Britain's King Charles III has had a form of cancer diagnosed, Buckingham Palace has announced.
The disease was discovered while the king was being treated in hospital for an enlarged prostate, the palace said. It declined to confirm the type of cancer, but said it is not in the prostate.
The king has been advised to postpone his public appearances while he undergoes a schedule of regular treatments.
He will carry on working behind the scenes on state business and official papers, and returned from Sandringham to London on Monday to start treatment as an outpatient.
“During the king’s recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted," Buckingham Palace said in a statement.
“Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer.
“His majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties.
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A photo released by Buckingham Palace as they announced that King Charles III had been diagnosed with cancer. All Photos: Getty Images unless stated -
King Charles attends the Sunday service at the Church of St Mary Magdalene on the Sandringham estate in January -
King Charles and Queen Camilla leaving The London Clinic in January. The King had been receiving treatment for an enlarged prostate. -
King Charles delivers his Christmas message at Buckingham Palace in December 2023 -
King Charles delivers an address at the opening ceremony of the Cop28 Summit in December 2023 in Dubai -
King Charles and Prince William attend the National Service of Remembrance at The Cenotaph in November 2023 in London -
King Charles and Queen Camilla at the State Opening of Parliament in November 2023 -
King Charles waters and plants a tree watched by President of Kenya, William Ruto in October 2023 in Nairobi -
King Charles and US President Joe Biden review a guard of honour at Windsor Castle in July 2023 -
Catherine, Princess of Wales, Prince William, King Charles and Queen Camilla during the National Service of Thanksgiving and Dedication at St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh, in July 2023 -
King Charles and Queen Camilla on the balcony of Buckingham Palace, after his coronation. PA -
King Charles, carrying the Sovereign's Orb and Sceptre, leaves Westminster Abbey after the Coronation in May 2023. AFP -
King Charles III is crowned with St Edward's Crown by The Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby during his coronation ceremony in Westminster Abbey in May 2023. PA -
King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla, centre, with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and his wife Elke Buedenbender during the king's state visit in March 2023 -
King Charles and Camilla during a visit to the Bangladeshi community of Brick Lane, London, in February 2023 -
King Charles welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the leader of the Conservative Party to form a new government in October 2022 -
King Charles during the recording of his first Christmas broadcast at Windsor Castle in December 2022 -
King Charles follows the coffin of Queen Elizabeth as it is carried from Westminster Abbey after her state funeral. AP -
King Charles holds a vigil beside the coffin of his mother, Queen Elizabeth, as it lies in state on the catafalque in Westminster Hall. PA -
King Charles greets members of the public as he walks by the gates of Buckingham Palace after the death of Queen Elizabeth. AP -
King Charles shakes hands with British Prime Minister Liz Truss during their first audience at Buckingham Palace -
King Charles III delivers his address to the nation and the Commonwealth from Buckingham Palace after the death of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022 -
Prince Charles with Camilla and Prince William during the ceremonial state opening of parliament at the Palace of Westminster in 2022 -
Prince Charles and Camilla on a visit to Giza in Egypt in 2021 -
Prince Charles joined members of the British Asian Trust for a short bicycle ride as they launched the charity's Palaces on Wheels cycling event at Highgrove in 2021 -
