From sausage fingers to cancer The history of the King’s health

Sausage fingers

The King has long joked about his puffy fingers. During rehearsals for his Coronation last year, the Prince of Wales struggled to fasten a ceremonial robe, his father told him not to worry as he doesn’t have “sausage fingers” like his father. However, when William was born in 1982 the King wrote to a friend: “He really does look surprisingly appetising and has sausage fingers just like mine.” Various explanations for the monarch’s sausage fingers have been suggested over the years – oedema, arthritis, infections, allergies, high salt levels and more.

Polo injuries

Polo is considered a high-risk sport and the King’s history illustrates why. In 1980 he required six stitches on his cheek after being thrown and kicked by his horse during a match at Windsor. In 1990, he broke his right arm in a fall during another match and underwent several operations, including one three months later because one of the fractures hadn’t healed. In 1992, another polo injury resulted in an operation to repair torn cartilage in his left knee and in 1993 he was yet again injured in a game. But he got back on his horse, only to be thrown off again during a match with his sons in 2001, knocked unconscious and taken to hospital.he continued playing polo until 2005, aged 57.

Hunting accidents

In 1998, the King fell from his horse and broke a rib in a fox-hunting accident while riding through the Welsh countryside with the Wynnstay Hunt. In 2001, he tumbled from his horse on wet ground during a fox hunt in Derbyshire, breaking a bone in his left shoulder. His numerous falls from horses over the years have left him with some back pain. In his controversial

memoir Spare, Prince Harry described his father doing headstands, prescribed by his physiotherapist to help with the “constant pain in Pa’s neck and back” caused mostly by “old polo injuries”. In 1998, the King underwent laser keyhole surgery on his right knee as wear and tear on the joint had been causing him discomfort.

Sawing mishap

While sawing a branch off a tree at Highgrove, the King’s Gloucestershire estate, in autumn 2001 he ended up with sawdust in his eye. The result was a scratched cornea, which temporarily affected his vision and meant wearing a bandage over the injured eye.

Hernia

In 2003, the King underwent a hernia operation at the private King Edward VII’S Hospital in

London. He joked to the media after being discharged “hernia today, gone tomorrow”. It is thought he hurt himself while laying hedges in the gardens of Highgrove. The King was kept in hospital for 24 hours and cancelled the following week’s engagements to recuperate.

Non-cancerous growth

In 2008, he had a non-cancerous growth removed from his nose. The operation was described as minor.

Covid

The King contracted coronavirus in March 2020 and again in 2022. The first time he said he had been lucky to experience only mild symptoms. He tested positive again almost two years later.

Enlarged prostate

Last month, the King was treated at the London Clinic for an enlarged prostate. In the hope of raising awareness about the condition, he allowed Buckingham Palace to release details. His case was described as benign.

Cancer

However, while the King was being treated his cancer was uncovered. He has not disclosed what type but has confirmed it is not prostate cancer. His treatment has already begun. Buckingham Palace has said he will continue to carry out state duties despite the diagnosis.