King Charles cancer latest: Major update on monarch's health as palace confirm he will resume public duties after positive response to treatment in huge boost for slimmed-down monarchy

Joining in with the excitment for King Charles Richard Moore, the head of the UK Secret Intelligence Service, said that it was a ‘morale boost’ for the country.

He wrote on X: ‘A morale boost for the weekend.  Great news.

The Royal news has been met with thousands of positive messages of congratulations and well-wishes.

Including Home Secretary James Cleverly and security minister Tom Tugendhat, who praised the ‘fantastic news’ in posts on X.

Wes Streeting, the shadow health secretary, also said: ‘This is wonderful news and it’s so good to see the King and Queen seizing the moment to raise awareness of cancer.’

While Claire Coutinho, the Energy Secretary, called it ‘wonderful news’ while Douglas Ross, leader of the Scottish Conservatives, said that he was ‘looking forward to seeing His Majesty return to public duties’.

In January the King, 75, was admitted to hospital to undergo ‘routine treatment’ for an enlarged prostate.

It is not the first time the King, 75, has taken a blow to his health and has often joked about his physical decline.

He previously told a crowd in Brisbane in 2018: ‘I don’t know about you but now bits of me keep falling off at regular intervals.’

Here, MailOnline details Charles’ known health issues over the years.

Despite suspending his public-facing engagements, the 75-year-old remained committed to fulfilling his constitutional role by hosting Privy Council meetings, reading documents in his red box and attending a weekly meeting with the Prime Minister.

On March 27, Charles had an audience with Mohamed Nasheed, 56, Secretary-General of the Climate Vulnerable Forum, who has won numerous awards for his work on environmental protection and the fight against climate change.

Earlier in the month he was seen shaking hands with Algeria’s Ambassador to the United Kingdom, Nourredine Yazid, and the Ambassador of Mauritania, Samba Mamadou.

He also held a video call with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and held an audience of faith leaders from across the UK in the Buckingham Palace’s Billiard Room.

Professor Karol Sikora, a world-renowned oncologist with over 40 years’ experience, told MailOnline the news was incredibly positive for His Majesty.

‘Everyone goes through the shock when they are diagnosed and often they take time off work,’ he said.

‘Going back to work is therapeutic in a sense.’

He said that a return to ‘normality’, be that work, family duties, or education had a significant psychological impact and could speed up recovery both from the disease and from the treatment they have undergone.

‘It’s really encouraging that he’s doing that, and that’s what we encourage other people to do,’ he said.

The Daily Mail has already exclusively revealed that planning is already underway for him to attend his official birthday celebrations, Trooping the Colour, as well as Royal Ascot and the summer garden parties.

It is unclear yet whether he will be able to travel to Normandy in June for the major D-Day anniversary commemorations or to Australia, New Zealand and Samoa as planned in October, but it is understood that the King is keen to if his health allows.

A spokesman added today: ‘ Planning continues for ways in which Their Majesties may attend such Summer and Autumn engagements, though nothing can be confirmed or guaranteed at this stage.

‘All future plans remain subject to doctors’ advice nearer the time, with appropriate adaptations made where necessary to minimise any risks to His Majesty’s continued recovery.’

His duties will include both indoors and outdoors engagements, designed to minimise any health risks to him – such as picking up a cold or other bugs – while his health is compromised.

It is understood that each engagement will be reviewed carefully and managed to receive any risks to His Majesty’s continued recovery.

Asked how he was feeling, a spokesman said: ‘His Majesty is greatly encouraged to be resuming some public-facing duties and very grateful to his medical team for their continued care and expertise.’

In his absence, Princess Anne has been the busiest royal. Since the start of the year she has carried out 167 engagements across the UK and during her visit to Dubai at the start of March.

The Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh are the next busiest. Between them they have conducted 128 engagements.

Queen Camilla has found the time to carry out 33 engagements – the most recent of which was a visit to The Royal Lancers at Catterick Garrison in Yorkshire – whilst continuing to support her husband.

Prince William has also stepped up with 23 engagements despite the fact that most of these came after his wife Kate was diagnosed with cancer.