Prince Charles walks behind the Duke of Edinburgh’s coffin during the funeral of Prince Philip in 2021 -
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles during the state opening of parliament at the Palace of Westminster, London, in 2019 -
Prince Charles, Prince William, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Prince Harry arrive for a Christmas Day church service on the Sandringham estate in December 2018 -
Prince Charles leads Meghan Markle up the aisle during her wedding to Prince Harry in St George's Chapel at Windsor Castle in 2018 -
Prince Charles and Camilla attend a dinner hosted by Queen Beatrix of the Netherlands, in Amsterdam in 2013 -
Prince Charles and Harry in front of an Apache helicopter at the Army Aviation Centre in Middle Wallop, 2011 -
Queen Elizabeth presents Prince Charles with the Royal Horticultural Society's Victoria Medal of Honour at the Chelsea Flower Show, west London, in 2009 -
An official portrait to mark Prince Charles's 60th birthday in 2008 -
Prince Charles and his new bride Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, in the White Drawing Room at Windsor Castle after their wedding in April 2005 -
Charles with his sons William and Harry on a ski break at Klosters in Switzerland in 2005 -
Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles in Avignon during a state visit to France in 1972 -
Prince Charles learns a soul dance routine at St George's Secondary School in Maida Vale, west London, in 1978 -
Prince Philip, Prince William, Earl Spencer, Prince Harry and Prince Charles follow the coffin of Princess Diana at her funeral in London in September 1997 -
Diana and Prince Charles pose with their sons, Princes William and Harry, on Prince William's first day at Eton College in 1995 -
Prince Charles and Diana on a visit to Nottingham in 1985 -
Diana and Prince Charles with Prince Harry leave St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, west London, in 1984 -
Prince Charles and his wife Diana with their baby son, Prince William, at home in Kensington Palace in 1983 -
Prince Charles and Diana with son William in 1983 -
Prince Charles and Diana on the balcony of Buckingham Palace on their wedding day in 1981 -
Prince Charles at a polo event in Windsor Great Park, accompanied by the queen and Prince Edward, in 1971 -
Prince Charles leaving Caernarfon Castle after his investiture as Prince of Wales, in Gwynedd, 1969 -
Prince Charles during a tour of Wales in 1969 -
Prince Charles playing cricket in 1968. He was playing for Lord Brabourne against a team of Grand Prix racing drivers. -
Prince Charles and Princess Anne at Windsor Great Park in 1968 -
Prince Charles at the University of Cambridge in 1967, where he was beginning his term at Trinity College -
Queen Elizabeth and her family travel to Sandringham in 1966. Prince Andrew is on her lap, the Duke of Edinburgh to her left with Princess Anne on his lap, and Prince Charles, right -
Prince Charles, walking a Corgi, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and their nanny Mabel Anderson at Euston Station, London, in 1963 -
US President Dwight D Eisenhower, centre, with the British royal family, left to right, Prince Philip, Princess Anne, Queen Elizabeth and Prince Charles, at Balmoral Castle in 1959 -
Queen Elizabeth watches her son Prince Charles driving a toy car in the grounds of Balmoral Castle in 1952 -
A young Prince Charles is perched on the lap of his father the Duke of Edinburgh, while his mother Queen Elizabeth II looks on in the grounds of Windlesham Moor in 1949
“Throughout this period, his majesty will continue to undertake state business and official paperwork as usual.
“The king is grateful to his medical team for their swift intervention, which was made possible thanks to his recent hospital procedure.
“He remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible.
“His majesty has chosen to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer.”
The Duke of Sussex has spoken with the king about his cancer diagnosis and will travel to the UK to see him in the coming days, a source close to Prince Harry said.
