Meanwhile, Alan Titchmarsh praised the King for his “boundless energy” despite his cancer diagnosis.

Over the weekend the King rested at Highgrove, his estate in Gloucestershire, and will continue his return to public duties this week.

His engagements are set to include his weekly audience with the prime minister, and an event marking the 50th anniversary of independence for Papua New Guinea.

After attending hospital last Thursday, he was said to have been feeling well later that day and carried out some work in his study at Clarence House before having dinner with the Queen.

A Palace source described the hospital visit as a “most minor bump in a road that is very much heading in the right direction”.