Your kind thoughts are the greatest comfort
I‘w‘ould like to express my most heartfelt thanks for the many messages of support and good wishes
offering advice on the signs and symptoms of cancer – up to more than 14,600 from a daily average of 9,737 in the 24 hours following the announcement of his illness. Visitor numbers peaked in the hour following the initial statement, with 1,530 visits to the page – one every three seconds.
And in a further sign of increasing openness, reports emerged last night that Charles “is keen to be seen” and will be driven in the state Bentley, with its large windows, wherever possible while in London.
Meanwhile, the news of his cancer last Monday led to son Prince Harry, 39, making a flying visit from his California home to see his father for the first time in 16 months. But the Duke of Sussex only spent 30 minutes alone with the King and flew home the next day, after just 25 hours in the country. And 24 hours after arriving back in the US, he was at the NFL Honours ceremony in Las Vegas to present an award, leading to speculation he will appear alongside top celebrities including Taylor Swift at tonight’s Super Bowl clash between the Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers. Prince William is understood to be staying with wife Kate and their three children at their Norfolk home, Anmer Hall, on the King’s estate. William, 41, returned to public duties last week after caring for Kate, 42, who is on medical leave from duties until after Easter following an abdominal operation last month.
At a gala fundraiser for the London Air Ambulance Charity on Wednesday, he expressed his appreciation for the messages of support for his wife and his father, saying: “It means a great deal to us all.”
Queen Camilla, 76, who has been at the centre of royal duties, also gave an update on the King’s wellbeing at a ceremony at Salisbury Cathedral, telling a care paramedic for Wiltshire Air Ambulance: “He’s doing extremely well under the circumstances. We are very touched by all of the messages.”
And it has emerged the King and the Duchess of York have been supporting each other.
Prince Andrew’s ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, 64, is now fighting a form of skin cancer after beating breast cancer. The pair have exchanged letters and a royal source said: “The King and Sarah are incredibly fond of one another.”