US President Joe Biden said he was “concerned” about King Charles III's cancer diagnosis, as foreign leaders wished the UK monarch a swift recovery.
Well-wishers have gathered outside Buckingham Palace in central London after the diagnosis as world leaders passed on their own good will messages.
Mr Biden, the Democrat leader 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.”
The leaders of a number of Commonwealth countries sent messages to London, including Australia, the Bahamas and Barbados.
Australia’s Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has wished King Charles 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 wrote 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 has cancer diagnosed
The leaders of a number of Commonwealth countries sent messages to London, including Australia, the Bahamas and Barbados.
Bahamas Prime Minister Philip Davis said the king was “shining a light on “a challenge faced by many around the world”.
New Zealand's Prime Minister Christopher Luxon offered his best wishes using the Maori phrase “kia kaha King Charles” – stay strong King Charles.
Mia Mottley, Prime Minister of Barbados, offered her “best wishes to Queen Camilla and the rest of the royal family”.
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.
Former US president Donald Trump, the front-runner for the Republican party nomination ahead of the 2024 elections, posted on the 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.”
Tourists and locals outside Buckingham Palace spoke of their sadness after hearing the news.
Lisa Nash, 61, said she wished Charles well and added that the royal family does “a lot for this country”.
She said: “My thoughts are with him and to go through something like cancer but in the public eye is pretty something, so I'm pleased that he's given people snippets of information but I'm quite glad that he's going to keep the rest of it private.
“I think for his own peace of mind, he needs to be doing that, it's enough of a struggle as it is but I wish him well and I'm sure he'll pull through and things will be fine.”
