King Charles III’s Cancer Diagnosis: Everything We Know So Far
The 75-year-old sovereign began treatment Monday.
When pictures emerged of King Charles III and Queen Camilla attending church in Sandringham on Sunday, I took the photographs as an encouraging sign that the sovereign was recovering from his prostate procedure. It was the first public outing since his treatment on Jan. 26, which saw the 75-year-old spend three nights at the London Clinic.
During that hospital stay, however, “a separate issue of concern was noted,” according to a statement released by Buckingham Palace Monday. “Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer.” Charles began out-patient treatment on Monday in London.
Below, a look at what we know so far about the king’s shocking diagnosis. I’ve also included more on Charles’s health history as well as instances of cancer among other members of the royal family and what might happen if the king is unable to perform official duties.
This has been an unbelievably difficult start to the year for the Windsors. Sending prayers and well wishes to the king and his family at this difficult time.
King Charles III’s Cancer Diagnosis: Everything We Know So Far
What has Buckingham Palace shared about King Charles III’s diagnosis?
Around 6pm on Monday evening in the UK, Buckingham Palace issued a statement with the following information:
King Charles III has been diagnosed with a “form of cancer.”
The cancer was detected last month, when the 75-year-old sovereign had been admitted to the hospital on Jan 26. for a procedure to address a benign, enlarged prostate. As part of that treatment, “a separate issue of concern was noted,” according to Buckingham Palace. “Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer.”
Charles began “a schedule of regular treatments” on Monday, according to the palace, during which he will not perform any public-facing duties. “His Majesty will continue to undertake State business and official paperwork as usual.”
The king remains “wholly positive about his treatment.”
Do we know what type of cancer he has?
No. Several outlets, including the BBC, have only said that the king does not have prostate cancer.
Why did Charles disclose his diagnosis?
Buckingham Palace is not obligated to share information regarding the king’s health; the royal family considers medical matters to be private. However, the diagnosis was disclosed “to prevent speculation,” according to the statement, ahead of what is expected to be many weeks, and perhaps months, out of the public eye.
Charles was also keen to “assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer,” Buckingham Palace said. Around 1,000 people in the United Kingdom are diagnosed with cancer each day, according to Fergus Walsh, medical editor for the BBC: “We know that age is the number one risk factor for most cancers. The King is 75 years old, and just over a third of all new cancers are diagnosed in people aged 75 and over.”
Charles has supported a number of cancer-related charities as part of his royal work, including more than two decades as patron of Macmillan Cancer Support. “Our thoughts are with His Majesty The King and his family,” the organization tweeted. “We are sending our best wishes at what we know must be an incredibly challenging time.”
What has been the royal family’s response?
The king shared news of his diagnosis with his immediate family including his two sons and his three siblings, according to several members of the royal rota.
Prince Harry is reportedly planning to travel to the UK this week to see his father. Meghan will remain in California with their children.
Prince William is said to be in regular communication with his father. William is due to return to royal duties this Wednesday after an extended break to help Catherine recover from abdominal surgery. (The Princess of Wales is now at home in Windsor recovering after a 12-day hospital stay. She is not expected to return to public engagements until April.)
Has Charles had any other serious illnesses before?
No, at least not any that have been shared publicly.
As we all know, the king was treated for the enlarged prostate last month. Beyond that, we know he had covid twice, first in 2020 and again two years later, with mild symptoms both times.
Charles had a number of injuries several decades ago, all associated with his polo playing, according to the Associated Press. In 1980, he needed stitches on his cheek after being thrown by his horse. In the 1990s, a broken right arm required “several operations,” while in 2001 he was “knocked unconscious and taken to a hospital in an ambulance when his horse threw him during a polo match.”
Other medical concerns that required treatment include a hernia operation in 2003 and a “non-cancerous growth removed from the bridge of his nose in a minor, routine procedure” in 2008, according to the wire report. Charles has also suffered back pain for years — something Harry touched on in Spare, remember the headstands? — due to a degenerative disc in his spine.
Has anyone else in the royal family had cancer?
Several members of the Windsor family have had cancer, although in many cases it wasn’t shared in real time.
