charles III and Queen Camilla, taken by portrait photographer Millie Pilkington, in Buckingham Palace Gardens on April 10, the day after their 19th wedding anniversary, and was issued to mark the first anniversary of their Coronation.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla in Buckingham Palace Gardens on April 10, the day after their 19th wedding anniversary. Picture: Handout/Millie Pilkington/Buckingham Palace via Getty Images

The King, 75, has remained positive throughout his treatment since his diagnosis on February 6 and is understood to have told aides he intends to attend the annual state parade of Trooping the Colour that marks his official birthday on June 15.

The 17th century ceremony culminating in a military fly-past and palace balcony appearance of working royals has been top of the list of events the king has wanted to attend but since undergoing treatment for an unknown cancer, he has been forced to shun large scale public gatherings and reduce his workload.

Last year King Charles rode on horseback during the parade for the first time a reigning monarch has done so since 1986 when Queen Elizabeth II last rode.

This year Buckingham Palace and the Ministry of Defence have been exploring ways in which the King can participate and have proposed an option to watch the military parade from a podium, rather than on horseback, and being driven from Buckingham Palace in a carriage.

He is also seeking advice from his medical team to attend the 80th anniversary of D-Day in Normandy that honours Second World War warriors in his capacity as a former royal navy officer, on June 6.

King Charles III is said to be looking forward to his 2024 tour of Australia. Picture: Morne de Klerk/Getty Images

The King is also said to be buoyed by continuing negotiations for his first Australia tour as monarch later this year after they were postponed when the Queen died in September 2022.

It is customary the year after a monarch is crowned for them to visit Australia.

A state visit of the commonwealth realm is the biggest and most significant royal tour for a British monarch. Queen Elizabeth II visited 16 times, the first time in 1954 and finally in 2011.

A scaled back two-week visit Down Under taking in New Zealand is being planned for when he travels to Samoa for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), October 21 - 25.

Invitations are being considered to attend the Melbourne Cup and Everest Race day on October 19 to present the trophy for a race entitled the King Charles III Stakes. The King first attended the Melbourne Cup with his late wife Princess Diana in 1985 before returning with Camilla when she was the Duchess of Cornwall in 2012.

He had also been invited to bicentenary celebrations of the New South Wales parliament’s upper house.

All engagements are being carefully reviewed and tailored to reduce undue risk to the King’s health as he continues to recover, palace aides say.

King Charles III (L) is reacts as Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey (C) and Bank of England's Chief Cashier Sarah John present him with the first bank notes featuring his portrait. Picture: AFP

“Any public-facing engagements will be announced nearer the time in the usual way, and will remain subject to doctors’ advice, but it will not be a full summer program,” a palace spokesman said.

“His Majesty is greatly encouraged to be resuming some public-facing duties and very grateful to his medical team for their continued care and expertise.

“His Majesty will of course continue with all official State business and selected audiences, as he has done throughout his period of treatment.

“The pacing of The King’s program will be carefully calibrated as his recovery continues, in close consultation with his medical team,” the spokesman said.

“Planning continues for ways in which Their Majesties may attend such Summer and Autumn engagements, though nothing can be confirmed or guaranteed at this stage.

“All future plans remain subject to doctors’ advice nearer the time, with appropriate adaptations made where necessary to minimise any risks to His Majesty’s continued recovery,” the palace spokesman added.

Royal historian and author Ed Owens welcomed the King’s return to royal duty to help boost much needed stability in the country following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

“Carpe Diem, this is an opportunity, given the king’s illness, for him to seize the moment and be clearer about what his reign will be,” he said.

“The King’s return to royal duties is clearly very good news for a monarchy that has had a difficult start to 2024.

“As well as other challenges the royal family is facing, his illness has led to questions about how long he will be king and if he will be a transitional king or transformational one.

“I hope he uses this opportunity to set out more clearly what he intends to do with the monarchy and see through his modernisation of it.

“His presence in public will help bring back a degree of stability to the country.”

Queen Camilla and King Charles III depart from the Easter Mattins Service at Windsor Castle on March 31, 2024 in Windsor, England. Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty Images

It comes as it was revealed plans for King Charles III’s funeral are regularly being updated and reviewed, according to reports which claim the monarch is “very unwell” and the outlook “not good”.

The King, who announced to the world in February he had cancer, has been undergoing treatment including radiation appointments in London.

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

The health of the 75-year-old monarch has been deteriorating, prompting Buckingham Palace officials to be updating the plans for his funeral, insiders have claimed.

“Of course he is determined to beat it and they are throwing everything at it. Everyone is staying optimistic, but he is really very unwell. More than they are letting on,” reports The Daily Beast, citing the source as an old friend of the family.

King Charles has been largely absent from public life since his cancer diagnosis, with family members including his siblings and heir to the throne Prince William making formal appearances on his behalf.

With reports the prognosis was described as “it’s not good”, Palace staff have been regularly reviewing the hundred of pages of his funeral plan — named Operation Menai Bridge.

“The plans have been dusted off and are actively being kept up to date. It’s no more than what you would expect given the king has been diagnosed with cancer. But the circulation of them has certainly focused minds,” a former staffer who has ties with serving courtiers told the Daily Beast.

King Charles III had fewer appearances at Easter this year. Here he is departing from the Easter Mattins Service at Windsor Castle on March 31. Picture: Getty Images

A military source said Operation Menai Bridge was constantly under review, but stressed it was standard procedure and would be “absurd to read anything into” it.

Members of the royal family all have funeral plans with bridge-related codenames. the late Queen Elizabeth II’s plan was called Operation London Bridge.

Those tasked with the review are also looking at what worked or did not work with Operation London Bridge and to apply those leanings to Operation Menai Bridge, it has been reported.

“Of course they are looking at every aspect of Menai Bridge. The queen’s funeral went like clockwork and set a high bar. It’s not an emotional thing, it’s a job, one taken very seriously, and understandably no-one plans to get caught out,” another source said.

Originally published as King Charles III makes major announcement about his health