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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
National
Nadeem Badshah (now) and Léonie Chao-Fong (earlier)

King Charles: Prince Harry to travel to UK to see father after cancer diagnosis – as it happened

Cancer United Kingdom King Charles III ​​Rishi Sunak Buckingham Palace (Organization) The London Clinic
King Charles leaves the London Clinic after receiving treatment for an enlarged prostate at the end of January.
King Charles leaves the London Clinic after receiving treatment for an enlarged prostate at the end of January. Photograph: Toby Melville/Reuters

Thank you for following developments as best wishes flooded in for the king following news of his cancer diagnosis. We are now closing this blog but you can read our full report below.

The front page of Tuesday’s Daily Mail.

France’s president Emmanuel Macron has wished the king a “speedy recovery”.

In a post on X, Macron wrote: “Our thoughts are with the British people. Amitiés [good wishes].”

The king made 34 official visits to France as the Prince of Wales.

Updated

The Telegraph’s front page.

Updated

The front page of The Times.

Tuesday’s Express front page.

A summary of today's developments

  • King Charles has been diagnosed with cancer and is already receiving treatment that will prevent him from undertaking public duties for the immediate future, Buckingham Palace announced on Monday evening.

  • No further details about what type of cancer he has are being disclosed at this stage, but Buckingham Palace said it was not prostate cancer.

  • The cancer was discovered when the 75-year-old recently underwent treatment at the London Clinic for a benign enlarged prostate.

  • The king began regular outpatient treatments on Monday and although he has been forced to postpone public-facing engagements, he will continue with his constitutional role as head of state, including paperwork, his red boxes and private meetings.

  • The king personally informed both his sons, the Prince of Wales and Duke of Sussex, of his diagnosis, as well as his three siblings, the Princess Royal, Duke of Edinburgh and Duke of York.

  • Prince Harry had spoken with his father about his cancer diagnosis and will be travelling to London to see him in the coming days, a source close to Harry told the PA news agency.

Updated

The front page of the Guardian.

Updated

Tuesday’s Mirror front page.

The front page of The Sun.

Tuesday’s Metro splash.

Here is a roundup of Tuesday’s front pages starting with the i.

Justin Trudeau, the prime minister of Canada, wrote on X: “I, like Canadians across the country and people around the world, am thinking of His Majesty King Charles III as he undergoes treatment for cancer.

“We’re sending him our very best wishes – and hoping for a fast and full recovery.”

President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins, extended his best wishes to the king and his family.

A statement on behalf of Higgins said: “The President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins, is very sorry and concerned to hear today’s statement regarding King Charles’ medical diagnosis.

“The president has sent his best wishes on behalf of the people of Ireland to King Charles for his medical treatment and for his full recovery, as well as to Queen Camilla and his family.”

Updated

The Australian prime minister, Anthony Albanese, gave a statement outside the annual church service to mark the start of the Australian parliamentary year:

All Australians will be sending their best wishes to King Charles for a speedy recovery. This is difficult news, and we hope for King Charles, for His Majesty, and for all of their family, all the very best. We want to see His Majesty return to full duties as soon as possible.

We of course look forward to the Commonwealth heads of government meeting held in our region. And of course, we have invited King Charles to visit Australia, and we sincerely hope that that is able to occur.

Updated

The US president, Joe Biden, has said he and the first lady, Jill Biden, are praying for the king’s swift and full recovery.

Biden earlier told reporters that he was “concerned” about the king’s cancer diagnosis, adding that he hoped that he planned to call him later.

Posting to social media, Biden wrote:

Navigating a cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship takes hope and absolute courage. Jill and I join the people of the United Kingdom in praying that His Majesty experiences a swift and full recovery.

Biden lost his son, Beau, 46, to brain cancer in 2015.

Updated

The palace has not disclosed what treatment Charles will be undergoing, only saying that he has begun “a schedule of regular treatments”.

This could involve: chemotherapy, when a medicine is used to kill cancer cells; radiotherapy, which utilises radiation to kill cancer cells; or targeted drugs that find and attack cancer cells.

It is understood that the king will be treated as an “outpatient”, which means that he will not have to stay in hospital while having treatment. However, under advice from his doctors, he will step back from public-facing duties. Officials said he will still be able to “undertake state business and official paperwork as usual”.

They added that the king “remains wholly positive about his treatment” and “looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible”. Maintaining a positive attitude will be crucial for him to cope with the news.

People with cancer are often encouraged to be positive but it is not always easy. Living with cancer and its treatment can be frightening. However, it is clear that the king hopes his diagnosis may raise greater awareness of the disease.

Buckingham Palace said he chose to share his cancer diagnosis to “prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer”.

Despite the fact that so many will develop the disease like Charles, not everyone is fully aware of the signs and symptoms.

