King Charles has cancer. Here’s what we know — and what we don’t

King Charles III has been diagnosed with cancer and has started treatment in London.

The shock diagnosis comes a week after the 75-year-old British monarch left hospital following a separate procedure for an enlarged prostate. Here’s what we know. Charles’ recent health problems started last month when Buckingham Palace announced on January 17 that the King would attend hospital to undergo a “corrective procedure” for a benign enlarged prostate.

He had been diagnosed after experiencing symptoms and receiving a check-up while at his Birkhall residence in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. He was discharged from the London Clinic on January 29 and was previously said to have been “doing well” after spending three nights at the private hospital near Regent’s Park. He was released hours after Catherine, Princess of Wales, left the same facility where she had been resting following a successful abdominal operation.

However, while the King was undergoing that treatment, a separate issue of concern was noted, according to the palace on Monday, and subsequent tests identified “a form of cancer.” Health experts suggest it is not uncommon for many cancer patients to be diagnosed when seeking imaging or medical care for other reasons.

“You’re going in for one thing, but then you do additional testing — either as part of a general evaluation or influenced by certain symptoms or signs or blood tests that trigger a procedure or imaging — which then leads to the diagnosis of cancer in a different organ system,” said Dr. Anil Rustgi, director of the Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia University Irving Medical Center, who was not involved in Charles’ medical care.

The palace has also not said how serious the cancer is or how early it was detected, nor did it specify what type of treatments the monarch might be receiving. A royal source told CNN that it was not prostate cancer but did not specify further. Specific medical conditions of members of the royal family are rarely divulged publicly. The palace’s perspective is that they are entitled to some level of medical privacy despite their positions as public servants. That was the case with the initial diagnosis of an enlarged prostate. But Charles opted to share his diagnosis as he wanted to encourage other men who may be experiencing symptoms to get checked.

The situation is different when a condition could affect public duties. At that point, the palace has a duty to reveal what is going on, which is why a statement was issued on Monday evening. King Charles was seen for the first time since leaving hospital on Sunday. With Queen Camilla by his side, he appeared to be in good spirits, waving to the public as the pair made their way to St. Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk, for a Sunday morning church service.

He later returned to London and began outpatient treatment, before leaving the capital on Tuesday. On the advice of his doctors, the King is postponing his public-facing engagements as he receives treatment but will continue with state business and official paperwork, the palace said. He “remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible,” it added.
That means he’s likely to carry on getting his daily red boxes with government papers so he can continue working through state documents at home.

The King is expected to resume his in-person weekly audience with the prime minister on February 21, according to the UK’s PA news agency. On Wednesday, Charles and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak held the audience by telephone, the PA reported. CNN understands the King will continue to be available for state duties like Privy Council meetings. However, details of how that will occur are still being worked out.

The King traveled to Sandringham House, the royal family’s private country retreat in Norfolk, eastern England, on Tuesday after visits from his son, Prince Harry, and niece, Princess Beatrice. On Wednesday, the King congratulated Grenada on its 50th year of independence.
Prince William returned to public duties on Wednesday for the first time since his wife, Catherine, had surgery last month. It is unclear what her surgery was for, but a royal source told CNN on January 17 that the 42-year-old’s condition was non-cancerous.

The announcement that William would be resuming some royal engagements came just hours before the King’s cancer diagnosis. William is in regular contact with his father, according to a source close to the Prince of Wales. William’s first public appearance was to host an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle. Later on Wednesday, he attended a charity gala for the London Air Ambulance Charity, of which he is a patron, and met crew members, supporters of the charity, and former patients.

“I’d like to take this opportunity to say thank you, also, for the kind messages of support for Catherine and for my father, especially in recent days,” the Prince of Wales said in a speech at the Gala dinner. “It means a great deal to us all.” Footage from the event showed William meeting and shaking hands with air ambulance staff and the Hollywood actor Tom Cruise. “Tom, if you wouldn’t mind not borrowing either of the new helicopters for the next ‘Mission Impossible’, it would be appreciated,” William quipped in his speech.

The Prince of Wales had previously taken time off to support his family as his wife continued her recovery at their home in Windsor. It is expected that the princess will need to recuperate for several months, as Kensington Palace previously said she was unlikely to resume her public duties until after Easter. A royal source told CNN last week that the princess’ return to her official duties will depend on medical advice closer to the time.