Charles’s grandfather, King George VI, was a heavy smoker who was diagnosed with lung cancer. His left lung was removed in 1951 for “structural abnormalities,” according to the Telegraph. “In reality, it was a carcinoma. Yet the king’s doctors withheld his diagnosis from the public, the medical profession — and even the king himself.” George VI died five months later of coronary thrombosis; speculation in the decades since have suggested it was “the result of complications from his cancer spreading,” the paper reported.
Princess Margaret, the late Queen Elizabeth II’s sister and Charles’s aunt, was also a heavy smoker who faced a cancer scare. In 1985, she had surgery to remove part of her left lung. According to the statement from the palace, the area “proved to be innocent,” meaning not cancerous.
The Duke of Windsor, Charles’s uncle and the former King Edward VIII, died of throat cancer in 1972.
Charles’s grandmother, known as the Queen Mother, had colon and breast cancer, according to the official biography published after her death at the age of 101. Author William Shawcross interviewed the queen’s former physician, reporting that the Queen Mother underwent procedures in 1966 and 1984 to have tumors removed first from her colon and then her breast. (Also, I came across this in my research: “The Queen Mother spent more than two weeks in hospital after the bowel surgery and when discharged, canceled all her official engagements for the first three months of 1967,” according to a 2022 report in the Daily Express.)
The official cause of death of Queen Elizabeth II was listed as “old age.” However, a reputable biographer, Gyles Brandreth, later wrote that she had a form of bone marrow cancer.
Do we think the royal family will be more forthcoming with health news going forward?
Possibly? It’s hard to say. Charles was refreshingly forthcoming with his prostate treatment. News about his cancer and Catherine’s surgery was much more vague — but sharing any health information at all is significant for the royal family.
It’s worth noting, too, that Sarah, Duchess of York, went public with her diagnosis of breast cancer last year and skin cancer this year.
The Windsors are quick to say when something is not cancer, too. We saw this around Kate’s abdominal procedure, after which Kensington Palace briefed that it was not cancer related.
And back in 2008, the private secretary to Queen Elizabeth released a statement shutting down a report in the Evening Standard that suggested Prince Philip had prostate cancer. “Buckingham Palace has always maintained that Members of the Royal Family have a right to privacy, particularly in relation to their personal health. For this reason, we have always refused to confirm or deny the persistent rumours that circulate about their health,” it reads. “On this occasion, because the damaging story is now being reported widely, The Duke of Edinburgh has authorised us to confirm that the claim made by the Evening Standard that he has received a ‘diagnosis of prostate cancer’ is untrue.”
What if Charles is unable to carry out his official duties?
The palace said the king is postponing his public-face engagements at this time and will still be working behind the scenes. He will continue his weekly meetings with the prime minister, according to the BBC.
However, if the situation changes, a designated group of adults in the line of succession can serve as Counsellors of State. These people can “carry out most of the official duties of the Sovereign,” according to Buckingham Palace, including “attending Privy Council meetings, signing routine documents and receiving the credentials of new ambassadors to the United Kingdom.” They are not permitted to undertake core constitutional matters, such as appointing a prime minister.
The original legislation called for Counsellors of State to consist of the sovereign’s spouse and the next four adults (those over the age of 21) in line to the throne. At this time, that includes Queen Camilla, Prince William, Prince Harry, Prince Andrew, and Princess Beatrice. In late 2022, Charles sought to amend the Counsellors of State Act to include his other two siblings, Princess Anne and Prince Edward. They now are able to serve in his absence, too.
But mostly: Along with the statement on Monday, Buckingham Palace released a new portrait of King Charles III taken by Samir Hussein. The stately photograph features the king looking directly into the camera, his arms behind his back and a slight smile on his face. The striking image was used widely across the front pages of Tuesday’s newspapers in the UK.
Wishing the king the very best as he begins his treatment. My thoughts and prayers are also with his children, Camilla, and the rest of the royal family.
PS: For those wanting to send their well wishes to the king directly, his mailing address is as follows:
His Majesty The King
Buckingham Palace
London SW1A 1AA
Not to make light of a serious topic - but I summarized this for my very introverted husband. He said, “Me too, gonna avoid the public in solidarity.”
I just wish the network of hate accounts on “X” would take a break and let this family alone