The Princess of Wales told fellow cancer sufferers that they were ‘not alone’ and should not ‘lose faith or hope’ as she revealed to the world that she is seriously ill.

Her words brought comfort to millions also in the same battle –  but her moving message was also a subtle thanks to her father-in-law for his unerring support during the hardest weeks of her life.

And the King’s decision to reveal today that he is on the mend and getting back to work after months of treatment will be just the positive news Kate needs to push on with her own cancer fight.

Both the Princess of Wales and Charles had been in hospital together at the same time in January – Kate was having abdominal surgery and the monarch had a procedure on his prostate.

Buckingham Palace said the King would postpone public duties while receiving ‘regular treatments’ at The London Hospital – a private clinic where his daughter-in-law the Princess of Wales underwent abdominal surgery which then led to her own cancer diagnosis.

Some engagements Charles has missed include:

• King Constantine of Greece memorial service – The Greek royal family held a thanksgiving service for the late King Constantine II of Greece at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle following his death in January 2023

• Commonwealth Day service – an annual celebration observed by the club of 56 Commonwealth nations at Westminster Abbey. The King left a recorded message.

• Royal Maundy Service – A church service traditionally held on the Thursday before Easter Sunday to commemorate Jesus washing the feet of the Apostles at the Last Supper

And one he didn’t miss…

• Easter Sunday service – Last month the monarch led the royals during the traditional Easter Sunday service as he sat in the Sovereign’s Seat inside St George’s Chapel.

Buckingham Palace announced the King had been diagnosed with a form of cancer on February 6 this year.

The specific type of cancer was not revealed but had been discovered during treatment for an enlarged prostate.

In a statement released at the time, the Palace said Charles ‘remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible.’

The King told his sons Princes William and Harry personally about his diagnosis which led Harry to make a flying 26-hour visit to the UK to see his father in a meeting lasting less than an hour.

To mark the good news Buckingham Palace has announced two major milestone events, the first of many in the coming months, and passed on Their Majesties grateful thanks for all the good wishes they have received.

After his cancer diagnosis was announced on February 6, the King postponed all public-facing engagement but continued with his duties as head of state behind palace walls, conducting audiences and Privy Council meetings.

The Mail understands that the King is also hopeful of undertaking investitures – the handing out of honours to worthy members of the public – in the coming weeks and months.

Again, it is likely that the ceremonies will be adjusted to take account of his condition and ongoing treatment – perhaps with smaller numbers of recipients.

Though the palace said doctors are ‘very encouraged’ and ‘sufficiently pleased’ with the King’s progress, it was stressed the 75-year-old will not have a full summer programme.

The monarch’s attendance at engagements will be announced nearer the time and ‘subject to doctors’ advice’, with ‘adaptations made where necessary to minimise risk” to his recovery.

It is understood the warmer weather would allow events to be staged outside and minimise the risk posed by other people that many cancer patients face.

The spokesperson added: ‘The pacing of the King’s programme will be carefully calibrated as his recovery continues, in close consultation with his medical team.’

Buckingham Palace said the King and Queen will visit a cancer treatment centre on Tuesday to mark the milestone in his recovery.

They will meet medical specialists and patients with the event aiming to raise awareness of the importance of early diagnosis and highlight innovative research, supported by Cancer Research UK, taking place at the hospital.

It will be the first in a series of engagements in the weeks ahead that will include welcoming the Emperor and Empress of Japan for a state visit to the UK in June.

Buckingham Palace have announced that King Charles will return to public duties next week, as royal doctors are pleased with the progress he is making.

In a statement published on X, they said: ‘His Majesty The King will shortly return to public-facing duties after a period of treatment and recuperation following his recent cancer diagnosis.

‘To help mark this milestone, The King and Queen will make a joint visit to a cancer treatment centre next Tuesday, where they will meet medical specialists and patients.

‘This visit will be the first in a number of external engagements His Majesty will undertake in the weeks ahead.  

‘In addition, The King and Queen will host Their Majesties The Emperor and Empress of Japan for a State Visit in June, at the request of HM Government.  

‘As the first anniversary of The Coronation approaches, Their Majesties remain deeply grateful for the many kindnesses and good wishes they have received from around the world throughout the joys and challenges of the past year.’