King keen to get ‘back up and running’ despite Queen telling him to slow down
THE King has no intention of “slowing down” and is keen to get back to his usual pace of work following a minor operation, despite the Queen’s attempts to convince him otherwise.
The King will be “back up and running” after a procedure to correct an enlarged prostate, palace sources said, saying a period of enforced rest is only a temporary measure.
Despite the Queen regularly urging him to slow down, he will be “raring to go once he’s had a short period of recuperation”, The Telegraph understands.
Buckingham Palace has cancelled the King’s engagements this week after he was diagnosed with an enlarged prostate a week ago.
The Sun reported that “the Queen has told him he needs to slow down a bit”, something she has been urging him to do regularly over at least a decade.
Last year, he undertook 516 engagements, as well as state visits to France, Germany and Kenya. He will take a couple of weeks off public duties following his operation, a palace source said, and is expected to continue to work on his red boxes and correspondence as usual.
“This sort of procedure is a temporary thing, and then he will be back up and running and very keen to pick up his usual pace,” one said. “His work ethic is well known. He’s going to be raring to go once he’s had a short period of recuperation.”
The Queen was asked about her husband’s well-being as she carried out engagements in Swindon on Monday, insisting he was “fine” and thanking those who asked.
The King flew back from Scotland with the Queen on Friday, and headed to his Sandringham estate where he spent the weekend.
He shared his diagnosis with the public to encourage other men who may be experiencing symptoms to get checked.
Last week, Buckingham Palace said in a statement: “In common with thousands of men each year, the King has sought treatment for an enlarged prostate.
“His Majesty’s condition is benign and he will attend hospital next week for a corrective procedure. The King’s public engagements will be postponed for a short period of recuperation.”
The Princess of Wales remains in hospital at The London Clinic following abdominal surgery. She is not expected to return to public engagements before Easter, spending up to two weeks in hospital before returning home to her three children to recover.
The Queen has been attempting to convince her husband to slow down for more than a decade. On his 65th birthday, in 2013, she said: “He is not one for chilling. He never, ever stops working. He’s exhausting. No matter what the day, he is always working.
“I am hopping up and down and saying, ‘Darling do you think we could have a bit of, you know, peace and quiet, enjoy ourselves together?’ But he always has to finish something.”
On his 70th birthday, the Queen was asked whether he would be persuaded to slow down at the landmark birthday.
“You must be joking!” she replied. “There’s no way that he will slow down.”