Charles spends night at home in London after starting cancer treatment as King remains ‘very positive’
Prince Harry is rushing back to the UK to be by his father's side as other family members leave Clarence House
KING Charles spent last night at home in London after starting his cancer treatment.
The monarch, 75, is said to be remaining “very positive” after Buckingham Palace announced his shock diagnosis on Monday.
Friends and family of the King say his spirits remain high as he fights his latest health battle.
Charles is currently taking time off from his public-facing royal duties after further tests during his recent hospital stay detected the disease.
The palace revealed in a statement on Monday that while undergoing surgery for an enlarged prostate, the unspecified cancer was found.
It is understood Charles returned from Sandringham to London on Monday to commence treatment as an out-patient.
The monarch arrived in the capital with Camilla, 76, by his side before retiring for the evening at Clarence House, reports .
Family members have rallied around the King, with Princess Beatrice and husband Edoardo Mozzi spending time with him at the residence.
While Charles takes a step back from being in the public eye, Prince William, 41, and the Queen are set to share the “weight” of his duties.
All other working members of the Royal Family are understood to be continuing with public engagements in his absence.
He will however, continue to receive Red Boxes and State documents and hold a weekly audience with the Prime Minister.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak sent his best wishes to the King this morning, telling BBC Radio 5 Live: “All our thoughts are with him and his family.
“Thankfully, this has been caught early.”
He said everyone will be hoping the King “gets the treatment that he needs and makes a full recovery”.
The PM added: “That’s what we’re all hoping and praying for, and I’m of course in regular contact with him and will continue to communicate with him as normal.”
Charles personally broke the shock news to sons William and Harry ahead of the public announcement.
This morning, Harry was spotted at LAX ready to jet back to the UK following the telephone conversation with his father.
He is expected to land around midday on Tuesday.
It is not known where Harry will stay after he was evicted from Frogmore Cottage on the Windsor estate last year.
Harry’s urgent flight back has seen him leave behind wife Meghan and kids in the US.
The Duchess of Sussex, 42, is remaining at their Montecito mansion in California with their children Archie, four, and two-year-old Lilibet.
Inside Charles' tumultuous 18 months from the Queen’s death to his cancer diagnosis
September 8 2022 – The world was left in mourning after Queen Elizabeth II passed away peacefully at Balmoral Castle on September 8, 2022.
September 19 2022 – The stoic King led his family, marching behind the Queen’s coffin from Westminster Hall to Westminster Abbey, at her funeral.
January 2023 – The Monarch deals with the fall out following Prince Harry’s bombshell memoir Spare – in which the Duke blasted the Royal Family.
April 2023 – Harry has a “heart-to-heart” talk with his dad before agreeing to come to the Coronation in London
May 6 2023 – Charles is crowned King at his Coronation at Westminster Abbey.
September 2023 – Harry rejects an offer to spend the anniversary of the Queen’s death at Balmoral with his father.
November 2023 – The King celebrates his 75th birthday with a gathering of close family and friends at Clarence House.
January 17 2024 – Buckingham Palace announces His Majesty will be undergoing treatment for an enlarged prostate.
Just hours previous it was also revealed Princess Kate had been admitted to hospital for a pre-planned abdominal surgery.
January 26 2024 – The King is admitted to The London Clinic – where Princess Kate was also staying.
January 29 2024 – Charles waves as he leaves the hospital following a three day stay and being given the all clear.
It is understood the Monarch will take a month to recover after the surgery as Queen Camilla stands in during public appearances.
February 5 2024 – Buckingham Palace announces a form of cancer was diagnosed during the King’s prostate op.
The statement confirms Charles has begun a schedule of regular treatments and “remains wholly positive”.
He will also be postponing front line duties on doctor’s advice but continue with his red boxes, weekly audiences with the Prime Minister, and monthly Privy Council meetings.
February 6 2024 – Prince Harry flies to the UK to be with his father as royal experts claim their four-year rift could be put aside.
The Duke of Sussex, who was informed of the news personally by the Monarch, was seen arriving into a private terminal at LAX in his black Range Rover.
Royal experts claim the news may finally see Harry put his four-year rift aside as the Royal Family pull together in this difficult time.
It comes as the duke was due to visit Canada next week ahead of the Invictus Games and take part in several public engagements across Vancouver with Meghan.
Yesterday’s announcement came just eight days after His Majesty was released from hospital following a “corrective procedure” for an enlarged prostate.
But, during his stay a “separate issue of concern was noted” and tests went on to find cancer.
What we know so far:
- The King has been diagnosed with a form of cancer
- Prince Harry rushed to the airport in LA to fly home to support his father
- Meghan will remain in California with their children
- The King personally called his siblings and children to tell them of his diagnosis
- Charles is receiving expert care from specialist doctors
- His Majesty returned from Sandringham to London to begin treatment
- Doctors advised the King to postpone public-facing Royal duties
- Camilla and William will step up to share the weight of the King’s duties during his treatment
- Charles will continue to receive Red Boxes and State documents
- Charles and Camilla shared a cancer message just a day before announcing his diagnosis
A Buckingham Palace spokesman stated: “Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer.
“His Majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties.
“Throughout this period, His Majesty will continue to undertake State business and official paperwork as usual.
“The King is grateful to his medical team for their swift intervention, which was made possible thanks to his recent hospital procedure.
“He remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible.
“His Majesty has chosen to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer.”
The news of the King’s cancer diagnosis sparked shockwaves across the country.
It coincided with the late Queen’s Accession Day, marking the moment she took the throne following the death of her father, King George VI.
And it comes after a series of health scares to hit the Royal Family since the New Year.
First, Kate was admitted to hospital on January 16 for planned abdominal surgery.
The dramatic news was followed an hour later by an announcement that the King required an op for “an enlarged prostate”.
Charles was admitted to the same hospital as Kate on January 26 for surgery.
He stayed for three nights before leaving with Camilla, 76, wearing a dapper coat, suit and tie – cheerily waving at well-wishers.
Break of royal protocol
Charles has bravely broken with royal protocol by sharing his cancer diagnosis.
Senior royals have in past been tight-lipped about their health battles.
The last top royal diagnosed with cancer was Charles’s grandfather George VI.
Heavy smoker George had his left lung removed for “structural abnormalities” in September 1951, months before he died.
The “abnormalities” were actually a life-threatening carcinoma, but the public never learned about George’s cancer ordeal.
Buckingham Palace said Charles wanted to share his cancer diagnosis to boost “public understanding” for cancer patients worldwide.
