By: Jessica A. Dennehy
King Charles III, after undergoing medical treatment for an enlarged prostate, has been diagnosed with cancer, Buckingham Palace reports. The British Monarch, 75, underwent a procedure to treat an enlarged prostate in January, where it was then discovered that he had cancer. The type of cancer has not yet been announced to the public, but it has been confirmed by a Royal source to not be prostate cancer.
Officials have announced that King Charles was diagnosed early and express hope that he will make a swift recovery. While currently undergoing treatment as of February 8th, the Monarch will not be attending public events and obligations in order to minimize in-person interactions, as advised by his doctors and other medical professionals. However, he will continue with official paperwork and state business. The seriousness of his statement has been shown by his in-person weekly audience with the UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, held over telephone. However, the King is expected to attend the February 21st audience in person. The Palace has said that King Charles “remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible”.
King Charles has reportedly shared his diagnosis with both of his sons, Prince William and Prince Harry. His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales, Prince William, announced his resuming of some royal engagements the day his father’s diagnosis was announced, as the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton, is currently recovering from a pre-planned abdominal surgery. She does not expect to be able to resume her royal duties until after Easter. The Duke of Sussex, Prince Harry, was seen visiting his father the day after his announced diagnosis after making the sudden flight from California to London.
The British Monarch’s divulging of his medical diagnosis marks the beginning of a new era in the Royal family. Under Queen Elizabeth II, medical information was rarely supplied unless it directly interfered with public duties, in which the Palace is obligated to provide a statement revealing the medical concern. Although King Charles’ cancer diagnosis was mandatory to announce, he shared his initial diagnosis of an enlarged prostate to the public in the hopes of promoting more men to get medically examined, especially if they had similar symptoms. The condition of a benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) or an enlarged prostate, is a common, age-associated condition, with 50% of men between the ages of 51-60, 60% of men older between 61-70, and men over the age of 70 having an 80% of having an enlarged prostate. With the King being 75, his spreading of awareness has been received by only praise and support as the world wishes him a swift recovery.
