King Charles has been diagnosed with cancer, Buckingham Palace announced on Monday evening, causing ripples of shock worldwide. The King, 75, recently underwent a corrective procedure for an enlarged prostate at The London Clinic.
Although the Palace disclosed the monarch’s health condition, it refrained from providing further specifics regarding the type of cancer, its stage, or the treatability of the condition. Though it is understood to not be prostate cancer.
It is very rare for the Palace to go into such details about a monarch’s health, and marks a significant break from tradition. However, the Palace may have opted to withhold specific details, to mitigate excessive speculation regarding treatment and prognosis, Mirror Online reported.
In a statement on Monday evening, the Palace said: “During The King’s recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted. Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer.
“His Majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties. Throughout this period, His Majesty will continue to undertake State business and official paperwork as usual.”
Several experts have praised the King for sharing the health condition with the public saying it will encourage others to seek help for their potential cancer symptoms.
Chiara De Biase, director of support and influencing at Prostate Cancer UK, said: “We are saddened to hear of the King’s cancer diagnosis and wish him well as he starts his treatment. Whilst we are aware the King hasn’t been diagnosed with prostate cancer, more detail about his condition has not been disclosed. We respect Buckingham Palace’s request for people not to speculate. We saw a 500 per cent increase in people coming to our website for information and support in the week following the news.”
Elliot Colburn, MP and chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Cancer, also praised the King’s decision. He wrote on X, formerly Twitter: “I would like to wish King Charles a speedy and healthy recovery after the upsetting news of his diagnosis. As Chair of the APPG for Cancer, I applaud His Majesty for raising awareness about a disease that affects so many.”
Previously, King Charles has demonstrated a willingness to openly address his health concerns as a means to utilise his platform and shed light on conditions that are often considered taboo.
When Buckingham Palace announced his intention to undergo treatment for benign prostate enlargement, it was intending to encourage more men to prioritise prostate screenings—a topic typically avoided by many.
The impact of this announcement was significant, leading to a surge in visits to the NHS website’s pages related to prostate conditions. The King was reportedly pleased to have sparked awareness on the issue.
Today’s public disclosure of King Charles’s cancer diagnosis serves the dual purpose of preventing speculation and fostering public understanding while also raising awareness about cancer and its impact on individuals.
This underscores the King’s commitment to activism and promoting awareness on various health-related issues, demonstrating his reluctance to shy away from challenging topics.
In October 2020, while still Prince Charles, he lamented the British reluctance to discuss health issues affecting more private parts of the body, asserting that this reluctance may result in unnecessary deaths.
During this time, he advocated for Loud Tie Day, an initiative aimed at encouraging conversations about bowel cancer—a cancer he noted as particularly uncomfortable for Britons to address.
Meanwhile, the monarch has informed his siblings and children about his cancer diagnosis, which also includes Prince Harry. The Duke of Sussex is reportedly reaching the UK to visit his father.
He informed his siblings and children about his cancer diagnosis, which also includes Prince Harry. The Duke of Sussex is making his way to the UK to visit his father.
