As he and Queen Camilla wrapped up their four-day state visit to Italy, King Charles made a quip about his mortality.
On April 10—the final day of their visit—the King was planting an oak tree at Villa Wolkonsky in Rome, a commemorative gesture at the British ambassador’s residence, where he and Camilla stayed, per People.
Charles waved his shovel after planting the tree, and remarked, according to The Daily Mail, “Well, I do hope that I shall live long enough to see a little bit of growth in the tree.”
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King Charles planting a tree in Rome, Italy on April 10, 2025
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King Charles planting a tree in Rome, Italy on April 10, 2025
This isn’t the first quip Charles has made about his health since being diagnosed with cancer in early 2024. Last year, while on a trip to Samoa in October with Camilla, the King said as they departed that it was his “hope that I survive long enough to come back again and see you,” per The Telegraph.
His diagnosis—the type and stage of which remains unknown—was announced on February 5 of last year; the King paused public duty until the end of April, though he continued to work behind the scenes. In December, it was announced that the King’s cancer treatment would continue into 2025, with a palace source saying that “His treatment has been moving in a positive direction, and as a managed condition the treatment cycle will continue into next year.”
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King Charles on April 7, 2025
On March 27, Charles was briefly hospitalized after negatively reacting to his cancer treatment. He was in and out of The London Clinic the same day, and a royal source called the hospital visit “the most minor bump in the road that’s very much heading in the right direction.”
After he planted the tree on Thursday, he also unveiled a plaque to commemorate his visit with Camilla. Looking at the newly planted tree, the King then remarked, per Hello!, “Needs a bit of water.”
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Queen Camilla and King Charles departing Italy on April 10, 2025
Yesterday, as they prepared to depart Italy, Camilla told People, “We’re having a wonderful visit. We’re very sad to be going home.” Charles seconded that, adding after he was asked if he was having a good visit, “Yes, thank you very much.”
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