They include changes in bowel habits, bloating, bleeding, lumps, moles, unexplained weight loss, indigestion or heartburn, itchy or yellow skin, tummy or back pain, and feeling tired or unwell.

Although it’s unlikely to be cancer, it’s important to speak to a GP about anything unusual so that they can investigate. The earlier cancer is found, the easier it is to treat.

Updated

King among nearly 400,000 people diagnosed with cancer each year

Someone is told they have cancer every two minutes in the UK, and Buckingham Palace have disclosed that King Charles is among the thousands who have begun 2024 with a diagnosis.

The discovery came during Charles’s recent treatment for a benign prostate enlargement, when a “separate issue of concern” was noted. Although Buckingham Palace has not revealed what form of cancer the king has been diagnosed with, it is understood not to be prostate cancer.

With one in two people likely to develop cancer during their lifetime, a diagnosis is not surprising. Age is the biggest risk factor for most cancers, and Charles is 75. The increase in lifetime risk to one in two is because more people are now surviving into old age, when cancer is more common.

Every year more than a third (36%) of all cancer cases in the UK are diagnosed in people aged 75 and over, according to data reviewed by the Guardian.

Overall, there are nearly 400,000 cancer cases diagnosed in the UK each year – equating to more than 1,000 every day. The most common cancers among men aged 75 and over in the UK are prostate, lung, bowel and bladder cancer followed by melanoma skin cancer.

Cancer is serious and can be deadly, with 167,000 dying from the disease every year in the UK. Figures show that it remains the leading cause of death in the UK, causing 25% of all deaths.

However, half of people diagnosed with cancer in England and Wales survive their disease for 10 years or more. Survival is improving and has doubled in the last 50 years in the UK, due to a combination of earlier detection, better treatment and research advances.

Donald Trump has said he is praying for the king’s full recovery, describing him as a “wonderful man”.

Posting to his Truth Social site, the former US president wrote:

King Charles has cancer. He is a wonderful man, who I got to know well during my presidency, and we all pray that he has a fast and full recovery!

Updated

King Charles plans to continue a weekly audience with Rishi Sunak while undergoing treatment for cancer, the BBC is reporting.

Suitable arrangements will be made if the king’s doctors advise him to minimise in-person contact, it writes.

The king is also expected to continue to manage his red boxes of government paperwork.

Updated

Charles’s cancer diagnosis will cast doubt on his future role

Last Monday, King Charles emerged from a private clinic alongside Queen Camilla to smile and wave to a small crowd.

The message that Buckingham Palace wished to convey was obvious – the monarch is strong and will carry on his duties, despite the health setback. Hours earlier, his daughter-in-law Catherine, the Princess of Wales, was driven away from the same hospital after planned abdominal surgery.

For several days, the global media speculation over their health – and that of the monarchy as a whole – died down.

But Monday’s surprise announcement that Charles has been diagnosed with a form of cancer inevitably provoked another frenzy – and will once again raise questions about whether it is fair to expect a man in his mid-70s to fulfil a rota of public duties.

He started his new job a decade after most men retire. For many, it will seem as if fate has placed another challenge before a reign that has been so long in the waiting.

Read the full story by the Guardian’s home affairs editor, Rajeev Syal, here.

The Duke of Sussex is expected to travel on his own from his home in California and fly to London in the coming days, according to reports.

The Duchess of Sussex will stay in the US with the couple’s two children – Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet, PA news agency reported, citing a source close to Harry.

The Duke of Sussex is thought to be travelling alone to London to be with his father. Harry pictured with Meghan and the Prince and Princess of Wales on 10 September 2022 following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
The Duke of Sussex is thought to be travelling alone to London to be with his father. Harry pictured with Meghan and the Prince and Princess of Wales on 10 September 2022 following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Photograph: Chris Jackson/PA

Updated

Stephen Cottrell, the archbishop of York, said the king’s cancer diagnosis had come as “a bit of a shock”.

He said:

Although we knew that His Majesty the King was being treated for a prostate condition, the news he has cancer is a bit of a shock for all of us. First of all, this is a private matter for him and his family. We don’t have all the details, nor should we.

But he is our King, someone whom we know and care for, so my response today is one of prayerful concern and hopefulness that this cancer will be treatable and that it has been diagnosed early enough for that treatment to be speedy and effective.

I am praying for him and for the Royal Family and with them for the many other people who are receiving similar treatment both for cancer and for other illnesses. Please join me.

Chiara De Biase, director of support and influencing at Prostate Cancer UK, said: “We are saddened to hear of the king’s cancer diagnosis and wish him well as he starts his treatment.

“Whilst we’re aware that the king has not been diagnosed with prostate cancer, more detail about his condition has not been disclosed and we respect Buckingham Palace’s request for people not to speculate.

