King Charles III to return to royal duties after cancer diagnosis and treatment: NPR

LONDON – King Charles III will soon return to royal duties.

In a statement sent to reporters on Friday, Buckingham Palace said the king “will soon return to public-facing duties following a period of treatment and recovery following his recent cancer diagnosis.”

It did not say whether Charles had recovered or whether his treatment had been completed. It never revealed what type or stage of cancer he had. He began unspecified treatment in early February.

To help mark the “milestone” of their return, it added that King Charles and Queen Camilla will visit a cancer treatment center next Tuesday, where they will meet medical experts and patients. “The visit will be the first of many outdoor activities Her Majesty will undertake in the coming weeks,” the statement said.

The king and queen will host the Emperor and Empress of Japan for a state visit to Buckingham Palace in June, the palace said.

King Charles began cancer treatment just weeks before his daughter-in-law, the Princess of Wales. She began chemotherapy in late February, but her diagnosis was not made public until last month, after months of tabloid scrutiny about her whereabouts, and the publication of a family photo she said the princess had altered. . The palace has also not disclosed the type or stage of his cancer.

Charles’s reign began in September 2022 with the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, who had been on the throne longer than any other British monarch. Charles’s coronation took place eight months later, in May 2023.

Friday’s statement from Buckingham Palace concluded: “As the first anniversary of her coronation approaches, Her Majesty is deeply grateful for the many kindnesses and well wishes she has received from around the world during the joys and challenges of the past year.”