A year and eleven months after being diagnosed with cancer, earlier today King Charles posted a teaser on his Instagram page announcing that he would give a statement about his illness at exactly 8:00 PM London time.
“This is a period when we are preparing for celebrations with our friends and family,” he said in a statement given to Channel 4, published in full on the royal Instagram account. “During this holiday season, I would like to ask you to join me today with your thoughts and prayers for the hundreds of thousands of people across the United Kingdom diagnosed with cancer and for the millions more who love and care for them.
“I know from my personal experience that a cancer diagnosis can be intimidating but I also know that early detection can change the course of treatment, give valuable time to medical teams and their patients, and provide the precious gift of hope. Early diagnosis saves lives.”
Charles added, “I know what a significant difference this made in my case. Early detection allowed me to continue living a full and active life while undergoing treatment and today I can share the good news that thanks to early diagnosis and adherence to medical advice, the schedule of my cancer treatments can be reduced in the new year.”
He also said that people often avoid screenings because they feel fear, embarrassment, or discomfort, but emphasized that “a few moments of slight discomfort is a small price to pay for the feeling you get when informed that you do not need further tests, or for those who are given the opportunity, thanks to early detection and life-saving treatment.”
For those not up to date, in January 2024 Buckingham Palace announced that King Charles was expected to undergo treatment after being diagnosed with an enlarged prostate, and a few weeks later another statement was released this time announcing cancer. “During the king’s hospitalization, another diagnosis emerged that concerned his doctors,” the palace said.
In the year and eleven months since the palace announced the cancer, Charles has been seen in public countless times and occasionally referenced his illness. “Every diagnosis, every new case is a daunting and sometimes frightening experience for those affected and their loved ones, but as someone who has entered this statistic myself, I can say it can also be an experience that focuses on the good in humanity. It has made me appreciate exceptionally the hard work of the amazing people and organizations who came here tonight, many of whom I have known and supported over the years.
Charles’ type of cancer has never been revealed, but last June a report indicated that the king is dealing with a rare and aggressive form of cancer. “The king may die with cancer but not necessarily from it,” said the royal correspondent of The Daily Telegraph.