King Charles III’s cancer treatment is set to continue beyond initial recovery expectations, extending into 2025. The 76-year-old royal was diagnosed with the disease in February 2024 and has been receiving ongoing medical care.
The Palace announced this information while acknowledging the persistence of the King’s condition. Palace sources stated, “Treatment has been moving in a positive direction, and as a managed condition, the treatment cycle will continue into next year.”
Charles’s diagnosis followed a three-night stay at the London Clinic in January 2024 for treatment of an enlarged prostate. The doctors noticed a separate health issue during the procedure, leading to further diagnostic tests that confirmed the presence of cancer. Charles started his cancer treatments on February 5, temporarily stepping back from public duties.
Despite his health condition, the King has been gradually increasing his public appearances since April 2024. This includes hosting the Emir of Qatar and conducting a royal tour to Australia and Samoa with Queen Camilla in October. A senior palace official noted, “We’re now working on a pretty normal-looking, full overseas tour program for next year, which is a high for us to end on, to know that we can be thinking in those terms, subject to signoff by doctors.”
In June 2024, Charles displayed his resilience by traveling to Normandy, France to attend D-Day commemorations, his first international engagement since his diagnosis. He also took part in the traditional Trooping the Colour ceremony, adhering to vital royal traditions in spite of his ongoing treatment.
As explained by Dame Laura Lee, CEO of cancer support charity Maggie’s, the extended treatment timeline is not unusual. She said, “It’s very common for treatment to be ongoing for very long periods of time… We’ve got immunotherapy, chemotherapy, surgery, hormone therapy. There are all sorts of different treatment modalities.”
2024 has been a challenging year for the royal family, with health issues hitting close to home. Not only was the King diagnosed with cancer, but also his daughter-in-law, Kate Middleton, the Princess of Wales, announced her own cancer diagnosis in March 2024. The 42-year-old princess completed her chemotherapy treatment in September. Reflecting on these challenges, Prince William described 2024 as “probably the hardest year” of his life.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump offered a rare insight into the monarch’s private battle, sharing that the King is “fighting very hard” against the illness.
Adding to the health struggles of the royal family, Queen Camilla, aged 77, has missed several events due to a chest infection. This has further complicated the Palace’s efforts to maintain normal operations.
Despite managing treatment side effects, including loss of taste, as revealed in conversations with a British army veteran, the King continues his adjusted schedule of duties. Even with these challenges, Charles maintained a busy December schedule, hosting the annual royal family Christmas lunch on December 19 and visiting Walthamstow, east London, with Queen Camilla on December 20 to support community initiatives.
