King Charles III suffers from cancer, which was discovered during a recent prostate operation, which will keep him out of public life for an unknown period of time.
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Less than a year and a half after succeeding his mother Elizabeth II to the British throne and nine months after his coronation, the 75-year-old monarch plans to not only completely cease his activities as head of state of the United Kingdom but also of 14 other countries, Buckingham Palace announced on Monday.
“During the last procedure for benign prostatic hyperplasia, a separate problem was noted,” the palace explained in a statement, and “subsequent tests identified a form of cancer.”
The palace said that the health problem was not prostate cancer.
The palace stated that the king “began a regular treatment program today (Monday), during which doctors advised him to postpone his public activities.” But he will continue to “take care of state affairs and administrative tasks as usual.”
“Very optimistic”
According to Buckingham Palace, the king “remains very optimistic about the treatment he has received and looks forward to returning to his public duties as soon as possible.”
After learning of the diagnosis, US President Joe Biden said he was “concerned” about the king, while Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he hoped he would “make a quick and full recovery.”
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Channel X (formerly Twitter): “I have no doubt that he will quickly regain all his strength and I know the whole country is sending him its best wishes.”
Wishes for recovery poured in, including from Scotland's Prime Minister Yomza Yusuf and Northern Irish Republic's Michelle O'Neill.
Like the surgery he had to treat a benign prostate problem about which he was transparent, Charles III chose to “share his diagnosis to avoid speculation, and in the hope of helping the public understand all those affected by cancer around the world.” He says.
The announcement that he had prostate disease actually contradicted the secrecy surrounding Queen Elizabeth II's health in the years before her death on September 8, 2022, at the age of 96, at the end of a record reign of 70 years.
This comes at a time when the wife of his heir, William Kate (42 years old), was admitted to the hospital on January 16 to undergo abdominal surgery, the reason for which was kept secret. She has not been seen in public since she appeared with the rest of the family at Christmas.
Kensington Palace announced a week ago that she had been discharged from the private London clinic where she underwent this procedure, and is continuing her recovery period at the family home in Windsor, west of London.
The reasons for his surgery are still mysterious, but it is not cancer, according to British media.
The palace announced that it will likely suspend its activities until Easter, March 31.
Harry coming soon to the UK
William, the eldest son of King Charles III, also stopped his public duties in order to prioritize his family. But his services announced on Monday that he will attend the honoring ceremony in Windsor on Wednesday and then a charity concert in London.
Charles' youngest son, Harry, who is exiled in California, will return to the UK to see his father despite the notorious tensions between the Duke of Sussex and his father as well as his older brother.
The forced withdrawal of Charles, Kate and William has put Queen Camilla, 76, in the lead, with several trips each week to the still little-loved Brit, who adored Princess Diana, the king's first wife.
At the end of January, Prince Andrew's ex-wife, Sarah Ferguson, who recently underwent surgery for breast cancer, announced that she was suffering from “malignant melanoma”, which is skin cancer.
If the Duchess of York is no longer an active member of the family, Fergie will continue to share a mansion near Windsor Castle with King Charles' brother.
