King Charles III is responding well to cancer treatment. Amid speculation that Charles is doing poorly in his battle with cancer, royal expert Katie Nicholl set the record straight in an interview with ET.
“There have been allegations in some media outlets that the king is not doing well in his battle with cancer. I think the announcements made at the palace and… the king’s imminent return to public duties should put an end to this nonsense, frankly. ” said Nicholl.
In fact, on Friday, Buckingham Palace announced that the 75-year-old monarch plans to “return to public duties following a period of treatment and recovery following his recent cancer diagnosis.”
“All of this indicates that the king is responding well to the treatment that he is doing very, very well,” Nicholl said. “…My sources have told me that the king has responded very positively to his medical treatment, that his medical team is very pleased with his progress. I think the news we’ve heard from the palace really supports all of that, because He’s going back to work.”
Next week, Charles and his wife, Queen Camilla, will visit a cancer treatment center. The appearance will be the first since Easter.
“What I think we’ll see now is the King really championing cancer awareness. He is very aware of the incredible spotlight he can bring to important causes, something he has done his entire life,” Nicholl said. “He is sending a very clear message by making his first visit upon returning to public duty, a visit to a cancer treatment center.”
Then, in June, Carlos and Camilla will receive the Emperor and Empress of Japan for a state visit.
“Charles organized two state visits during his time as king. They are quite demanding. They require a lot of time and planning,” Nicholl said. “I think the fact that these things are in the journal are very positive indicators of your progress.”
In addition to the scheduled appearances announced by the palace, Nicholl noted that the king is expected at several other events throughout the summer.
“My sources tell me that we can expect to see him at Trooping the Colour, and that he will be at Royal Ascot, which is a very important element of his schedule,” she said. “The wonderful garden parties at Buckingham Palace, which are so important to the many members of the public who are invited, will continue and the King looks forward to being at some of them.”
Still, Nicholl warned that while “doctors have been very impressed” with how Charles has responded to treatment and are “very willing to allow him to fulfill some of his schedule,” his appearances will be “reduced.”
“My sources say that probably the most frustrating thing for the king in all of this is that he hasn’t been able to do the job he wanted to do,” Nicholl said. “…He’s very, very relieved to be able to resume this.”
Also encouraging is the new Buckingham Palace photo released on Friday, which shows the king and queen smiling as they walk side by side. According to Nicholl, “This photo was really sent as a kind of message of hope, a message that the king is doing very well.”
“The photo was taken the day after their 19th wedding anniversary, on April 10, in the gardens of Buckingham Palace,” she said. “They are arm in arm. The Queen is wearing a beautiful vibrant blue dress by one of her favorite designers, Fiona Claire. The King is looking very good. He hasn’t lost any hair. He doesn’t look like he’s lost much weight. He is smiling broadly. That doesn’t look like a king undergoing cancer treatment.
“I think the fact that his medical team has cleared him to make these appointments… is a really positive sign,” Nicholl added. “I think there is a lot of positivity and optimism in that photograph.”
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