King Charles cancer: What we know and what might happen next

Britain's King Charles III has been diagnosed with cancer. But what do we know, and what might happen next? 

What is Charles diagnosed with?

Buckingham Palace announced on Monday that Charles has "a form of cancer" without much further elaboration – except to rule out one understandable assumption. 

In January the king spent three nights in a private London hospital undergoing a corrective operation for a benign prostate ennlargement. However, the Palace moved quickly to quash any links with that procedure.

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"His majesty does not have prostate cancer," the palace insisted, while explaining that "a separate issue of concern had been noted" during that hospitalization and "subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer."

How will it affect his duties?

On medical advice, the king will postpone public engagements but will continue to work behind the scenes. 

"His Majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties," the Palace statement reads. "Throughout this period, His Majesty will continue to undertake State business and official paperwork as usual."

It is understood, for example, that the king will continue to have regular meetings with UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. The statement also insists that Charles "looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible."

What will it mean for other royals?

Charles's wife Queen Camilla will continue with her public engagements, and it is thought that his first son William, the heir to the throne, could step up to fulfill some extra public duties. 

William's wife Kate, the Princess of Wales, had abdominal surgery for an unspecified but non-cancerous condition – coincidentally at the same time as Charles and in the same hospital. 

Kate spent two weeks at the hospital and will not return to public duties herself until after Easter. William, who had been looking after their three children during Kate's hospitalization, was already scheduled to return to public engagements on Wednesday – carrying out an investiture at Windsor Castle during the day before attending London's Air Ambulance charity gala dinner in the evening.

What about Prince Harry?

Meanwhile, there is much public interest in Charles' younger son, Prince Harry. The second-born has become estranged from his father and brother over the last three years, since withdrawing from royal life and moving to Los Angeles, the hometown of his wife Meghan. His 2023 autobiography Spare included criticism of the royal family and its operations. 

However, tabloid newspapers have reported that Harry is expected to arrive back in Britain later on Tuesday, having been spotted arriving at a private terminal at Los Angeles International Airport. Quoting unnamed sources, the reports claim that Harry has spoken to his father since the diagnosis.

What has been the reaction?

Prime Minister Sunak publicly sent his best wishes via social platform X, writing "I have no doubt he'll be back to full strength in no time and I know the whole country will be wishing him well."

Leaders from various countries including France, Australia and Canada expressed their best wishes and hopes for the king to make a speedy recovery, while U.S. President Joe Biden said he was concerned by the news and planned to call Charles later.

"Navigating a cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship takes hope and absolute courage," said Biden, whose son Beau died of brain cancer aged 46. "Jill and I join the people of the United Kingdom in praying that His Majesty experiences a swift and full recovery."

Reaction among the UK newspapers was mixed. Popular tabloid The Sun wrote "We should applaud Charles for choosing to reveal his cancer diagnosis in order to assist public understanding for those around the world who are affected by cancer."

The broadsheet Daily Telegraph insisted the diagnosis should be "no cause for alarm" and that from all accounts "the prognosis is good," but The Times warned that the official statement's selective information "runs the risk of leaving many people to assume that the King's condition is more sinister than the Palace is letting on."

The left-leaning Guardian broadsheet said the king's diagnosis will "once again" raise questions about whether it is fair to expect a man in his mid-seventies to "fulfill a rota of public duties." "He in effect started his new job a decade after most men retire," the newspaper wrote.

Majesty Magazine editor-in-chief Ingrid Seward said that the workaholic Charles would have to slow down: "His body will tell him he has to, and Camilla certainly will," she said. "I think he's mentally exhausted since the death of the queen. It's been non-stop for him since then."

However, while Denmark's Queen Margrethe II of Denmark abdicated last month after 52 years on the throne to allow her son to become King Frederik X, Seward insisted Charles – who spent 70 years as heir apparent – would not consider stepping down from the role in similar style. 

"Absolutely not, 100 percent no," she said.

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