King Charles reveals ‘shock’ he felt when hit by cancer diagnosis
King Charles has revealed the “shock” he felt when he was hit with a cancer diagnosis.
The monarch, 75, who disclosed on 5 February he is fighting an undisclosed form of the disease after he underwent a procedure to treat an enlarged prostate, told how he was left shaken when he was informed he had the illness as he returned to public duties on Tuesday (30.04.24), alongside his 76-year-old wife Queen Camilla.
When asked about his health battle and recovery as the couple toured the Macmillan Cancer Centre at University College Hospital, he said it was a “bit of a shock” to be given his diagnosis.
Charles added: “Not too bad. It’s always a bit of a shock, isn’t it, when they tell you?”
And when asked about how he was coping with his cancer treatment he said: “I’m alright, thank you.”
Charles also sympathised with a cancer patient as she received her chemotherapy with many others in a day unit at the specialist centre.
He told 63-year-old Lesley Woodbridge: “I’ve got to have my treatment this afternoon as well.”
As Charles and Camilla left the hospital they were met outside by a young girl who presented them with flowers – with the king handing her a gift bag emblazoned with royal crests before he smelt her bouquet and tapped her on the shoulder.
It comes after Charles was seen with a smiling Camilla on Sunday (28.04.24), for the first time since the announcement he was returning to royal duties.
Charles, a patron of Cancer Research UK, also met with Professor Charlie Swanton – the charity’s chief clinician – during his visit in London on Tuesday, with hordes of royal fans turning out to cheer him on as he arrived.