The King revealed on Friday evening that he has received a major boost in his battle with cancer that he described as a ‘personal blessing’.
In an unprecedented video message, Charles, 77, said his treatment can now be significantly scaled back in the New Year.
Although they were clear not to use the word ‘remission’, a Buckingham Palace spokesman confirmed that His Majesty had responded ‘exceptionally well’ to treatment following his initial diagnosis 22 months ago.
While medical intervention will continue for the foreseeable future, his doctors have advised that it will now move into a ‘precautionary phase’ and its regularity ‘will be significantly reduced’.
A source described it as ‘just about the best Christmas present’ the monarch could have asked for.
In a notable break with royal tradition, the King chose to issue his health update in a TV message pre-recorded at Clarence House late last month as part of Channel 4’s ‘Stand Up To Cancer’ night.
He had been asked to lend his support for a new online screening tool, which is backed by Cancer Research UK, the charity of which he is royal patron.
The King agreed as he is particularly keen to raise awareness among the nine million people each year in the UK who miss cancer screenings available to them, a statistic which he said ‘troubles me deeply’.
As someone who has benefited from having his own cancer picked up at an early stage, Charles described it as nine million ‘missed opportunities’ for earlier diagnosis.
He said: ‘This is a season when our thoughts turn to celebrations with our friends and families. In the midst of this festive period, I just wanted to ask you to join me today in finding a special place in your hearts, and your minds and prayers for the hundreds of thousands of people across our United Kingdom who receive a cancer diagnosis each year – and for the millions more who love and care for them.
‘I know from my own experience that a cancer diagnosis can feel overwhelming. Yet I also know that early detection is the key that can transform treatment journeys, giving invaluable time to medical teams – and, to their patients, the precious gift of hope.
‘Early diagnosis quite simply saves lives.
‘I know, too, what a difference it has made in my own case, enabling me to continue leading a full and active life, even while undergoing treatment.
‘Indeed, today I am able to share with you the good news that thanks to early diagnosis, effective intervention and adherence to ‘doctors’ orders’, my own schedule of cancer treatment can be reduced in the New Year.
‘This milestone is both a personal blessing and a testimony to the remarkable advances that have been made in cancer care in recent years; testimony that I hope may give encouragement to the 50 per cent of us who will be diagnosed with the illness at some point in our lives.’
The King went on to emphasise that people often avoid screening ‘because they imagine it may be frightening, embarrassing or uncomfortable’.
But he stressed that ‘a few moments of minor inconvenience are a small price to pay for the reassurance that comes for most people when they are told either they don’t need further tests, or, for some, are given the chance to enable early detection, with the life-saving intervention that can follow’.
Highlighting the new national screening checker, a simple online tool which allows users to check whether they are eligible for breast, bowel or cervical cancer screening, he stressed: ‘Your life – or the life of someone you love – may depend on it.’
When bowel cancer is caught at the earliest stage, around nine in ten people survive for at least five years. When diagnosed late, that plummets to just one in ten.
The King also issued his ‘heartfelt thanks’ and profound gratitude to all those researching the disease and caring for patients, including his own medical team.
Charles was diagnosed by chance in February 2024 after being admitted to hospital for routine surgery for an enlarged prostate.
Buckingham Palace have never confirmed what type of cancer it is, but have said that it is not prostate-related.
A spokesman said: ‘The advice from cancer experts is that, in his determination to support the whole cancer community, it is preferable that His Majesty does not address his own specific condition but rather speaks to those affected by all forms of the disease.’
Officials have also declined to make public details of the treatment he has received, but it is notable that on several occasions the King himself has referred to the remarkable advances that have been made in many forms of cancer care that have both improved the efficacy of treatment and diminished the risks of side effects.
Details of his scaled-back treatment will not be revealed but a spokesman added: ‘His Majesty has responded exceptionally well to treatment and his doctors advise that ongoing measures will now move into a precautionary phase.
‘This position will be continuously monitored and reviewed to protect and prioritise his continued recovery. As The King has said, this milestone on his recovery journey is “a great personal blessing”.’
Charles is known to have taken a hugely positive approach to his diagnosis and has been determined from the start to use it to help other sufferers.
He has also worked tirelessly throughout, taking ‘great comfort and encouragement from being able to continue leading a full and active life throughout his treatment, while always heeding the advice of his medical team’.
A palace spokesman added: ‘His ability to uphold all of his State duties, and to continue with public engagements and overseas tours, has helped greatly with the positive mindset that, as many families will know, is such a vital a part of the recovery journey.’
Officials were at pains today to stress that the King’s message has been issued in consultation with the Government who were ‘fully supportive and grateful’ to him for addressing ‘an important public health concern’. Additional advice was sought from senior cancer research experts.
While there has been impassioned debate over the national screening programme for prostate cancer in recent weeks, it has been stressed the King sees this as a matter ‘entirely for government’.
He hopes purely to encourage greater uptake of the existing screening services for breast, bowel and cervical cancer as part of people’s ‘resolutions for the year ahead’.
While it has been emphasised that screening programmes do not impact general hospital or critical care units in the short term, the Department of Health is aware of a potential rise in interest about screening programmes as a result of the King’s message and made ‘appropriate provisions’.
When Charles elected to share details of his treatment for prostate enlargements, NHS website traffic jumped by 1,000 per cent.
A Buckingham Palace spokesman added: ‘As The King says in his message, he sends his particular good wishes to all those affected by cancer and will continue to hold them and their loved ones in his thoughts and prayers.’
– To check your eligibility for cancer screening go to screeningchecker.co.uk
