King Charles’s cancer treatment is continuing in a positive direction following the monarch’s trip to Canada and the King is “managing” his condition, a royal insider has confirmed. The announcement comes as King Charles and Queen Camilla returned to the UK following their two-day visit to Canada to attend the state opening of Parliament.
The King is simply “managing” his condition and “getting on with it” as he focuses on his duties as monarch, the insider revealed. They said: “The thing you learn about this illness [cancer] is that you just manage it. And that’s what he does. The medical science has made incredible advances and I genuinely see no difference in him.”
They added: “As long as you just do what the doctors say, just live your life as normal as possible… [and] that’s exactly what he is doing.”
The royal insider also revealed that the King is “driven by duty”. They further explained: “It’s no secret that he is still having treatment, but because he is incredibly fit, he is just dealing with it all incredibly well.
“As everybody knows, he is driven by duty, so he just gets on with it…. We’re just planning the programme as usual, trying to lighten it a little bit – [after all] he is 76 years old. No-one has had much success, however!”
While the couple will enjoy some downtime this week, a full summer programme will go ahead as normal with Trooping the Colour, Garter Day, Royal Ascot and an incoming state visit by French President Emmanuel Macron scheduled over the coming weeks.
In terms of foreign travel, details of the autumn tour are still under wraps, but a Palace source said that the two-day visit to Canada does not preclude a visit at a later date, noting that Their Majesties only had the opportunity to visit the capital.
“They wish they could have stayed longer,” the insider said, pointing out that a blueprint for a fuller programme had already been drawn up due to last year’s cancellation – so Canadians could see the return of their monarch in the coming years.
As the King and Queen landed back in the UK in the early hours of Wednesday morning, courtiers were in a celebratory mood. They were pleased with the coverage and how well the brief trip was received at home and abroad.
The royal source said, “They leave with pride,” adding that the couple was incredibly touched by the outpouring of support they received from the Canadian people.
The royal couple expressed their appreciation for the warm welcome they received on X during the visit.
The King and Queen said: “As my wife and I leave Canada, we wanted to send our most heartfelt thanks to all those who turned out to offer their support on this, my first visit as sovereign.
“It was the warmest of welcomes – and the fondest of returns to a land and a people we love,” they added, concluding with: “Until the next time, au revoir, Canada, et avec tous nos remerciements.”
The statement was signed: “Charles R and Camilla R”, indicating it is a personal message from Their Majesties.