Photo courtesy of Dan Marsh via Flickr. King Charles, pictured above, stands before a crowd.
By Elizabeth Murray ’26
Global Editor
Despite recently being placed on the throne after the death of his mother, King Charles III’s health may be putting him at risk of losing said throne.
On Feb. 6, 2024, Buckingham Palace announced in a statement that King Charles had been diagnosed with cancer. “During The King’s recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted. Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer,” the statement from Buckingham Palace shared.
The statement continued, declaring, “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.”
The type of cancer was not disclosed, but the king has started outpatient treatment in London, BBC News reported. While King Charles is expected to limit his public engagements, he will continue to meet with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and fulfill his constitutional duties.
On Wednesday, Feb. 7, the king left London for Sandringham with Queen Camila after a visit from his son Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, who traveled from the United States, BBC News reported.
On Feb. 11, the king released a statement thanking the public for their support. He said in part, “As all those who have been affected by cancer will know, such kind thoughts are the greatest comfort and encouragement.”
U.S. President Joe Biden expressed his support via X, formerly known as Twitter, saying, “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.”
“He’ll just be in our thoughts and our prayers,” Prime Minister Sunak said in a BBC radio interview.
In that same interview, the prime minister said that he was grateful the disease had been detected early. A spokesperson later clarified that Sunak was referring to the palace statement, which reported a “swift intervention.”
Some of his duties will be delegated to other senior members of the royal family, including his wife, Queen Camilla, and his oldest son, Prince William, the Prince of Wales. The Princess of Wales has been absent from public duties while she recovers from “abdominal surgery,” BBC News reported.
Officials have stated there are no plans to appoint counselors of state or members of the royal family who would step in for the king should he be unable to complete his duties, The New York Times reported. Counselors of state are usually appointed due to a monarch’s illness or travel abroad. They tend to be the monarch’s spouse and the next four adults in the line of succession. In Charles’s case, this would ordinarily be his wife, Queen Camilla, his sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, his brother, Prince Andrew and Andrew’s oldest daughter, Princess Beatrice. However, in 2022, the law was changed to allow only working members of the royal family to be counselors of state, according to People Magazine.
Prince Harry has not been a working royal since he stepped back from his role in 2020. Prince Andrew was stripped of his military titles and patronages in 2022 by the late Queen Elizabeth II due to the sexual assault lawsuit brought against him by Virginia Guiffre, People Magazine reported. Princess Beatrice is not a working royal, as she does not take on engagements for the crown. Conversely, the king’s other siblings, Princess Anne and Prince Edward, would be eligible for the role.
According to The New York Times, were the king to become incapacitated due to his illness, a regency could go into effect. In that case, the regent would be Prince William, as he is next in line for the throne.
The decision would not be made by the king but by the queen and other high-ranking members of the English government, The New York Times reported. They would sign a “declaration of incapacity” that would have to be backed by medical evidence. Prince William would then swear a series of oaths and assume his duties. The regency could be ended by a declaration of “cessation of incapacity.”
