King Charles has given a rare personal update on his cancer, more than 18 months after first revealing his diagnosis.
The 76-year-old monarch originally shared the news in February 2024, when Buckingham Palace confirmed that doctors had identified a form of cancer during treatment for a benign prostate condition. At the time, the palace described it as a “separate issue of concern,” discovered after routine tests.
Since then, the King has continued to fulfill public duties with a characteristically stoic demeanor, while undergoing ongoing treatment. But updates on his health have remained limited, leaving many royal watchers concerned.
The royal family faced a second shock just weeks later, when the Princess of Wales also revealed her own can.cer diagnosis following major abdominal surgery. Kate, now in remission after preventative treatment, has spoken openly about the emotional challenges of recovery. On a recent visit to an Essex hospital garden, she admitted:
“You put on a sort of brave face through treatment. But actually, the phase afterwards is really, really difficult… you’re not under the clinical team any longer, but you’re not able to function normally at home as you perhaps once used to.”
A Brief Public Admission
During a walkabout in Suffolk last week, King Charles offered a rare glimpse into his own condition when asked by a member of the public about his health.
Lee Harman, 54, who has himself recovered from cancer, recalled their exchange: “I asked him how he was, and he said he was feeling a lot better now and that it was ‘just one of those things.’”
Harman added that when he told the King he had been given the all-clear last year, Charles smiled warmly.
Insider Claims of an ‘Incurable’ Diagnosis
Despite the King’s reassuring words, royal commentator Camilla Tominey wrote in The Telegraph that palace sources have described the monarch’s can.cer as “ultimately incurable.”
While the exact type of cancer has not been disclosed, it is said to have been detected at an early stage and is currently under control following rigorous treatment.
“The talk now is that he may d.i.e ‘with’ can.cer, but not ‘of’ can.cer,” Tominey noted.
Looking Ahead
Plans are already underway for King Charles’ 80th birthday celebrations in 2028, though sources suggest his health has shaped other long-term decisions.
It is understood that neither the King nor Queen Camilla intend to move into Buckingham Palace. Instead, they will remain at Clarence House, their London residence of more than two decades.