King Charles suspended his public duties in February after being diagnosed with cancer
London:
A crowd of well-wishers greeted King Charles III on Tuesday as he made his first official public appearance since being diagnosed with cancer, after doctors said they were “very encouraged” by the progress of his treatment.
The British head of state and his wife, Queen Camilla, visited the University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Center in central London, which diagnoses and treats a wide range of cancers.
King Charles, 75, is a patron of Cancer Research UK and Macmillan Cancer Support, while Camilla, 76, is president of Maggie’s, another cancer charity.
Outside the center, the couple smiled and waved to the crowd and waiting media before heading inside to meet medical specialists, patients and their families.
King Charles suspended his public duties in February after cancer was discovered while he was being treated for an enlarged prostate the month before.
The exact nature of his cancer has not been disclosed.
His daughter-in-law Catherine, Princess of Wales, 42, underwent abdominal surgery in January and said in March she was receiving chemotherapy.
Again, no details were given about what type of cancer she has. Kate Middleton, as she is commonly known, is married to King Charles’ eldest son and heir Prince William.
Tuesday’s event was the first of several planned in the coming weeks and aimed to raise awareness of the importance of early cancer diagnosis and showcase innovative research, Buckingham Palace said.
King Charles, who succeeded his mother Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022, was officially crowned king on May 6 last year.
Since his diagnosis, he has been seen attending church services and with select audiences. He has also continued his official state business.
On Friday, Buckingham Palace said doctors were “very encouraged” by the progress of his treatment and “positive” about his continued recovery.
Conscience
His treatment as an outpatient will continue, but his schedule will be reduced in the coming weeks and will be dependent on medical advice, a spokesperson added.
An upcoming engagement is a state visit by Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan in June.
The public last week welcomed the King’s return to a number of duties and praised him for raising awareness about cancer, which Cancer Research UK estimates will affect one in two people.
“It’s a big problem in today’s society,” Keegan Gray, 23, a demolition manager from New Zealand, told AFP.
“A lot of people have cancer and a lot of people keep it to themselves, they’re a little shy about it.”
He said it was “very nice” that the king was raising awareness about cancer and the work of treatment clinics.
Actor Annie Rae Donaghy, 21, said the king’s condition will remind people that “everyone is struggling with this” regardless of their status.
King Charles and Kate Middleton’s cancer diagnoses have caused headaches for the royal family as both have postponed public engagements.
Prince William has also stepped back to support his wife and their three young children, leaving fewer senior royals to fill the schedule.
Camilla, 76, has taken over many of her husband’s duties. King Charles’ sister, Princess Anne, and his youngest brother, Prince Edward, have also taken on more prominent roles.
King Charles’ estranged youngest son, Prince Harry, is no longer a working royal but is due in London on May 8 to mark the 10th anniversary of his Invictus Games for disabled military veterans.
He will then visit Nigeria with his American wife Meghan.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
