King Charles - live: Monarch’s poignant return to public unveiled as doctors ‘pleased’ with cancer treatment
Doctors ‘sufficiently pleased with progress so far’ to allow 75-year-old to step up work again
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King Charles is set to return to public duties next week after his treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer had a “positive effect”.
The 75-year-old monarch has been receiving outpatient care and has only been seen on a handful of occasions since announcing his condition in February, when he stepped back from engagements involving the public.
Despite the news, sources said that the King still has cancer and would continue to undergo treatment while managing his summer schedule.
His first engagement will be to visit a cancer treatment centre on Tuesday accompanied by Queen Camilla, though it is not a centre directly involved in his medical care. There he will meet medical specialists and patients as patron of Cancer Research UK and Macmillan Cancer Support.
The Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: “His Majesty’s treatment programme will continue, but doctors are sufficiently pleased with the progress made so far that the King is now able to resume a number of public-facing duties.
“Forthcoming engagements will be adapted where necessary to minimise any risks to His Majesty’s continued recovery.”
Starmer ‘delighted'
Sir Keir Starmer said he was delighted to see the King returning to public duties.
The Labour leader wrote on social media: “Delighted to see His Majesty looking so well, and returning to public duties.
“On behalf of the Labour Party, I wish him and the Princess of Wales the best, as they continue their recovery with the support of their families.”
King ‘much encouraged'
The King is said to be “greatly encouraged” at returning to public facing royal duties.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: “His Majesty is greatly encouraged to be resuming some public-facing duties and very grateful to his medical team for their continued care and expertise.”
Charles’s diary of events will not be a full summer programme, and attendance will be announced nearer the time and “subject to doctors’ advice”, with “adaptations made where necessary to minimise risk” to the King’s recovery.
It is understood the warmer weather would allow events to be staged outside and minimise the risk posed by other people that many cancer patients face.
The spokesperson added: “The pacing of the King’s programme will be carefully calibrated as his recovery continues, in close consultation with his medical team.”
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Royal visit to cancer centre planned
To mark the King’s return to public duties, Buckingham Palace said Charles and Camilla would visit a cancer treatment centre on Tuesday to meet medical specialists and patients.
The event aims to raise awareness of the importance of early diagnosis and highlight innovative research, supported by Cancer Research UK, taking place at the hospital.
The hospital has not been publicly identified.
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