Charles, 75, will on Sunday reach the second anniversary of his accession to the throne, and the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
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King Charles III and Queen Camilla during Trooping the Colour on June 15Credit: Getty
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King Charles III, wearing the Imperial State Crown and the Robe of State, sits alongside Queen Camilla during the State Opening of ParliamentCredit: Getty – Pool
He became head of state immediately upon the death of his mother, the nation’s longest-reigning monarch, who died peacefully at Balmoral Castle on September 8 2022 at the age of 96.
The King, who is still considered a “newbie monarch” in comparison with his mother’s record-breaking tenure, endured a bombshell second year as sovereign.
He was diagnosed with cancer and had to deal with ongoing treatment, while his daughter-in-law, the Princess of Wales, was also being treated for the condition.
But a source said brave Charles had coped with the past year with a “determination to be as public as he was able” to reassure the nation about how much he could still do.
He has also been buoyed by Queen Camilla’s support.
A source said: “Her natural warmth, resilience and sense of humour, as I’m sure any patient will tell you, is a wonderful thing to have.
“Of course it’s been a stressful year for Her Majesty, too, but there was never a sense of despondency, only a determination that they would get through this, as with so many other challenging issues in the past.”
Charles is expected to attend church, spending time in private prayers and reflection, on the anniversary, which falls during his summer break on his Aberdeenshire estate in the Scottish Highlands.
The source added: “There will be personal thoughts, prayers and reflections.
“I’m sure it will be a very poignant day for all. How could it not be, not least given the year of challenge that the whole family has had?”
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The King and Queen are gearing up for an important tour to Australia and Samoa in the autumn – their first major overseas trip since news of Charles’s cancer was announced.
“Health has to remain the number one priority, albeit heading in a very positive trajectory,” the source said.
Camilla gave an insight into the King’s treatment this week when she opened a new cancer centre in Bath, revealing he was “doing very well”.
Down-time will be incorporated in Australia and Samoa, with not too many back to back meetings, consideration given to the time difference, and a hoped-for trip to New Zealand removed to reduce the travel demands, but Charles’s programme is still expected to be “pretty full on”.
The King spent around three months away from public-facing duties and returned in April with a visit to a cancer centre in London.
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King Charles III and the Prince of Wales during a visit to the Army Aviation Centre at Middle Wallop, Hampshire, May 13, 2024Credit: Ben Birchall
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King Charles and Queen Camilla visiting a cancer treatment centre at University College Hospital in AprilCredit: Alamy Live News
He had a high profile run of engagements through the next few months including D-Day 80th anniversary commemorations in Portsmouth and Normandy.
Other such events included Trooping the Colour, the incoming Japanese state visit, a short trip to Jersey and Guernsey, and the appointment of a new Prime Minister.
“The best way of seeing how the King has coped is through his actions and words – everything that you’ve seen, everything that he’s said, and everything that he’s done,” the source said.
“From the earliest outset of the health challenge, it was the King’s determination to be as public as he was able, so that people could be reassured by just how much he was still able to do in the circumstances, under his doctors’ advice.
“That has obviously slowly dialed up as the program of treatment and recovery continued, with the result that the King is off on a 12,000 mile trip to Australia and Samoa in a few weeks’ time.”
PIERS MORGAN: It’s clear King Charles’ cancer has changed him
By Piers Morgan, Columnist for The Sun
‘Cancer didn’t bring me to my knees,’ said Hollywood star Michael Douglas after he survived oral cancer a few years ago, ‘it brought me
to my feet.’
I thought of that inspiring quote when I saw King Charles making his
comeback public engagement on Tuesday.
He almost danced out of his state Bentley, beaming happily, and
sporting his favourite Tyrannosaurus Rex dinosaur pattern tie.
I suspect the tie wasn’t an accidental fashion statement: the T-Rex was known as the king of the dinosaurs, and one of the toughest, most durable creatures in history, only rendered extinct by a massive asteroid hitting Planet Earth.
Charles was clearly absolutely delighted to be back out and about
again, with his beloved loyal wife Queen Camilla at his side, doing
the job he loves.
And it was perfectly fitting that he chose London’s world-famous
Macmillan Cancer Centre to reappear on the public stage, given that
he himself has spent the past few months being treated for cancer.
The first part of the visit was very much royal business as usual, as he posed for photographers, waved at waiting crowds, and went inside to greet cheering staff.
But it was when he met fellow cancer sufferers upstairs as they sat
in armchairs for their chemotherapy treatment that I realised
something profound had changed in our new Monarch.
I’ve been at numerous events with Charles over the years and his
interactions with the public have always been reasonably perfunctory.
He’ll exchange a quick word, or joke, maybe shake a hand or pose for
a photo, then swiftly move on.
He rarely stays with one person for more than 30 seconds or so.
But this looked and felt very different.
He spent significantly longer periods of time talking to the patients,
and with a far greater intensity and focus on what they said to him.
It wasn’t difficult to work out why: he’s in the same health boat
they’re all in, stuck in the same choppy and dangerous cancer ocean,
paddling for his life.
Cancer is the greatest of levellers; it doesn’t care how rich,
famous, old, or privileged you are, it can strike anyone at any time.
And that has given the King and his people shared a raw and visceral
experience that he’s never had before now.
He sat with 63-year-old Lesley Woodbridge, in for her second round of chemo, and they had a lengthy conversation.
