FACING IT HEAD ON
Charles ‘keen to be seen’ in capital amid health fight
THE King yesterday returned to London from Sandringham, to face his second cancer treatment at a hospital “head on”.
Charles and Queen Camilla flew by helicopter to Buckingham Palace from their Norfolk home and were then driven the short distance to Clarence House, where the King waved to wellwishers who had braved torrential rain.
Sources close to Charles say he is “keen to be seen” as he has treatment and he will be driven in the state Bentley, with its large windows, wherever possible when he is in town.
Yesterday Charles, 75, held face-to-face meetings with staff before his treatment took place.
It was announced last week that the monarch has a “form of cancer” and, at the weekend, he issued a statement praising “all those organisations which support cancer patients”.
The King will continue his weekly audiences with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, when Parliament returns from recess next week.
Charles may also decide to release photos and video clips of his weekly audiences with Mr Sunak. They will take place at Buckingham Palace and he hopes to continue them in person for as long as possible.
HEARTFELT
Other public engagements have been cancelled due to the extra risk of infection while Charles receives treatment.
In a statement, the sovereign also conveyed how he had been greatly encouraged to discover his openness in revealing his diagnosis has led to a surge in searches for information about the disease and symptoms to be aware of.
The NHS praised the King for his candidness and said, as a direct result of his personal experience, thousands more people would be informed of the possible signs of cancer.
Charles has postponed all publicfacing duties, but is continuing with behind-the-scenes work on his red boxes of state papers.
In a personal statement delivered on Saturday by Buckingham Palace, 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.
“As all those who have been affected by cancer will know, such kind thoughts are the greatest comfort and encouragement. 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 and their families across the UK and wider world.
“My lifelong admiration for their tireless care and dedication is all the greater as a result of my own personal experience.” The King signed the message “Charles R”.
Ingrid Seward, editor-in-chief of Majesty Magazine, said: “The King is facing his cancer diagnosis head on and it speaks volumes of his personality that he wants to continue work as much as possible. He will be greatly buoyed by the
great outpouring of affection for him as he embarks upon his treatment.”
The Queen has been taking on a packed diary of engagements and last week said Charles was doing “extremely well under the circumstances”.
Camilla has four public jobs this week, as the Prince of Wales takes half-term off to spend with his family. The Princess of
Wales remains on leave following an abdominal operation last month.
At her first public engagement at Salisbury Cathedral since her husband’s diagnosis, Camilla said he had been “very touched” by all the messages of support he has received from the public.
Charles’s diagnosis followed three nights in a private London hospital where he was treated for an enlarged prostate. The Prince of Wales may step in to represent his father at events.
It has been reported William and his family are spending half-term at their Norfolk home Anmer Hall, which is on the King’s Sandringham estate.