King Charles III will return to public duty next week, Buckingham Palace announced on Friday, an encouraging sign of his recovery, nearly three months after he revealed that he has cancerand a palpable relief for a nation anxious about another painful change in the British monarchy.
The palace said Charles and his wife, Queen Camilla, will mark his return with a visit to a cancer center on Tuesday, where they will meet patients and staff. He will appear at other events later, notably welcoming Emperor Naruhito and his wife, Empress Masako, on a state visit in June.
The palace did not provide specific updates on Charles' medical treatment, condition or prognosis, in keeping with its policy of sharing some – but not all – details about Charles' illness. grandfather. Yet in the murky world of royalty, the busyness of a king's schedule is often the best clue to his happiness.
This news brings a ray of hope to a royal family that has been plagued by health concerns since the beginning of the year. Catherine, Princess of Wales, confirmed last month that she also has cancer. She has been absent from the public eye since being hospitalized in January, causing an occasional storm false rumors about her condition.
The simultaneous illnesses of two of the most senior and stalwart members of the royal family have left the House of Windsor in turmoil at a time of generational transition. Queen Elizabeth II died in September 2022 and Charles, her son, barely set foot on the throne.
Charles, 75, has continued to hold meetings during his treatment, including weekly meetings with Chancellor Rishi Sunak and video calls with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau of Canada. But his absence has put strain on other family members, especially Camilla, who has been on his behalf several times, including on trips to Northern Ireland. Catherine's husband, Prince William, recently returned to work, after taking time off to care for his wife.
The first king reappeared in public on Easter Sunday, when he greeted well-wishers after a service at the church at Windsor Castle. The British press reported that Charles was restless and eager to return to public engagements, including a state visit to Australia, New Zealand and Samoa scheduled for the fall.
However, except for confusing reports about his mood, the king's health has remained private since the palace announced on February 4 that he had an undisclosed form of cancer. Doctors discovered it during a course of treatment for prostate enlargement (the palace clarified that he did not have prostate cancer).
On Friday, the palace said Charles's cancer treatment would continue, “but doctors are quite satisfied with the progress made so far as the king is now able to resume some of his previous duties.” general public”. His doctors “remain optimistic about the king's continued recovery.”
The lack of details about the king's illness has fueled chronic low-level speculation, which flares up from time to time. Last month, social media channels in Russia reported that Charles had passed away, citing a fake press release. The British Embassy in Moscow felt obliged to issue a refusal.
In addition to the ribbon-cutting, knighthood ceremony and hospital inauguration that take up most of the monarch's time, royal watchers say they hope Charles will grasp the early signs of campaign to update the monarchy after his mother's 70-year reign. He has streamlined the number of working royals and spoken out on issues such as climate change and religious pluralism.
“His illness has raised questions about his longevity and whether he will be a transitional or transformational monarch,” said Ed Owens, a historian who writes about the royal family. “I hope for the latter. Now is the time to seize the opportunity.”
In a statement on Friday, the palace said Charles and Camilla were looking forward to the first anniversary of their coronation in May and “remain deeply grateful for the many kindnesses and good wishes they have received.”
How quickly, or even if, Charles can return to full fitness is an open question. But for a family that has recently made its presence felt in British life largely through worrying medical news, his reappearance could signal the return of a kind of traditional royal news. more unified.
There was a hint of that after Prince Harry's wife Meghan introduced a new strawberry jam as part of her lifestyle brand, American Riviera Orchardand then found himself in a long-distance competition with Buckingham Palace.
After Meghan sent her jars of jam to celebrity social media influencers and received positive reviews, the palace store will this week posted a video on her Instagram account about four ways to enjoy strawberry jam. There was no word on whether the palace promotion was a coincidence or an attempt to throw shade at Meghan, although the Daily Telegraph was quick to call the episode “Jam Wars.”
After a winter of hospital vigilance and ominous speculation, a springtime row over jam seemed a welcome return to normalcy.
