King Charles steps back from public duties to fight cancer
The Buckingham Palace has announced that King Charles III, has been diagnosed with cancer. The monarch’s health setback comes as a stark departure from historical practices, where the ailments of royalty were often concealed from the public eye.
This disclosure could shed light on a more transparent approach to health matters within the royal family, challenging the traditions of secrecy that have characterized such situations in the past.
On Monday, the palace disclosed that during a recent hospital procedure addressing benign prostate enlargement, another concerning health issue was identified on the 75-year-old monarch.
Subsequent diagnostic tests confirmed the presence of a form of cancer, although Buckingham Palace statement did not specify the stage of the disease.
Buckingham Palace clarified that the cancer in question is not prostate cancer, dispelling any potential misconceptions regarding the nature of the diagnosis.
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Stepping back from public duties
King Charles III has embarked on a schedule of regular treatments following the diagnosis, his office noted. In adherence to medical advice, the monarch will be stepping back from public-facing duties, it added.
This adjustment in the royal schedule could point to the gravity of the situation and reflects a commitment to prioritizing the king’s health over ceremonial obligations.
Before ascending to the throne, King Charles III served as a patron to several cancer-related charities. The statement from Buckingham Palace noted that, in his capacity as a patron, the king has consistently spoken publicly in support of cancer patients, their families, and the dedicated healthcare professionals involved in their care.
In November 2023, King Charles III’s visited Kenya, where he was accompanied by Queen Camilla. The trip, spanning five days, invoked memories of Britain’s colonial past, as it brought forth reflections on the atrocities committed during Kenya’s six-decade colonization by the European country.
