“Early diagnosis quite simply saves lives. I know, too, what a difference it has made in my own case,” the king says in video message
King Charles III offered a health update in a video message on Friday, revealing he will scale back his cancer treatment in 2026.
“This milestone is both a personal blessing and a testimony to the remarkable advances that have been made in cancer care,” the king said in the rare video statement broadcast on British television.
“Early diagnosis quite simply saves lives. I know, too, what a difference it has made in my own case, enabling me to continue leading a full and active life even while undergoing treatment.”
King Charles nor Buckingham Palace revealed whether the cancer is in remission, with a royal spokesperson saying that the king has “responded exceptionally well” to treatment and that ongoing measures “will now move into a precautionary phase.” “This position will be continuously monitored and reviewed to protect and prioritize his continued recovery,” the spokesperson added.
The king first announced his cancer diagnosis in February 2024; while “the form of cancer” has still not been shared, it was first detected while King Charles was undergoing treatment for an enlarged prostate.
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Two months after the cancer announcement — after beginning treatment during that period — King Charles returned to his “public-facing duties,” beginning with an appearance at an Easter Sunday church service in late March 2024. Over the past year-and-a-half, King Charles continued his royal duties, including hosting President Trump during a visit to the U.K. in September.
“I know from my own experience that a cancer diagnosis can feel overwhelming,” the king said Friday, adding that he had been “profoundly moved by what I can only call the ‘community of care’ that surrounds every cancer patient.”
