King Charles' 'sausage fingers' explained as he returns to work after cancer diagnosis

The explanation behind King Charles' so-called 'sausage fingers' is coming to light as the Royal monarch returns to his duties following a recent diagnosis of cancer.

Upon his return, observers might take notice of his noticeable finger swelling, a condition the king himself has jovially quipped about in a previous documentary feature.

In a film session showcasing Charles III's coronation rehearsals last year, featured in the BBC's documentary 'Charles III: The Coronation Year', the King was captured teasingly pointing out his unique hand condition whilst alongside his son, Prince William.

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Within a clip from the acclaimed BBC production, an interaction unfolds where the Prince of Wales assists in closing a robe clasp around his father. Prompting laughter, he asserts, "On the day, that's not going to go in."

A humorous King Charles retorted, "No, you haven't got sausage fingers like mine.", reports the Daily Record.

Over time, there's been mounting curiosity over the cause of Charles' visibly enlarged hands. Dr Chun Tang, Manchester-based Medical Director at Pall Mall Medical, has provided some insight on the matter by previously detailing potential reasons behind such occurrence.

Dr Tang spoke to the Daily Mail, revealing: "Often puffy fingers are a symptom of water retention which can be caused by numerous health conditions. This condition arises due to inflammation and can be a result of arthritis, multiple bacterial infections or even TB. Other possibilities include high salt levels, allergic reactions, medicinal side effects, injury and autoimmune disease."

The medical term for 'sausage fingers', as they're colloquially known, is dactylitis. It denotes severe swelling impacting fingers and toes.

Charles, in his joy after the birth of Prince William, reportedly penned a letter to a close confidant, cited from Charles, The Man Who Will Be King by Howard Hodgson: "I can't tell you how excited and proud I am. He really does look surprisingly appetising and has sausage fingers just like mine."

Even the late Queen observed Charles' remarkable hand size early on, supposedly penning a letter to her music teacher following his birth stating: "They are rather large, but with fine long fingers quite unlike mine and certainly unlike his father's. It will be interesting to see what they become."

Throughout his Coronation, questions about the King's noticeably enlarged digits surfaced once again, with speculations over whether the single-gloved approach during the ceremony was down to his unique hands. However, it was soon clarified that this was purely tradition, and the King himself has never acknowledged the cause of his swollen fingers.