King Charles III to resume public duties next week after cancer treatment, palace says

LONDON (AP) — King Charles III has returned.

The 75-year-old monarch will resume some public duties next week after a three-month hiatus to focus on his treatment and recovery after he was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer, Buckingham Palace said on Friday.

Charles will mark the milestone by visiting a cancer treatment center on Tuesday, the first of several public appearances he will make in the coming weeks, the palace said. One of his first major commitments will be to host a state visit by Japan’s emperor and empress in June.

The palace said the king’s doctors are “very encouraged” by his progress, although it is too early to say how long his treatment will last. He did not provide details about what type of treatment he is receiving.

Charles will continue to carry out all his state duties, including reviewing government documents and meeting Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, as he has done since his diagnosis was revealed on February 5, the palace said.

“As the first coronation anniversary approaches, Their Majesties remain deeply grateful for the many kindnesses and good wishes they have received from around the world during the joys and challenges of the past year,” the palace said in a statement.

Charles’ return will ease pressure on other members of the royal family after the king’s absence, coupled with that of the Princess of Wales, also due to illness, highlighted the challenges facing a slimmed-down monarchy.

Amid the king’s commitment to cutting costs and the decision of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, more commonly known as Prince Harry and Meghan, to step back from their royal duties, there are simply fewer family members available to carry out the endless round of ribbon cutting. award ceremonies and state events that make up the life of a modern royal.

Charles has largely been out of the public eye since receiving treatment for an enlarged prostate in January. His subsequent cancer diagnosis came when the Princess of Wales, one of the most popular royals, underwent abdominal surgery and later announced that she too had cancer. Prince William took some time off to support his wife and his young family.

That left Queen Camilla, the king’s sister Princess Anne, and his younger brother Prince Edward to shoulder the burden.

Camilla, once shunned by the public for her role in the breakdown of Charles’s marriage to Princess Diana, played a particularly prominent role during the king’s absence, filling in for her husband at major events such as the annual Royal Maundy service the previous Thursday. . Easter.

The king’s return will be an opportunity to revitalize his reign, which began in September 2022 amid expectations that he would modernize the monarchy, while reaching out to young people and minority groups to consolidate the royal family’s role in the XXI century.

Charles’ challenges include strengthening ties with the Commonwealth and the 14 independent countries outside the United Kingdom where the British monarch remains head of state, an unwanted reminder for some of Britain’s colonial history.

The king’s return is significant because it will help quell speculation about his well-being, said royal historian George Gross, citing a saying attributed to Queen Elizabeth II that the monarch has to be seen to be believed.

“I think there is a feeling that it is very difficult to have a functioning monarchy with the head of state absent for a considerable period of time,” said Gross, founder of the British Coronations Project at King’s College London. “And this seemed like a long time.”

Charles’ commitments over the coming months will be adapted as necessary to minimize any risk to his recovery, the palace said. He will not have a full summer program and his attendance will be determined closer to the time of each event and with the advice of his physicians.

The summer months are often a busy time for royals with major events such as the monarch’s birthday parade, known as Trooping the Colour, and the horse races at Royal Ascot.

Crucially for the king’s safety, most of these shows take place outdoors, reducing the risk of infection for a cancer patient whose immune system may be weakened.

Charles’ return will be warmly received by the public, in part because he decided to publicize his initial prostate problem and then his cancer diagnosis, which prompted many people to consult their doctors, Gross said.

“The monarch has seen that he can do good by talking about health and raising awareness about cancer,” he told The Associated Press. “I think that’s on the high end of it. And that is something very special when a head of state can do good. “That’s huge.”