(London) King Charles III is preparing to resume public activities next week, his doctors deeming “very encouraging” the progress in his state of health since the announcement of his cancer almost three months ago.
“His Majesty the King will shortly resume his public activities following a period of treatment and recovery following his cancer diagnosis,” Buckingham Palace announced in a statement on Friday.
If the palace provides few details regarding the state of health of the king, the nature of the cancer is still unknown, a Buckingham spokesperson emphasizes that “his treatment program will continue, but the doctors are sufficiently satisfied progress made so far so that the king is now able to resume a certain number of public commitments.
These will nevertheless be “adapted if necessary to minimize the risks to the recovery” of the king.
He will visit with his wife Camilla next Tuesday a cancer center where the royal couple will meet medical teams and patients, according to the palace.
Charles, 75, and Camilla, 76, will also receive Emperor Naruhito of Japan and his wife Empress Masako for a state visit at the end of June at the invitation of the United Kingdom.
The Japanese imperial couple attended the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022 in London.
The king’s doctors consider the progress made so far “very encouraging” and remain “optimistic” about his ongoing recovery, according to a Buckingham spokesperson.
“Minimize risks”
His public appearances will be decided on a case-by-case basis and will follow the recommendations of his doctors, continues Buckingham’s spokesperson, but the sovereign will not follow a “full summer program”.
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak welcomed “great news to end the week” in a message on the social network X.
Since the announcement of his cancer at the beginning of February, the British sovereign had canceled all his official public commitments, while continuing to fulfill certain official functions or to honor certain appointments in small groups, like his weekly meetings with the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
PHOTO JONATHAN BRADY, ARCHIVES ASSOCIATED PRESS
King Charles III and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during a meeting at Buckingham Palace on February 21
As the first anniversary of the coronation of Charles III and Queen Camilla approaches, “their majesties remain deeply grateful for the expressions of kindness and good wishes they have received from around the world during the joys and challenges of the past year », Continues the royal press release.
“Time”, “space”, and “intimacy”
Buckingham Palace announced the king’s illness in early February, detected during a prostate operation a few days earlier, and began treatment.
His last public appearance dates back to March 31: after attending the traditional Easter religious service, the king enjoyed a walkabout, exchanging handshakes and pleasantries with the public who were waiting in front of Saint-George Chapel in Windsor , west of London.
However, no news has filtered out regarding the state of health of Princess Kate, her daughter-in-law, since the announcement of her cancer on March 22.
The diagnosis was made after the Princess of Wales underwent major abdominal surgery in mid-January.
Very popular in the United Kingdom and around the world, the wife of Prince William, heir to the throne, revealed in a video that she was suffering from cancer, without specifying its nature, and began “preventive” chemotherapy. “.
Evoking a “huge shock”, the 42-year-old princess stressed that her family “needs time, space and privacy” during this ordeal.