King Charles is gearing up for a typical workweek following his recent hospital visit due to side effects from cancer treatment.
The 76-year-old monarch is expected to continue with his regular schedule of public appearances, state duties, and private meetings, which will include investitures at Windsor Castle on Tuesday.
This update comes after reports that King Charles had to cancel two personal holidays abroad, including a spa retreat in Africa with Queen Camilla and his annual walking holiday in Romania.
Some of the King’s other plans have also shifted due to reasons unrelated to his cancer treatment or its side effects.
While this news may have caused concern among royal fans, HELLO!’s Online Royal Correspondent Danielle Stacey highlighted the King’s commendable transparency regarding his health journey.
“Though we don’t know the specifics of the King’s cancer, he has been remarkably open about his experience since his diagnosis over a year ago. He has maintained a busy schedule of engagements, including overseas travel, in the past year and intends to carry on with his duties as usual this week,” she explained.
Stacey added, “Although his recent hospital observation may have been alarming, a royal source described it as a ‘minor bump in a road that is very much heading in the right direction.’ The King’s side effects have not been disclosed, but they are understood to be temporary and not unusual with various medical treatments. It’s reassuring to confirm that next week’s planned state visit to Italy will proceed as scheduled, and as he expressed to fellow cancer patients in Northern Ireland, he is determined to ‘keep buggering on.'”
In terms of health, King Charles had to cancel several engagements last week following a “brief” stay in the hospital. Buckingham Palace released a statement stating, “Following scheduled and ongoing medical treatment for cancer this morning, the King experienced temporary side effects that required a short period of observation in hospital. His Majesty’s afternoon engagements were therefore postponed.”
The statement went on to say: “His Majesty has now returned to Clarence House and, as a precautionary measure and on medical advice, tomorrow’s diary is also being rescheduled. His Majesty would like to apologize to anyone who may be inconvenienced or disappointed by this.”
A spokesperson noted that the King had been set to receive Credentials from ambassadors of three nations that afternoon and was disappointed to miss four public engagements in Birmingham the following day. He hopes to reschedule them in due course.
On Friday morning, Princess Anne visited her brother at Clarence House, after which Charles is believed to have traveled to his Highgrove estate in Gloucestershire. Additionally, in April, the King and Queen Consort Camilla are expected to continue with their state visit to Italy and the Vatican, though their meeting with Pope Francis will be adjusted due to the Pontiff’s recent hospital stay.
