A timeline of King Charles' cancer journey following his hospitalisation
By Kate Kachor and Jo Abi|
The news that King Charles has been hospitalised after suffering "temporary side effects" during his "scheduled and ongoing medical treatment for cancer" has caused great concern among royal followers.
Buckingham Palace shared the news on Friday morning Australia time, explaining that the 76-year-old monarch "required a short period of observation in hospital" and would miss his scheduled afternoon engagements "as a precautionary measure" and "acting on medical advice". His program for today has also been "rescheduled".
It has been over a year since the world learned the royal was battling an undisclosed form of cancer following a routine procedure for an enlarged prostate on January 24.
READ MORE: Charles hospitalised following 'side effects' from cancer treatment
Let's take a look back at King Charles' health journey.
The world learns King Charles is a battling cancer
As King Charles strode in step with his wife Queen Camilla to Sunday mass in the English countryside he raised an hand and waved to awaiting well-wishers.
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It was February 4, 2024, when the royals walked to a church service near Sandringham, one of his first public outings following a three-day planned hospital stay. Two days later Buckingham Palace announced he has been diagnosed with a form of cancer.
Royal experts labelled Charles' decision to publicly share his diagnosis as "unprecedented". For centuries, royals have kept their health battles private.
"In the past, if the royals have had cancer, we haven't been told about it," Camilla Tominey, Associate Editor at The Telegraph UK told Today.
"[It's] quite unprecedented for Buckingham Palace to be this honest about what the King has been diagnosed with."
King Charles III's cancer diagnosis
Buckingham Palace first published a statement about Charles' diagnosis to the Royal Family's Instagram account on February 5, 2024.
"During The King's recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted," the statement read.
"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."
The statement said 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," it read.
"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."
Prince Harry flies in to see his father following cancer news
The Mirror's royal editor Russell Myers says Charles personally informed his close family members of his diagnosis.
"I'm told as well by people close to Harry that the King did call him personally, as he did his siblings and Prince William as well," Myers said.
"Harry is flying over in the coming days and this is obviously on the backdrop of some incredibly fractious times for Harry and the rest of the family.
King Charles health before cancer diagnosed
The specifics of the royal's health before his cancer diagnosis are not publicly known.
What is known is that His Majesty spent three days in a London hospital in January 2024 for a planned procedure for benign prostate enlargement.
Charles' cancer diagnosis was discovered during his hospital stay.
"Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer," the Palace statement read.
"His Majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties."
King Charles shares personal message following cancer diagnosis
The weekend after his diagnosis was made public, the King shared a personal message expressing his "most heartfelt thanks for the many messages of support and good wishes I have received in recent days".
"As all those who have been affected by cancer will know, such kind thoughts are the greatest comfort and encouragement," he said.
The royal continued: "It is equally heartening to hear how sharing my own diagnosis has helped promote public understanding and shine a light on the work of all those organizations which support cancer patients and their families across the UK and wider world.
"My lifelong admiration for their tireless care and dedication is all the greater as a result of my own personal experience."
What type of cancer does King Charles have?
This is not publicly known. All Buckingham Palace have shared is that Charles does not have prostate cancer. No other details have been released on the matter.
"No further details are being shared at this stage, but His Majesty is receiving expert care and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible, a Palace spokesperson said.
It should be noted that it is highly unusual for the Palace to release any personal health details of a British monarch.
"In the past, if the royals have had cancer, we haven't been told about it," Camilla Tominey, Associate Editor at The Telegraph UK told Today on Tuesday morning.
"[It's] quite unprecedented for Buckingham Palace to be this honest about what the King has been diagnosed with."
Charles elected to make his diagnosis public once his schedule of treatment had begun given that, as Prince of Wales, he was patron of a number of cancer-related charities.
"In this capacity, His Majesty has often spoken publicly in support of cancer patients, their loved ones and the wonderful health professionals who help care for them, a Palace spokesperson said.
What treatment is King Charles receiving?
Specific details about Charles' treatment have not been made public. We do know that he is undergoing weekly treatment and that it has been ongoing for more than a year.
UK media reports he is receiving expert appropriate care from a specialist team.
"His Majesty returned from Sandringham to London this morning to commence treatment as an out-patient. He remains at home in London this evening," the Palace spokesperson said.
Does King Charles have prostate cancer?
No, the form of illness Charles has been diagnosed with is not prostate cancer.
The exact form of his cancer has not been made public.
"His Majesty has been treated for benign prostate enlargement," a Palace spokesperson said.
"It was during this intervention that a separate issue of concern was noted and subsequently diagnosed as a form of cancer. This second condition will now receive appropriate treatment."
Who is next in line to the British throne?
William, the Prince of Wales, is heir to the British throne. Prince William returned to royal duties earlier than planned in 2024 following his father's shock cancer diagnosis.
William reduced his workload following the Princess of Wales' planned abdominal surgery and her subsequent cancer diagnosis.
She has since announced she is in remission from her undisclosed form of cancer and has returned to royal duties.
How will cancer affect King Charles?
Charles has continued with official duties including opening new sessions of parliament, approving Orders and Proclamations through the Privy Council, his weekly meetings with the prime minister and attending to documents in the famous Red Box.
Former palace press secretary Dickie Arbiter previously said the red boxes remained the upmost importance.
"This is part of his constitutional role, that he deals with state papers and that he is able to do [so] without any hindrance, irrespective of what is wrong with him," he said.
How long has Charles been the King of England?
Charles was proclaimed King Charles III at his coronation ceremony in May 2023.
As the longest serving British heir apparent, he was elevated to crown following his mother, Queen Elizabeth II's death in 2022.
King Charles returns to royal duties
King Charles was next seen publicly at Easter in 2024, attending Easter Service in Windsor where he met with well-wishers who had gathered.
His official return to duties took place at the end of April with a visit to a London cancer treatment centre on April 30. It was a poignant return to public-facing duties for the monarch.
Charles was seen holding the hands of patients undergoing treatment as he spoke with them at length during his one-hour visit.
Keep going to see all the images from the historic royal outing.
King Charles was joined by wife Queen Camilla for the visit to Macmillan Cancer Centre at the University College Hospital.
Buckingham Palace informed the public the monarch's cancer treatment would continue.
"His Majesty's treatment programme will continue, but doctors are sufficiently pleased with the progress made so far that The King is now able to resume a number of public-facing duties," a Palace spokesperson said.
"Forthcoming engagements will be adapted where necessary to minimise any risks to His Majesty's continued recovery."
King Charles in Australia
There had been concerns King Charles wouldn't be able to travel to Australia amid his cancer battle, however the monarch thrilled Aussie fans by making the trip with wife Queen Camilla in October 2024.
The royal couple landed on October 18, attending engagements in Sydney and Canberra, before travelling to Samoa.
Charles' weekly cancer treatments were reportedly paused for 11 days so he could make the trip.
The King's doctor accompanied him on the journey, and the royal's itinerary was scaled back on medical advice, allowing the King to rest after the long flying time, and to adjust to the climate.
It was Charles' 17th time in Australia, surpassing the amount of visits made by his late mother Queen Elizabeth II who first arrived in 1954 and returned a further 15 times.
Keep 'buggering on'
King Charles met with fellow cancer patients in March, 2025, while visiting a medical facility in the UK.
The monarch told the patients, "What's that Winston Churchill saying? Keep buggering on", The Telegraph UK reports.
The royal was visiting the Pharmacy and Pharmacology Department at Ulster University on Thursday, the King was heard saying, "You just have to push on, don't you."
This is exactly what King Charles has been doing over the past year, with his medical team closely monitoring his health along the way.
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