After it was revealed the British monarch was battling cancer, all eyes are on Buckingham Palace for King Charles’ health updates. His daughter-in-law Kate Middleton also had a health update regarding an abdominal surgery which later led to illusory rumors that she had disappeared.
In January 2024, King Charles was admitted to a hospital for a routine procedure to treat an enlarged prostate. But less than two weeks after the operation, Buckingham Palace announced that doctors discovered the monarch had “a form of cancer” following additional tests.
“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 shared in a statement on February 5, 2024. “Throughout this period, His Majesty will continue to undertake State business and official paperwork as usual.”
The statement continued: “The King is grateful to his medical team for their swift intervention, which was made possible thanks to his recent hospital procedure. He remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible. His Majesty has chosen to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer.” Read on for the latest King Charles health updates.
King Charles’ health updates
The latest from Buckingham Palace.
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January 17, 2024: King Charles has surgery
Image Credit: Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images On January 18, 2024, Buckingham Palace announced King Charles was going in for routine “corrective surgery” to treat an enlarged prostate. It was carried out at the London Clinic private hospital, where Catherine, the Princess of Wales, had surgery the week prior. Queen Camilla paid her husband a visit and told reporters as she left that, “He’s doing well, thank you,” per the BBC.
Buckingham Palace provided details on his surgery in the hopes that it would raise awareness. That’s proven an effective strategy, as searches for “enlarged prostate” increased by 266 percent. The NHS also said there were 16,410 visits to the website that day compared to 1,414 the previous day.
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February 5, 2024: King Charles has cancer
In a Feb. 5, 2024 statement, Buckingham Palace confirmed that Charles has cancer, though fell short of disclosing what kind of cancer the king has. “During The King’s recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted,” the statement read. “Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer.”
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February 10, 2024: King Charles breaks silence on diagnosis
Image Credit: Getty Images. In his first statement since the palace announced his condition, King Charles expressed his immense gratitude for the support he’s received from around the world. “As all those who have been affected by cancer will know, such kind thoughts are the greatest comfort and encouragement,” he shared on Saturday, February 10, 2024.
“It is equally heartening to hear how sharing my own diagnosis has helped promote public understanding and shine a light on the work of all those organizations which support cancer patients and their families across the UK and wider world,” he continued in his statement. “My lifelong admiration for their tireless care and dedication is all the greater as a result of my own personal experience.”
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March 11, 2024: King Charles is ‘deeply touched’ by support
Image Credit: Buckingham Palace When the King couldn’t attend a Commonwealth Day gathering on March 11, he released a video statement from the Palace. “In recent weeks, I have been most deeply touched by your wonderfully kind and thoughtful good wishes for my health and, in return, can only continue to serve you, to the best of my ability, throughout the Commonwealth,” he said.
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March 21, 2024: Queen Camilla comments on King’s absence
Image Credit: Niall Carson – WPA Pool/Getty Images While visiting Belfast in Northern Ireland, Queen Camilla commented on the King’s absence from a trip that he was scheduled to take before his diagnosis. Hello! reported that a shop assistant handed over a get-well card for the monarch and extended her best wishes. Taking the card with thanks, Camilla said: “He’s doing very well. He was very disappointed he couldn’t come.”
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March 31, 2024: King Charles attends Easter Service
Image Credit: Rob Jefferies/Getty Images On March 31, King Charles III attended Easter Sunday service at the chapel in Windsor Castle. While these sorts of things are usually private outings, it was a solid indication of his health at that point in time.
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April 21, 2024: The King celebrates the Queen’s 98th birthday
Image Credit: Getty Images Sunday, April 21, 2024, would have been Queen Elizabeth‘s 98th birthday. Grant Harrold, who served Charles and Camilla from 2004 to 2011, explained how the King and Queen Consort Camilla would celebrate. “Privately, I have no doubt they’ll raise a toast to her in the evening. I’m sure the day will very much be spent reflecting on the late Queen,” Harrold told Slingo.
“I can almost guarantee that if you were to go to Windsor Castle that day, it’s very likely there’ll be some flowers on the tomb that have been sent by the family members,” he added. “Sometimes on royal anniversaries, flowers are sent to royal graves. It’s very possible there will be flowers on the tombstone.”
It comes after the King, who is undergoing treatment for an undisclosed kind of cancer, reportedly told royal aides he plans to attend Royal Ascot. “Racing is an important part of the legacy that he inherited from his mother and one that he treasures. That’s why he will be so keen to go,” an insider told the Daily Mail.
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April 25, 2024: King Charles’ funeral plans revealed
Image Credit: Chris Jackson – WPA Pool /Getty Images According to multiple sources quoted by The Daily Beast, the King’s health is “not good” and plans for his funeral in the event of his death are constantly being updated under the code name: Operation Menai Bridge.
One old friend of the family revealed, “Of course, he is determined to beat it and they are throwing everything at it. Everyone is staying optimistic, but he is really very unwell. More than they are letting on.” Another source, who knows a senior official involved in the planning of royal funerals, said: “They are looking at every aspect of Menai Bridge. The queen’s funeral went like clockwork and set a high bar. It’s not an emotional thing, it’s a job, one taken very seriously, and understandably no one plans to get caught out.”
However, a military source the outlet spoke to said that “planning for the worst is what the military do,” adding, “The whole thing goes from flash to bang in under two weeks which means every aspect of it needs to be meticulously planned in advance. Serious planning for Charles’ funeral began the day after they buried the queen.”