Prince Harry due to fly in as British monarch steps back from “public-facing” aspects of his role.
Buckingham Palace made an announcement on Monday evening that King Charles III has been diagnosed with cancer. This news has caused a significant impact on the British establishment. King Charles, who became the monarch in September 2022 after the passing of Queen Elizabeth II, will continue to fulfill his royal duties but will be stepping back from public-facing aspects of his role.
The specific details regarding the type and nature of Charles' cancer have not been disclosed yet. The palace statement expressed Charles' gratitude to his medical team for their prompt intervention and conveyed his anticipation of returning to full public duty as soon as possible.
According to a source close to Prince Harry, Charles' younger son who resides in California, the prince has spoken to his father and will be flying back to the U.K. to be by his side. It is noteworthy that they have only met once since Charles became king, which was during his coronation in May 2023.
Prior to this announcement, concerns about Charles' health had already arisen when he underwent three days of prostate treatment in a London hospital last month. It was during this treatment that a separate issue of concern was discovered. Subsequent diagnostic tests confirmed the presence of cancer, leading to the initiation of a regular treatment schedule. As advised by doctors, Charles will be postponing public-facing duties but will continue to fulfill state business and official paperwork as usual.
U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak responded to the statement by expressing his confidence that the king will regain full strength soon. He conveyed the well wishes of the entire country towards Charles. Lindsay Hoyle, the speaker of the House of Commons, informed Members of Parliament about the news and extended their thoughts and support to the king and his family, wishing him a speedy recovery.
Tributes have been pouring in from all around the world, and U.S. President Joe Biden, during a press conference in Las Vegas, expressed his concern and hopes to speak with the king in the coming days. President Biden, aged 81, stated that he is concerned about Charles' health and looks forward to having a conversation with him soon.