King Charles III will return to public duties next week, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday, an encouraging sign of his recovery nearly three months after he revealed the news he has cancerIt’s an obvious relief for a country anxious about yet another painful change in the British royal family.
Buckingham Palace said Charles and his wife, Queen Camilla, will visit a cancer center on Tuesday to mark his return and meet patients and staff there. He will also attend other events later, notably welcoming Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and his wife, Empress Masako, for a state visit in June.
Buckingham Palace did not provide specific updates on Charles’ medical treatment, condition or prognosis, in line with its policy of sharing some, but not all, details about his illness. However, in the opaque world of the royal family, the busyness of the monarch’s calendar is often the best clue to his happiness.
The news brings a glimmer of hope to a royal family that has been dogged by health concerns since the start of the year.Catherine, Princess of Wales, confirmed last month She also has cancer. Since being hospitalized in January, she has been out of the public eye, often causing a storm. false rumors about her condition.
The simultaneous illness of two of the most senior and steadfast members of the royal family has plunged the House of Windsor into uncertainty at a time of generational change. Queen Elizabeth II died in September 2022, and her son Charles had just ascended to the throne.
Charles, 75, has continued to hold meetings during his treatment, including weekly meetings with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and video calls with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. But his absence put pressure on other members of the family, especially Camilla, who filled in for him on several occasions, including a trip to Northern Ireland. Catherine’s husband, Prince William, recently returned to work after taking time out to care for his wife.
king first reappear in public He greeted well-wishers after a church service at Windsor Castle on Easter Sunday. British newspapers reported that Charles was restless and eager to return to public engagements, including a state visit to Australia, New Zealand and Samoa scheduled for the autumn.
However, aside from these cryptic reports about his mood, the king’s health has been kept under wraps since the palace announced on February 4 that he was suffering from an undisclosed form of cancer. Doctors detected it during surgery to treat an enlarged prostate (the palace clarified that he did not have prostate cancer).
On Friday, Buckingham Palace said Charles’ cancer treatment would continue “but doctors are very pleased with the progress made so far and the King is now able to resume some public-facing duties.” The statement said his doctors “are very pleased with the King’s continued recovery.” Still optimistic.”
The lack of details about the king’s condition has fueled a long period of low-level speculation that sometimes erupted. Last month, Russian social media channels reported that Charles had died, citing a false press release. The British embassy in Moscow felt compelled to deny it.
In addition to ribbon-cuttings, knighting ceremonies and hospital dedications that take up much of the monarch’s time, royal watchers say they hope Charles will spot early signs of a movement to renew the monarchy after his mother’s 70-year reign. He has streamlined the number of serving royals and spoken out on issues such as climate change and religious pluralism.
“His illness raises questions about his longevity and whether he would have been a transitional or transformational monarch,” said historian Ed Owens, who writes a history of the royal family. “I hope it’s the latter. Now is the time to seize the moment.”
Buckingham Palace said in a statement on Friday that Charles and Camilla were looking forward to the first anniversary of their coronation in May and were “deeply grateful for the many kindnesses and well wishes they have received”.
How quickly, or if, Charles can regain his full strength is an open question. But for a family whose recent presence in British life has been largely through harrowing medical announcements, his reappearance may herald a return to more traditional royal news coverage.
The hint comes after Prince Harry’s wife Meghan launched a new strawberry jam as part of her lifestyle brand American Riviera Orchardsand then found itself in a long-distance battle with Buckingham Palace.
Palace stores this week after Meghan sent her jam jars to social media celebrities and received rave reviews Posted a video On its Instagram account, it introduces four ways to enjoy strawberry jam. While The Daily Telegraph was quick to dub the episode “Jam Wars,” it didn’t say whether Buckingham Palace’s promotion was a coincidence or an attempt to throw some shade on Meghan.
After a winter of hospital vigils and ominous speculation, a jam fight in the spring seemed a welcome return to normalcy.
