Since the announcement of his illness, the king has withdrawn from part of his public obligations; it is his wife Camilla and his son, William, who will take over in the interim.
Buckingham Palace said Charles III had begun receiving treatment for his cancer and was expected to remain in London for the time being.
The king was diagnosed during recent treatment for an enlarged prostate. The Palace did not reveal what type of cancer it was.
Experts believe that the fact thathe disease being detected at an early stage was rather reassuring.
“When examining the pelvis, other organs are also examined”recalls Patricia Price, oncologist. “Perhaps also pre-operative tests were carried out. But the main thing is that it seems that he does not have any symptoms of this cancer. All the messages we have received are very reassuring.”
The 75-year-old monarch, who came to the throne after the death of her mother Queen Elizabeth II in 2022, has been asked to step back from public engagements. It is expected that some of these will now be carried out by Queen Camilla and by William, the crown prince. His other son, Prince Harry, living in the United States, is expected in the United Kingdom to visit his father in the coming days.
Since the announcement of the discovery of cancer in the sovereign, international reactions have followed one another.
Emmanuel Macron wished this Monday evening, February 5, a “speedy recovery”.
“Our thoughts are with the British people. Love,” continued a post on X Emmanuel Macron. The American President Joe Biden for his part said he was “worried” about the sovereign, and hoped to “talk to him soon”. Former President of the United States Donald Trump described Charles III as a “tremendous man (…) we will all pray” for him.
The Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau sent his “best wishes” to Charles III. “Like Canadians across the country and citizens around the world, I think of His Majesty King Charles III,” he wrote on the social network.
The Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese told him he hoped that the king “returns to his duties as soon as possible”. The President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsolaalso said “wish a speedy recovery” to the king.
“The whole country will support the king”
In addition to the British political class, celebrities also reacted, according to the BBC, such as ex-footballer and sports journalist Gary Lineker, who said he was “sorry” to hear this “horrible news”. David Suchetknown for his role as Hercule Poirot, congratulated the fact that Charles III had “publicly shared his diagnosis”.
The bad news about the king’s health came at a time when Kate, the wife of his son William, was hospitalized for an abdominal operation, the cause of which was kept secret. She hasn’t been seen in public since appearing with the rest of the family for Christmas.