“The king’s openness and honesty in announcing his treatment for an enlarged prostate raised vital awareness about the condition.

“We saw a 500% increase in people coming to our website for information and support in the week following the news, and an impact in men looking to learn more about their prostate and prostate cancer, with an increase in men taking our 30-second online risk checker.

“It’s important to remember that an enlarged prostate is very common in men over 50. It isn’t caused by cancer and it doesn’t increase your risk of getting prostate cancer.

“But if you do have any concerns about your prostate health or prostate cancer, visit our website and take our the 30-second risk checker. You can also call Prostate Cancer UK’s specialist nurses on 0800 074 8383 from 9am to 5pm on weekdays, or via live webchat.”

Updated

The queen will be key to helping her husband through his health scare and maintaining the public presence of the monarchy, according to a royal expert.

Camilla was described as a “massive support” to Charles by Joe Little of Majesty Magazine, who highlighted how she carried out a string of public events last week following his treatment for an enlarged prostate.

The woman often referred to by the king as my “darling wife” visited London’s Royal Free hospital last Wednesday to open a £6m centre run by the charity Maggie’s in her role as its patron.

The organisation provides welcoming spaces for cancer patients, and their families, to process the news of a diagnosis and to meet and bond with others receiving treatment.

Little said: “Camilla has shown for a long time, and we’re very aware now, that she is famed as the power behind the throne.

“She is a massive support in so many ways to her husband, the king. Only last week we saw that she was holding the fort while he was recuperating at Sandringham.

“I think only now are people appreciating the true worth of Queen Camilla and that will very much be the case in the coming weeks.”

Updated

The actor David Suchet is among the celebrities who have sent their wishes to the king.

Match of the Day presenter Gary Lineker posted on X:

The former boxer Frank Bruno wrote on X:

Carole Vorderman wrote on X:

The recent diagnosis means the king is unlikely to be at the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey on 11 March which is usually attended by senior members of the royal family.

The king and queen were expected to visit Canada in May, and Australia, New Zealand and Samoa for the Commonwealth heads of government meeting in October.

Buckingham Palace has yet to confirm whether the tours will go ahead, with no date suggested for the king’s return to full public duties.

His cancer diagnosis raises the prospect of the high-profile overseas visits – his first to the countries as king – being postponed.

No forthcoming state visits have officially been confirmed by the palace.

Updated

Professor Pat Price, founder of the Catch Up With Cancer campaign, said: “In this worrying time, our hearts go out to the king and his family.

“The outpouring of well-wishes from millions of people reflects the collective concern we all share.

“The king’s openness about his battle with cancer is a powerful reminder that one in two of us may face cancer at some point in our lives.”

Judi Rhys, chief executive of Tenovus Cancer Care, of which the Princess Royal is patron, said: “We are saddened to hear of the king’s cancer diagnosis and wish him all the best with his treatment and recovery.

“Our thoughts are with the whole of the royal family including our patron HRH the Princess Royal.”

Updated

NHS England chief executive Amanda Pritchard said: “Finding out you have cancer can be very daunting – we hope King Charles’ treatment goes well.

“As ever, if you have any symptoms or signs of cancer, please do come forward for checks.”

The king, who has been diagnosed with cancer, has generally enjoyed good health, although he has been injured during sporting pursuits.

It is hoped that Charles’s decision to share details of his diagnosis may help public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer.

In a statement on Monday, Buckingham Palace said the king “is grateful to his medical team for their swift intervention, which was made possible thanks to his recent hospital procedure”.

He has begun a schedule of regular treatments, during which he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties, the Palace said.

Previous health issues have included contracting coronavirus at the beginning of the pandemic and being knocked unconscious after being thrown from his horse while playing polo, and he narrowly escaped an avalanche that killed a close friend.

Joe Biden 'concerned' about King Charles' cancer diagnosis

US president Joe Biden said he was “concerned” about King Charles’ cancer diagnosis and planned to call him later.

“I am concerned about him,” Biden said when asked about the diagnosis during a visit to Las Vegas.

“ Just heard about his diagnosis. I’ll be talking to him, God willing.”

Updated

Dr Jay Verma, president of the GP section at the Royal Society of Medicine, has thanked the king for raising awareness about cancer.

He said: “We wish His Majesty a speedy recovery and success in his treatment for cancer.

“We have made leaps and bounds in our cancer treatment and survival rates, and the earlier a problem is diagnosed, the more options there are for treatment.

“We would also like to thank His Majesty for using his unique position in highlighting how cancer is indiscriminate in who it affects and that there should be no shame or embarrassment in coming forward to seek help and advice.

“The NHS has a system of cancer screenings and if you receive a communication saying you are due for an appointment, it is vital you make an appointment. It could save your life.