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September marked King Charles III's first year as British monarch, here The National looks back at the past 12 months. All photos: Getty Images -
King Charles delivers his address to the nation from Buckingham Palace following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Thursday, September 8, 2022 -
King Charles and Queen Camilla walk across the forecourt of Buckingham Palace, London, as he enters the palace for the first time as the new King in September 2022 -
King Charles during his first audience with Prime Minister Liz Truss at Buckingham Palace in September 2022 -
King Charles speaks during his proclamation as king during the accession council in London in September 2022 -
King Charles and Queen Camilla take part in an address in Westminster Hall in September 2022 -
King Charles, Prince Edward, Princess Anne, and Prince Andrew hold a vigil at St Giles' Cathedral, in honour of Queen Elizabeth in Edinburgh in September 2022 -
King Charles follows behind the coffin of Queen Elizabeth as it is carried out of Westminster Abbey after her state funeral in September 2022 -
King Charles drives past Wellington Arch during the funeral -
King Charles shakes hands with a boy as he visits Aberdeen Town House to meet families who have settled in Aberdeen from Afghanistan, Syria and Ukraine in October 2022 -
King Charles welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace, where he invited the newly elected leader of the Conservative Party to become Prime Minister and form a new government in October 2022 -
King Charles reacts after an egg was thrown in his direction in York during a ceremony at Micklegate Bar where, traditionally, The Sovereign is welcomed to the city, in November 2022 -
King Charles speaks with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, Stella McCartney and US Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry during a reception at Buckingham Palace ahead of the Cop27 Summit in November 2022 -
King Charles plants a lime tree in the Buckingham Palace garden for the Queen's Green Canopy ahead of the Cop 27 Summit in November 2022 -
King Charles unveils a statue of Queen Elizabeth outside York Minster in November 2022 -
King Charles attends the Remembrance Sunday ceremony at the Cenotaph on Whitehall, London, in November 2022 -
Queen Camilla, King Charles and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa at the Grand Entrance of Buckingham Palace during a state visit in November 2022. This is the first state visit hosted by the UK with King Charles as monarch -
King Charles and Queen Camilla talk to co-owners of Wrexham AFC Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney during a visit to Wales in December 2022 -
King Charles during the recording of his first Christmas broadcast at Windsor Castle in December 2022 -
King Charles dances at a pre-Chanukah reception hosted on site for Holocaust survivors at the JW3 Community Centre in December 2022 in London -
King Charles and Queen Camilla meet members of the public during a visit to the Bangladeshi community of Brick Lane in London in February -
King Charles holds an audience with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy at Buckingham Palace in February -
King Charles meets members of the Turkish diaspora community in February in Hounslow, West London -
King Charles speaks at the German Bundestag in March in Berlin, Germany -
First Lady Elke Buedenbender, Queen Camilla, King Charles and German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier arrive for a Ceremonial welcome at Brandenburg Gate in Berlin in March -
King Charles greets people at York Minster for the Maunday Thursday Service in April -
King Charles inspects the 200th Sovereign's parade at Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in April -
King Charles and Queen Camilla switch on stage lighting as they visit the host venue of the Eurovision Song Contest, the M&S Bank Arena in Liverpool in April -
King Charles looks up as he receives the St Edward's Crown during his coronation ceremony in Westminster Abbey in May -
King Charles stands after being crowned in Westminster Abbey in May -
King Charles and Queen Camilla travelling in the Gold State Coach down The Mall on route to Buckingham Palace during the coronation in May -
King Charles arrives to receive a royal salute from members of the military in the gardens of Buckingham Palace following his coronation -
King Charles travels by train pulled by the Flying Scotsman in celebration of its 100th anniversary, in June -
Prince George, Prince Louis, Catherine, Princess of Wales, Princess Charlotte, Prince William, King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince Edward, and Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh stand on the balcony of Buckingham Palace to watch a fly-past of aircraft by the Royal Air Force during Trooping the Colour in June -
King Charles attends Royal Ascot in June -
King Charles and Queen Camilla pose with masquerade masks as they attend the Animal Ball at Lancaster House in London to mark the 20th anniversary of wildlife conservation charity Elephant Family in June -
Catherine, Princess of Wales and Prince William look on as King Charles is presented with the Crown of Scotland during the National Service of Thanksgiving and Dedication for King Charles and Queen Camilla at St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh, Scotland in July -
King Charles and US President Joe Biden at Windsor Castle in July
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said he was left "shocked and sad" when he was told about the King's cancer diagnosis.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live on Tuesday, he said: "All our thoughts are with him and his family.
"Thankfully, this has been caught early."
Everyone will be hoping the King "gets the treatment that he needs and makes a full recovery", he said.
"That's what we're all hoping and praying for, and I'm of course in regular contact with him and will continue to communicate with him as normal," the Prime Minister added.
