Buckingham Palace has announced that King Charles has been diagnosed with cancer. The disclosure comes shortly after the British Royal Family made news with several other health concerns.
In a statement released Monday, Buckingham Palace said cancer was first identified during the king’s recent hospital procedure for his benign prostate enlargement, with later tests confirming the diagnosis.
“His Majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties,” the statement read. The letter added that Charles will continue to manage state business and official paperwork “as usual.”
Details about the type of cancer weren’t disclosed. But the letter added that King Charles decided to make his diagnosis public with the hope of raising awareness and assisting “public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer.”
The news comes just weeks after King Charles announced he would be seeking treatment for an enlarged prostate — generally a benign and common condition among older men that’s not typically linked to cancer. Treatment for an enlarged prostate usually involves medication or surgery.
King Charles underwent a corrective surgery for the condition in early January, postponing public engagements until his recovery. Queen Camilla responded to questions about the procedure, noting at the time, “He’s fine, thank you. Looking forward to getting back to work.”
King Charles’ prostate woes aren’t the only health issue the British Royal Family is dealing with.
Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, was admitted to the hospital for abdominal surgery in January, with a statement noting she would be recovering and not returning to public duties until after Easter. The details about her medical issue, however, remained private.
On X (formerly Twitter), the king’s news was greeted by a mix of humor, criticism and well wishes. Some bid the king a speedy recovery and noted their appreciation for him being open about the diagnosis.
The 75-year-old King Charles ascended the throne last May after his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, died at 96.
Prostate trouble among public figures has been trending in the news on the other side of the Atlantic, as well. U.S. Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin was embroiled in controversy recently over not disclosing his own hospitalization following a prostatectomy, a prostate cancer treatment.
Austin’s lack of transparency opened up a larger conversation about medical privacy, as well as whether it’s important for public figures to be forthcoming about medical conditions in order to raise awareness.
Meanwhile, although there are currently no details about what type of cancer treatment King Charles will be undergoing, the Buckingham Palace announcement noted that the king was feeling positive about it.
“The King is grateful to his medical team for their swift intervention, which was made possible thanks to his recent hospital procedure,” the letter said. “He remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible.”