“If you have any symptoms which cause you concern, you should get in contact with your GP practice.

“Please don’t be shy – the more information we have the better to help – hopefully – rule out cancer or, if not, put you on the most suitable treatment pathway.”

A statement from Macmillan Cancer Support said everyone at the charity was sending their best wishes.

The statement on X said: “Our thoughts are with His Majesty the King and his family.

“We are sending our best wishes at what we know must be an incredibly challenging time.”

The Royal Household is currently conducting a review of royal patronages.

The King has been a long-standing supporter of Macmillan, becoming patron of the charity in 1997.

There are around 375,000 new cancer cases in the UK every year, which is around 1,000 every day, according to the Cancer Research charity.

Each year more than a third of all cancer cases in the UK are diagnosed in people aged 75 and over.

In males in the UK, there are around 193,000 new cancer cases every year. In females in the UK, there are more than 182,000 new cases.

Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle told MPs: “I know the whole House will wish to join me in expressing our sympathies with His Majesty the King following the news announcement this evening.

“Our thoughts are, of course, with His Majesty and his family, and we’d all wish to send him our very best wishes for the successful treatment and a speedy recovery following tonight’s news.”

Ulster Unionist leader Doug Beattie said his party offered “heartfelt wishes” to the king after the “shocking news” of his diagnosis.

“This is, unfortunately, a reality many families, right across these islands, face day and daily,” he said.

“I know that people across Northern Ireland, and indeed the world, will be holding him and the royal family in their thoughts and prayers during this very worrying time for them all.

“As a nation, we join together to wish His Majesty a speedy recovery and a return to full health.”

Updated

The Princess of Wales had determined to keep her medical details private.

But with her also out of action – she is not expected to return to public duties until after Easter – it presents problems for the monarchy which is already significantly diminished in the number of working royals due to the departure of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex.

Kensington Palace announced earlier on Monday that the Prince of Wales, who took time off while his wife was in hospital, will resume public duties this week by conducting an investiture on Wednesday at Windsor Castle, followed by a gala fundraising event for the London Air Ambulance in the evening.

Scottish first minister Humza Yousaf said he wished the king a “speedy recovery” following his cancer diagnosis.

He said: “My thoughts and prayers are with His Majesty The King and I hope for a speedy recovery and return to public life.

“My thoughts are also with Her Majesty The Queen and other members of the royal family at what I know will be a worrying time.”

Northern Ireland’s first minister Michelle O’Neill wished the king a full and speedy recovery.

“I am very sorry to hear of King Charles’ illness and I want to wish him well for his treatment, and a full and speedy recovery,” she posted on X.

Updated

The king, 75, has largely enjoyed good health throughout his life.

The first signs of any significant health concern came with Buckingham Palace’s 17 January surprise announcement that he had sought treatment for an enlarged prostate.

The palace stressed at the time that his condition was “benign” and that he would attend hospital the following week for a corrective procedure.

He was said to be personally keen to share details of his benign prostate diagnosis to encourage other men who may be experiencing symptoms to get themselves checked.

Updated

Mark Drakeford, the First Minister of Wales, has wished the king a “full and swift recovery” following his cancer diagnosis.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, he said: “I’m saddened to hear the news that HM King Charles III is facing further health challenges.

“My thoughts and those of people across Wales will be with him and his family this evening.

“I send my very best wishes as he starts treatment for a full and swift recovery.

“Gwellhad buan.”

Updated

The Labour leader Keir Starmer has sent his best wishes to the king.

The king is understood to have personally informed both of his sons, William and Harry, and his three siblings - The Princess Royal, Duke of Edinburgh and Duke of York - of his diagnosis.

The prime minister Rishi Sunak has wished the King a “full and speedy recovery” and said he will no doubt “be back to full strength in no time”.

DUP leader Sir Jeffrey Donaldson has extended his best wishes to the king.

“Sending His Majesty the King every good wish as he commences his treatment,” he wrote on X.

“We pray for a full and speedy recovery.”

Updated

Duke of Sussex to travel to UK in coming days to see King Charles

The Duke of Sussex has spoken with the king about his cancer diagnosis and will travel to the UK to see him soon, a source close to Harry told the Press Association.

“The duke did speak with his father about his diagnosis. He will be travelling to UK to see His Majesty in the coming days,” the source close to Harry said.

Updated

King Charles ‘wholly positive about treatment’ after being diagnosed with cancer

King Charles has been diagnosed with cancer, Buckingham Palace has announced this evening.

The diagnosis was made recently while the king underwent treatment at the London Clinic for a benign enlarged prostate.

In a statement, Buckingham Palace said: “During the king’s recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted. Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer.

“His majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties.

“Throughout this period, his majesty will continue to undertake state business and official paperwork as usual.

“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.”

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