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King Charles makes rare admission about cancer journey

He doesn't speak openly about his health often.
King Charles III is crowned King of England
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King Charles has provided an unexpected update to a concerned member of the public about the progress heโ€™s made in his cancer journey.

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The monarch made the admission during a visit to Bradford with Queen Camilla. According to the Palace, the couple visited to celebrate the cityโ€™s people and heritage and to mark the start of the Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture initiative.

According to PA Media reported by Hello, the monarch met with Florist Safeena Khan during a visit to Impact Hub Yorkshire, where she asked him about his health.

PA Media reportedly wrote that he asked how she was doing and she returned the favour, and said he gave her the โ€˜thumbs upโ€™. The outlet also reported that she said he told her, โ€œIโ€™d like to think Iโ€™m on the better side [of my cancer journey]โ€.

King Charles at a ceremony on June 10, 2024.
King Charles has made rare comments about his cancer journey. (Credit: Getty)
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It is not the first time the King has openly commented on his cancer battle.

Earlier this month, he shed light on the lessons he has learned during his diagnosis at a reception he hosted alongside his wife Queen Camilla, to honour cancer charities.

Thanking those in attendance who had made a difference to cancer patients and their loved ones across the United Kingdom, he reflected upon his own experience being a cancer โ€œstatistic.โ€

โ€ I can vouch for the fact that it can also be an experience that brings into sharp focus the very best of humanity,โ€ he shared with attendees.

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While his journey was difficult, the royal said it had given him a greater appreciation for the work done by the different organisations and volunteers in front of him.

โ€œAnd it has reinforced what I have long observed during these visits โ€“ that the darkest moments of illness can be illuminated by the greatest compassion,โ€ he confessed candidly.

The monarch said the guests had his โ€œwhole familyโ€™s deepest admiration and gratitude, and โ€œmoments of kinshipโ€ were crucial.

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โ€œWhat strikes us repeatedly is the profound impact of human connection โ€“ whether in the careful explanation from a specialist nurse, the handholding by a hospice volunteer, or the shared experience in a support group,โ€ he added.

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King Charles is thankful for the work of cancer charities across the UK. (Credit: Instagram)

What keeps Charles going

This comes after Queen Camilla spoke about what kept King Charles motivated during his cancer treatment and recovery.

Speaking to UK journalists while the couple went on their state visit to Italy in April, she said he โ€œwants to do more and moreโ€ and he was driven by โ€œhelping othersโ€.

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โ€œI think he loves his work and it keeps him going,โ€ Camilla said at the time. โ€œAnd I think itโ€™s wonderful, you know, if youโ€™ve been ill and you are recovering, youโ€™re getting better, and now he wants to do more and more and more. Thatโ€™s the problem. Thatโ€™s what heโ€™s driven by. Helping others.โ€

The rare comments came only weeks after Buckingham Palace revealed that King Charles was โ€œbrieflyโ€ hospitalised in late March due to the โ€œside effectsโ€ of his cancer treatment.

The 76-year-old was due to hold several royal engagements in Birmingham on March 27th, however, after a secret visit to the hospital, he cancelled the appearances in order to focus on his ongoing recovery.

The official statement from Buckingham Palace at the time read: โ€œFollowing scheduled and ongoing medical treatment for cancer this morning, The King experienced temporary side effects that required a short period of observation in hospital. His Majestyโ€™s afternoon engagements were therefore postponed.โ€

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โ€œHis Majesty has now returned to Clarence as a precautionary measure, acting on medical advice. Tomorrowโ€™s diary programme will also be rescheduled. His Majesty would like to send his apologies to all those who may be inconvenienced or disappointed as a result.โ€

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The monarch was deeply apologetic for cancelling his royal engagements in Birmingham. (Credit: Getty)

King Charlesโ€™s doctors honoured

King Charles has kept many details of his ongoing cancer treatment private, and that includes the name of the physician treating him.

However, the monarch, who revealed his diagnosis last February, revealed the names of his treating doctors in the Kingโ€™s 2025 Honours List.

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The full list included more than 1,200 people across politics, sports and community service.

The monarchโ€™s personal GP, Dr Douglas Glass, and his consultant physician, Professor Richard Leach, were both awarded with levels of the Royal Victorian Order.

Dr Glass was also the late Queen Elizabethโ€™s physician and was the last to treat the Queen before she passed.

Professor Leach is a consultant physician at the private King Edward VIIโ€™s Hospital in central London, where many of the Royal Family are treated.

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In his 2024 Christmas speech, King Charles also thanked members of the medical profession, saying:

โ€œFrom a personal point of view, I offer special, heartfelt thanks to the selfless doctors and nurses who, this year, have supported me and other members of my family through the uncertainties and anxieties of illness, and have helped provide the strength, care and comfort we have needed.