Former British Prime Minister Boris Johnson sent his best wishes to the king, posting on X: "The whole country will be rooting for the King today.
"Best wishes to Charles III for a full and speedy recovery."
Labour Party leader Keir Starmer sent the king his best wishes, saying on X: "On behalf of the Labour Party, I wish His Majesty all the very best for his recovery.
"We look forward to seeing him back to swift full health."
Former British Prime Minister Liz Truss also said on X:" Sending every best wish to His Majesty the King and the Royal Family as he undergoes his treatment for cancer.
"He will be in our thoughts and prayers.
"God Save The King!"
President of Ireland Michael Higgins extended his best wishes to the king and his family.
“The President of Ireland, Michael D Higgins, is very sorry and concerned to hear today’s statement regarding King Charles’ medical diagnosis," a statement on his behalf said.
“The President has sent his best wishes on behalf of the people of Ireland to King Charles for his medical treatment and for his full recovery, as well as to Queen Camilla and his family.”
Northern Ireland’s First Minister Michelle O’Neill wished the king a full and speedy recovery.
“I am very sorry to hear of King Charles’s illness and I want to wish him well for his treatment, and a full and speedy recovery,” she posted on X.
Mark Drakeford , the First Minister of Wales, has wished the king a “full and swift recovery” after his cancer diagnosis.
In a post on X, he said: “I’m saddened to hear the news that HM King Charles III is facing further health challenges.
“My thoughts and those of people across Wales will be with him and his family this evening.
“I send my very best wishes as he starts treatment for a full and swift recovery.
“Gwellhad buan.”
King Charles, 75, was discharged from the London Clinic a week ago after undergoing treatment on an enlarged prostate.
The shock news is the latest health scare to hit the royal family at the start of 2024, coming after the king’s hospital stay, Kate, Princess of Wales’s major abdominal surgery and Sarah, Duchess of York’s skin cancer diagnosis.
Buckingham Palace announced on January 16 that the king was to have treatment for an enlarged prostate, but that the condition was benign.
The palace announced the king’s cancer diagnosis at 6pm on Monday.
King Charles, who acceded to the throne just 17 months ago, was last seen on Sunday when he attended church in Sandringham.
Foreign leaders wish king speedy recovery
US President Joe Biden said he was “concerned” about the king’s cancer diagnosis, as foreign leaders wished Charles a swift recovery.
Mr Biden, who is six years older than the king, was asked by reporters whether he had a message for King Charles during a visit to Las Vegas.
“I’m concerned about him. Just heard about his diagnosis," he said.
“I’ll be talking to him, God willing.”
Mr Biden later tweeted: “Navigating a cancer diagnosis, treatment and survivorship takes hope and absolute courage.
“Jill and I join the people of the United Kingdom in praying that His Majesty experiences a swift and full recovery.”
His predecessor in the White House, Donald Trump, described the king as a “wonderful man”.
The frontrunner for the Republican party posted on his Truth Social platform: “King Charles has cancer.
“He is a wonderful man, who I got to know well during my presidency, and we all pray that he has a fast and full recovery.”
French President Emmanuel Macron posted on X: "Wishing His Majesty King Charles III a speedy recovery.
"Our thoughts are with the British people. Amities."
Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has wished the king a swift recovery.
“Australians know that His Majesty King Charles has always reached out to us in our country’s toughest moments, showing kindness and care for those doing it tough," Mr Albanese said on X.
“All of us are thinking of him and his family in this very hard time.
“We wish him well for a speedy recovery.”
King Charles is also Australia’s head of state.
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also offered his best wishes.
“I, like Canadians across the country and people around the world, am thinking of His Majesty King Charles III as he undergoes treatment for cancer," Mr Trudeau tweeted.
“We’re sending him our very best wishes – and hoping for a fast and full recovery.”
Canada is one of the 14 Commonwealth nations where the king is head of state.
