Britain's King Charles III made his first public appearance today since the announcement of his cancer diagnosis. King Charles was seen publicly for the first time on Tuesday since it was revealed he has a type of cancer, coinciding with the arrival of his youngest son, Prince Harry, in Britain to visit him.
Buckingham Palace announced on Monday that King Charles (75), who ascended to the throne 18 months ago following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth, will be postponing his public duties to undergo a treatment program after being diagnosed with a type of cancer.
Charles smiled and waved to passersby as he drove a short distance from his home at Clarence House in central London to Buckingham Palace this afternoon. The palace stated that the king is still coping "completely positively" with the illness, while Prime Minister Rishi Sunak previously mentioned that it was discovered at an early stage.
Prince Harry, King Charles's younger son who has distanced himself from the royal family, arrived in Britain to check on his father as messages of support for the king poured in from world leaders. A palace source indicated that there are no plans for Harry to meet his older brother, heir to the throne Prince William, during his visit to Britain. Prince William is expected to undertake some of the king's duties.
Sunak told BBC Radio that he felt shocked and saddened by the news. He added, "Our hearts are all with him and his family. Thankfully, the illness was discovered early."
Charles spent last night at his residence after beginning treatment that does not require hospitalization, which the palace described as "a type of cancer." His cancer diagnosis was discovered after he spent three nights in a hospital last month, undergoing corrective surgery for benign prostatic hyperplasia. The palace did not provide any details other than confirming that it is not prostate cancer.
Typically, the royal family maintains privacy over medical issues, but the palace said the king chose to disclose his diagnosis as he supports several cancer-related charities.
This unexpected diagnosis dominated British newspapers on Tuesday, with one of the main headlines in The Sun reading "Nation Shocked as Treatment Begins."
The diagnosis is the latest challenge facing King Charles since his coronation. His son Harry published a memoir titled "Spare" early last year, making accusations against members of the royal family, including his father and brother. The king also has to deal with allegations against his brother, Prince Andrew, related to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
The Daily Telegraph commented on the announcement of the king's illness, wishing him well. The commentary read, "After the upheaval caused by the late queen's death and the controversy surrounding the Dukes of Sussex and York (Harry and Andrew), there were hopes for a period of calm and stability following the coronation." The newspaper added, "But illnesses cannot be predicted or avoided, not even by a man who takes good care of himself. We and the rest of the nation wish His Majesty a swift recovery."
