KING CHARLES
RUSSELL MYERS BRITAIN’S King Charles last night sent his “most heartfelt thanks” to the public for their messages of support as he battles cancer – saying they have given him “the greatest comfort”.
In a personal and candid statement issued by Buckingham Palace, Charles said his illness had led to the growth of his own “lifelong admiration” for organisations like the NHS and charities that help thousands fight the disease.
The 75-year-old also said he was “heartened” that sharing his plight had helped promote “public understanding” of the illness – referencing the surge in online searches for information about cancer and its symptoms.
Royal sources said last night that Charles is “doing well” and is expected to attend church at Sandringham today.
He is understood to be focusing on resting in preparation for more treatment while recuperating at his estate in Norfolk. His condition was discovered during surgery at the London Clinic for an enlarged prostate last
month, which led to the discovery of a “form of cancer” described as a “separate issue”. The King has begun “regular treatments” which started last Monday and postponed public duties, although he intends to keep up his weekly audiences with the Prime Minister.
Sources say Charles may even release photos and video of his meetings with Rishi Sunak at Buckingham Palace.
The exact nature of the King’s condition is not known but the Palace has confirmed it is not prostate cancer.
In his statement, Charles said: “I would like to express my most heartfelt thanks for the many messages of support and good wishes I have received in recent days. It is equally heartening to hear how sharing my own diagnosis has helped promote public understanding and shine a light on the work of all those organisations which support cancer patients.”
The King’s treatments will be weekly and are described by sources as “highly specialised” with “limited side-effects”.
His diagnosis sparked a 51% rise in searches on an NHS England web page