Queen says King 'fine' and 'looking forward to getting back to work' ahead of treatment for enlarged prostate

Queen Camilla opens the new 'Safe Space' during a visit to Aberdeen Art Gallery (PA)
Queen Camilla opens the new 'Safe Space' during a visit to Aberdeen Art Gallery (PA)

The Queen has said the King is “fine” and “looking forward to getting back to work” as he awaits treatment for an enlarged prostate.Camilla spoke as she carried on with business as usual on Thursday with a visit to the Aberdeen Art Gallery to open its new Safe Space initiative.

Asked about the King by the Lord Provost, she replied: "He's fine, thank you very much. Looking forward to getting back to work."

It was revealed on Wednesday that Charles is to be treated in hospital next week for an enlarged prostate.

Buckingham Palace said the King’s condition was benign and he would be having a corrective procedure. His engagements would be postponed for a short period.

The news came just an hour-and-a-half after Kensington Palace announced that the Princess of Wales was recovering in hospital after abdominal surgery.

The King, 75, is staying at Birkhall, his private home near Balmoral in Aberdeenshire, and was said to “genuinely be in good spirits” and in “good form”. The Palace declined to say whether he would be treated in London or Scotland.

The Queen, who has been staying with him, on Thursday braved the freezing weather to carry out an engagement at Aberdeen Art Gallery.

The Queen said the King is “fine” and “looking forward to getting back to work” during the visit to Aberdeen art gallery (PA)
The Queen said the King is “fine” and “looking forward to getting back to work” during the visit to Aberdeen art gallery (PA)
Queen Camilla met school pupils doing the visit (PA)
Queen Camilla met school pupils doing the visit (PA)
Queen Camilla arrives to open the new 'Safe Space' (PA)
Queen Camilla arrives to open the new 'Safe Space' (PA)

She opened the Safe Space, an initiative providing help and guidance to people at risk of domestic abuse. The area has been hit by heavy snow and about 130 schools in the county were shut today while others delayed opening.

The King was diagnosed after experiencing symptoms and going for a check-up this week. He had a series of meetings and events planned at Dumfries House in East Ayrshire on Thursday and Friday, which have now been postponed.

He was praised for breaking tradition to share details about his prostate condition with the public.

Royal sources said he wanted to encourage other men who might be experiencing symptoms to get checked.

Ali Orhan, chief executive of Orchid, the leading charity for men affected by cancer, said: “With a figurehead such as the King coming forward and speaking so openly about this condition, it helps to normalise it.

“‘It shows men that this illness is not a sign of weakness, even a King can have a condition like this. It also shows men that it doesn’t always have to be cancer and will drive more men to seek help.”

Oliver Kemp, chief executive of Prostate Cancer Research, said: “ The King is absolutely right to encourage men to follow up on any symptoms they experience with their GP.”

King Charles and Camilla at Christmas (PA)
King Charles and Camilla at Christmas (PA)

One of the King’s close friends, conservationist and former One Man and his Dog presenter Robin Page, died in May last year 18 months after a prostate cancer diagnosis.

An enlarged prostate is common in men over 50 and does not usually pose a serious threat to health.