King Charles III has been advised to cut back on his royal duties after the 76-year-old monarch was briefly hospitalized on March 27 due to side effects from ongoing cancer treatment. Buckingham Palace described the incident as a “bump in the road,” leading to the cancellation of all royal engagements scheduled for the next day.
Royal analysts are urging the king to consider reducing his responsibilities, especially those less engaging tasks, as he continues to manage his cancer diagnosis, revealed in early 2024 after treatment for an enlarged prostate.
“The trouble is, he’s been so conditioned to work that I don’t think he functions unless he’s working,” royal author Ingrid Seward told Newsweek. “When he’s not working, he’s probably a bit all over the place, I know I’m like that. He’s always working and it’s just not his nature to take an afternoon nap, which I’m sure Camilla is trying to make him do.”
The king’s dedication to his work is well-recognized, with Queen Camilla said to be the only one who has managed to convince him to lighten his workload. Despite health concerns, Charles has continued with a full schedule of public duties since his diagnosis, including a trip to Italy, adjusting his workload only when necessary for medical reasons.
Seward, author of “My Mother and I,” suggested that Charles might continue with the more stimulating parts of his job while delegating routine tasks to other senior royals.
“Cancer treatment makes you very, very tired,” she explained. “The trouble is it’s his duty as monarch to do these stifling boring handshakes with incoming and outgoing ambassadors.”
Following the recent health issue, King Charles resumed his public duties, attending his first official event since his hospitalization at the London Clinic. He appeared in good spirits while conducting an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle, where he awarded honors to several individuals.
His quick return to duties indicates an improvement in his overall health, according to royal watchers. “He’s always been driven and he’s strong,” Seward noted. “This cancer has weakened him but I think he’s fine.”
As Charles gradually returns to his public role, the palace has announced that he will make up for the “unspecified appointments” missed two weeks ago.
Charles and his medical team prepared a health-conscious itinerary to ensure he and Queen Camilla could proceed with their visit to Italy from April 7-11, coinciding with their 20th wedding anniversary on April 9. On Wednesday, the royal couple paid a surprise visit to Pope Francis, who is recovering following his recent hospitalization. They also met with the Italian president, toured the Coliseum and Roman Forum, and attended a state banquet.
Since announcing his cancer diagnosis in February 2024, King Charles has maintained a more open approach to health communication than previous monarchs. While he has not specified the type of cancer he has, he has been relatively open about his treatment, differing from the more private approach of Queen Elizabeth II.
Cancer charities have praised this transparency, noting that by not disclosing the type of cancer, Charles avoids emphasizing one form of the disease over others while still raising awareness about treatment and recovery.
Throughout his treatment, expected to continue into 2025, Charles has remained resolute in not allowing his illness to define him. Despite medical advice to delay public duties in the early stages of his treatment, he continued with state business and official paperwork.
In October 2024, the king paused his cancer treatments during an 11-day royal tour of Australia and Samoa, demonstrating his commitment to his role as monarch and head of the Commonwealth.
