Charles\u2019 cancer diagnosis prompts outpouring of support; Prince William to fulfil some of the monarch\u2019s duties
\nLONDON
\nKing Charles\u2019 cancer was caught early and the whole country is hoping he can make a full recovery, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Tuesday, as messages of support for the 75-year-old monarch poured in from world leaders.
\nBuckingham Palace revealed on Monday that Charles, on the throne for less than 18 months since the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth, was suffering from a \u201cform of cancer\u201d and would postpone his public engagements to undergo treatment.
\nThe king was remaining \u201cwholly positive\u201d and looking forward to returning to public work as soon as possible, the palace said.
\nCharles\u2019 younger son Prince Harry, estranged from the royal family, is due to arrive in Britain shortly and his elder brother, heir-to-the-throne Prince William, is expected to step up to fulfil some of the monarch\u2019s duties.
\nSunak said he had been \u201cshocked and sad\u201d at the news.
\n\u201cAll our thoughts are with him and his family. You know, thankfully, this has been caught early,\u201d he told BBC radio.
\nCharles is planning to continue with much of his private work as monarch including his weekly audience with the prime minister and dealing with state papers, and Sunak said he was in regular contact with the king.
\n\u201cThat will of course continue as normal and we\u2019ll crack on with everything,\u201d he said.
\nCharles spent the night at his Clarence House home near Buckingham Palace on Monday after beginning a series of out-patient treatments.
\nThe cancer was discovered when Charles stayed three nights in hospital last month where he underwent a corrective procedure for a benign enlarged prostate. Beyond confirming it was not prostate cancer, the palace has not given any further details.
\nThe royal family usually keep medical matters private, but the palace said Charles had chosen to go public as he was patron of a number of cancer-related charities.
\nWhile the king will receive expert care, his diagnosis will draw attention to Britain\u2019s rising cancer waiting times with the state-run National Health Service (NHS) which is widely regarded as being in crisis.
\nSurvival rates for cancer in Britain lag those of other European countries for nine out of 10 of the most common types of the disease, according to an NHS Confederation report published in January.
\nSurprise diagnosis
\nThe surprise diagnosis, which has dominated British media since the announcement was made, is another personal blow for Charles during his year and a half on the throne.
\nEarly last year, Harry published his autobiography \u201cSpare\u201d, which contained damning revelations about his father and elder brother, while Charles has also had to contend with ongoing allegations against his brother Prince Andrew relating to the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
\nHarry, who quit royal duties in 2020, is flying back to Britain from California where he lives with his American wife Meghan and two children after Charles told him and his other immediate family of his diagnosis.
\nRoyal commentators have speculated that the shock news might lead to a thawing in relations. Stephanie Petit, royal editor for People magazine, said Harry\u2019s swift return to Britain was a sign of how serious the situation was.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s also hopefully a sign that they can put things aside and really focus on what\u2019s important and maybe mend some bonds,\u201d she said.
\nThe king\u2019s cancer revelation comes as Kate, the Princess of Wales and wife of heir William, recuperates at home after spending two weeks in hospital following planned abdominal surgery for an unspecified but non-cancerous condition.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Charles\u2019 cancer diagnosis prompts outpouring of support; Prince William to fulfil some of the monarch\u2019s duties LONDON King Charles\u2019 cancer was caught early and the whole country is hoping he can make a full recovery, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said on Tuesday, as messages of support for the 75-year-old monarch poured in from world […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":385784,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-385773","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n