โ€œI am deeply grateful, too, to all those who have offered us their own kind words of sympathy and encouragement.โ€

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Despite his ongoing health issues, King Charles has big plans for 2025. (Credit: Getty)
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Tours planned despite ongoing cancer treatment

After a successful tour of Australia and Samoa in October 2024, King Charles and Queen Camilla travelled to Italy in April, despite Charlesโ€™ recent health setback. There, they also marked their 20th wedding anniversary.

While their initial meeting with the Pope was postponed due to his health, the monarchs also met him at his home in Casa Santa Marta. Pope Francis has since passed away.

In late 2024, Buckingham Palace also confirmed that the King would partake in regular international travel in 2025 as he adapted to living with cancer.

A spokesperson for His Majesty revealed at the time that the monarch would travel abroad during spring and autumn for several official royal visits, provided his medical team gave the go-ahead.

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โ€œWeโ€™re now working on a pretty normal-looking full overseas tour programme for next year, which is a high point for us, knowing that we can think in those terms,โ€ Buckingham Palace said.

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King Charles is seen looking surprised after receiving a pair of boxers with kangaroo prints as a gift from a member of the public in front of the Opera House. (Credit: Getty)

While the announcement didnโ€™t give any updates regarding the Kingโ€™s health status, the spokesperson did reveal that the King โ€œgenuinely thrivedโ€ on his first international tour since being diagnosed with cancer, and that meeting with members of the public lifted โ€œhis spirits, his mood, and his recovery.โ€

โ€œIn that sense, the tour, despite its demands, has been the perfect tonic,โ€ they also shared, adding that the Queenโ€™s presence in particular had given him strength.

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During their whirlwind visit to Australia, the King and Queen attended scores of engagements in both Sydney and Canberra, greeting thousands of well-wishers in the process, something Buckingham Palace said made His Majesty โ€œincredibly happy.โ€

โ€œI think itโ€™s a great testament to the Kingโ€™s devotion to service and duty that he was prepared to come this far. He was incredibly happy and very, very determined to do so,โ€ the spokesperson added at the time.

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King Charles III and Queen Camilla pose for a photo in front of the Sydney Harbour Bridge on October 22, 2024. (Credit: Getty)

While the type of cancer King Charles has been diagnosed with is yet to be revealed, he has been receiving treatment as an outpatient since going public with his diagnosis in February 2024.

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After postponing all his front-facing duties until late April that same year, he then continued business as usual, attending several key events on the royal calendar, including Trooping the Colour.

As for what future royal tours may look like for the King while he is being treated for cancer, we have an idea of what to expect based on his time in Australia.

With several ambulances, a team of dedicated doctors and even spare blood travelling with him, he will be receiving the best care available, no matter the location!

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King Charles III participates in a traditional smoking ceremony conducted by community representatives from the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation during a visit to the National Centre of Indigenous Excellence on October 22, 2024, in Sydney. (Credit: Getty)
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โ€œGreatest comfortโ€

Shortly after revealing to the world he was battling cancer, the King released a heartfelt statement to the millions who had sent him their well wishes.

King Charlesโ€™ first statement following his cancer diagnosis expressed his โ€œmost heartfelt thanksโ€ for the well wishes he had received.

โ€œAs all those who have been affected by cancer will know, such kind thoughts are the greatest comfort and encouragement,โ€ he shared in a statement at the time.

โ€œIt is equally heartening to hear how sharing my own diagnosis has helped promote public understanding and shine a light on the work of all those organisations which support cancer patients and their families across the UK and [the] wider world.

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โ€œMy lifelong admiration for their tireless care and dedication is all the greater as a result of my own personal experience.โ€

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Queen Camilla and King Charles III visited the Australian National Botanic Gardens on October 21, 2024, in Canberra. (Credit: Getty)

Before this, Queen Camilla had shared an unexpected update on her husband, King Charles III, just days after Buckingham Palace revealed the monarch had been diagnosed with cancer on February 6, 2024.

Speaking at an event in Salisbury on February 8, she said the King had been doing โ€œextremely well under the circumstances.โ€

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โ€œHeโ€™s very touched by the letters and the messages the public have been sending from everywhere โ€“ thatโ€™s very cheering.โ€

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Charlesโ€™ initial surgery took place on January 26th. (Credit: Getty)

In the statement from Buckingham Palace that first confirmed his cancer diagnosis, it was revealed that Charles remained โ€œwholly positive about his treatmentโ€ and was eagerly awaiting the day he could return to โ€œfull public duty.โ€

โ€œHis 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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โ€œThe King is grateful to his medical team for their swift intervention, which was made possible thanks to his recent hospital procedure.โ€

When the head of state is unable to carry out official duties, the โ€œcounsellors of stateโ€ can be appointed to stand in. Currently, this includes The Queen, The Prince of Wales, The Duke of Sussex, The Duke of York and Princess Beatrice. 

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