“How are YOU?” she asked, after he’d asked her about her own condition.
“Not too bad,” he replied. “It’s always a bit of a shock isn’t it,
when they tell you?”
She nodded knowingly.
Then, as Charles got up to move on a few minutes later, he suddenly
took her hand in his and held it for several long seconds.
It wasn’t his normal handshake, with his right hand.
He used his left hand, which seemed way more personal and intimate.
I’VE NEVER SEEN HIM SO AT EASE
And it was a profoundly moving moment between two people who’d never met before, and will almost certainly never meet again, but who felt instantly bonded because they’re both enduring a very tough physical, emotional and frightening time.
I can’t remember ever seeing Charles be so touchy-feely with the
public, but then he’s probably never felt so at one with regular
Britons.
There was even time for laughter, as he exchanged wry chuckles with a man who’d lost his hair from the chemo.
That man got the special left hand shake too.
As did many others.
And all the patients he met understood the significance of this
markedly more tactile approach.
“Charles held my hands for quite a while, and patted me on the
shoulder,” said one lady afterwards, “and I found myself also patting
him, and asking him how he was, and he said he’s getting there.
“So, there was a connection because he knew what it feels like to be a
patient and I know that he’s going through something.”
One of my best mates is very sadly suffering from brain cancer and
gets very irritated by well-intentioned people telling him to ‘keep
battling’ or asking him about his ‘journey’, or horror of horrors,
pondering about the ‘learnings’ he’s gained from his ordeal.
As he explained to me, he doesn’t have any choice about whether to
‘battle’ cancer, he’s on an endlessly grim ‘journey’, and the only
meaningful ‘learning’ he’s gleaned is that red wine tastes awful on
chemo.
CHARLES WAS ONE OF THEM
But what he has found incredibly helpful is speaking to others in his
situation, because only they can really know what he’s going through,
and how he’s feeling.
Looking at Charles during his hospital visit, I’m sure it’s been
exactly the same experience for him.
You can have all the family and friends in the world get cancer and
feel great sympathy for them, but only those who’ve had it themselves can properly understand the importance of empathy based on shared experience.
Suddenly, King Charles didn’t see the people he met as his subjects,
or mere commoners whose lives are hugely vastly detached from his
rarefied, palatial royal world.
He just saw them as fellow patients and cancer sufferers, people all
going through the same thing as him, with the same fears and worries, all having to face up to their mortality in the same way he’s now had to.
And that gave them a real, tangible, searingly honest emotional
connection which I’ve honestly never seen before between Charles and the public.
ECHOES OF DIANA
Ironically, it reminded me so much of his late ex-wife Princess Diana
who had such a natural, easy warmth with people.
There was also a higher purpose to Charles’s visit, and his accompanying announcement that he is to become Patron of Cancer
Research UK, a patronage previously held by his late great mother
Queen Elizabeth II.
He wants to use his own health crisis to make a real difference.
Several times, quite deliberately knowing the cameras were on him, he made a point of saying it’s so important that people get seen and
treated early enough to survive cancer.
This, the Palace has briefed to the media, is one of the main reasons he went public with his diagnosis – to raise awareness and make people see a doctor and get tested if they have any symptoms.
A DEEP BOND
“I appreciate what you’re doing,” said one male patient, “thank you
so much. We’ve all got to stick together!”
“Yes!” exclaimed Charles (who revealed to another patient that he was
going for more of his treatment later the same day.)
And he meant it.
I doubt the King has ever felt a deeper or more relatable bond with his people.
As he left, he met and exchanged gifts with two young children being treated for cancer at the hospital – Ellis, 11, and Della, 6 who has a brain tumour.
He put his hand comfortingly on Della’s shoulder and didn’t need to
say anything.
They’re in this together.
The third year of his reign will see a continuation of his so-called “4Cs” – his guiding principles of “culture, Commonwealth, community and climate” – with an additional sideline theme of “cancer”.
The King is said to have been greatly encouraged by the way his personal health has been able to broaden discussion and engagement around the issues of all forms of cancer.
This includes the rise in prostate screening after he had surgery at the start of the year.
He hopes to be able to show how people diagnosed with cancer can, if it is right for them, carry on with as much of their normal lives as possible.
Saturday sees the staging of the annual Braemar Gathering when the royals usually take front row seats to watch the traditional highland games, a short drive from Balmoral.
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The King, who is still considered a “newbie monarch” in comparison with his mother’s record-breaking tenure, endured a bombshell second year as sovereignCredit: Getty
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He was diagnosed with cancer and had to deal with ongoing treatment, while his daughter-in-law, the Princess of Wales, was also being treated for the conditionCredit: PA
The King has been enjoying his summer break, and looked happy and relaxed when he attended the Aberdeen flower show last Saturday.
Gun salutes are usually fired on Accession Day, but this year the anniversary falls on a Sunday, when salutes traditionally do not take place.
As such, the military tribute by The King’s Troop Royal Horse Artillery at Hyde Park and The Honourable Artillery Company at the Tower of London has been moved to Monday.
Both regiments taking part were responsible for firing the Death Gun salutes to mark the death of Queen Elizabeth II two years ago.
Almost all of the soldiers and horses taking part played a part in the Queen’s state funeral and the proclamation of the King.
Lady Colin Campbell, with Meghan Markle and Prince Harry (inset)
Pic: Rex