King Charles has reflected today on his cancer journey, well over a year since he was first diagnosed with the disease.
The monarch, 76, revealed his diagnosis in February last year following a procedure at a London hospital to treat an enlarged prostate.
In a raw statement, the typically tight-lipped king revealed how ‘daunting and at times frightening’ having cancer can be.
‘But as one among those statistics myself, I can vouch for the fact that it can also be an experience that brings into sharp focus the very best of humanity,’ he said.
But what cancer does Charles have and what has the king said about it?
What type of cancer does King Charles have?
The palace has never disclosed what type of cancer Charles has or what treatment he has undergone.
Buckingham Palace said at the time: ‘No further details are being shared at this stage, except to confirm that His Majesty does not have prostate cancer.’
Charles, who supported several cancer charities as Prince of Wales, chose 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’, palace officials said.
Is it linked to King Charles’ prostate treatment?
Charles’ illness was discovered while he was being treated for benign prostate enlargement at the London Clinic.
It was the same day Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, had abdominal surgery that sparked her cancer diagnosis.
He spent three nights at the London clinic private hospital, where doctors discovered a ‘separate issue of concern’.
They confirmed cancer – though not prostate cancer – with later tests.
How is King Charles being treated for cancer?
When the diagnosis was publicly announced, Charles returned from his royal estate in Sandringham to London to start his treatment.
This meant he could stay at home instead of in the hospital for the duration of his treatment.
But in the more than a year since his diagnosis, the palace has offered no updates on his prognosis or the nature of his treatment.
Where Charles is being treated and whether it is an NHS or private hospital have not been confirmed.
He was briefly taken to the hospital in March after suffering side effects from his cancer treatment. Palace officials did not describe the nature of these side effects, beyond saying they ‘required a short period of observation in hospital’ and that he is on track.
The stint did not impact the king’s increasingly busy schedule too much. In recent months, he has made several foreign and domestic trips.
Queen Camilla gave a small update on the king’s health earlier this month, saying Charles had run into a ‘problem’ with his recovery.
‘I think he loves his work and it keeps him going. And I think it’s wonderful, you know, if you’ve been ill and you are recovering, you’re getting better and now he wants to do more and more and more,’ she said.
‘That’s the problem,’ she laughed.
What has King Charles said about his cancer?
An initial statement said Charles was ‘wholly positive’ and would continue to undertake State business and official paperwork, despite taking a break from public engagements.
His first visit after the break was to a specialist cancer centre in London at the end of April.
‘It’s always a bit of a shock, isn’t it, when they tell you’, he said of his diagnosis during the trip.
Charles and palace officials have sought to stress that the king is doing fine and is on the road to recovery, something Charles has made clear by keeping his royal calendar action-packed.
In his Christmas message, Charles said: ‘From a personal point of view, I offer special, heartfelt thanks to the selfless doctors and nurses who, this year, have supported me and other members of my family through the uncertainties and anxieties of illness, and have helped provide the strength, care and comfort we have needed.
‘I am deeply grateful, too, to all those who have offered us their own kind words of sympathy and encouragement.’
On World Cancer Day in February, the Royal Family released a video saying the king is was grateful for the medical teams’ ‘swift intervention’.
They added that he will not be providing a ‘running commentary’ of his condition.
Having stepped back briefly from his duties, which include speeches, visits to charities, community projects and trips, he has thrown himself back into the fold in recent months.
As one official put it earlier this month: ‘As people will have seen, the King enjoys his work, he enjoys engaging with as many people as possible.’
Could King Charles abdicate?
It was expected that the King’s son, Prince William, would take up more public duties in his father’s absence.
But William’s wife Kate’s diagnosis diverted his attention. Announcing an end to her chemotherapy in September, the couple said they wished to spend more time with their family.
Kate announced in January that she is now in remission.
However, the King’s health concerns raised the question whether Charles might abdicate in favour of William, Prince of Wales.
Dr. Bob Morris, an honorary senior research associate at UCL’s Constitution Unit, previously explained that the Regency Act could also come into play amid any monarch’s ill health.
While the prospect remains unlikely, it could be triggered if the King became physically incapacitated due to illness, meaning he could no longer speak or move.
In such an event, his duties would be carried out by various members of the Royal Family.
After the Prince of Wales, Prince George would take the next place in the line of succession.
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