King Charles continues cancer treatment after returning to public duties for first time since diagnosis - live
The monarch, 75, will ease back into public life after a three-month break for his cancer treatment
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King Charles made a return to public duties with a visit to a hospital and specialist cancer centre in London on Tuesday.
The King, alongside Queen Camilla, met doctors and patients during the visit in a bid to raise awareness of the importance of early diagnosis and highlight innovative research taking place at the University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre.
Both smiled broadly and waved to onlookers as they greeted staff including Baroness Neuberger, chairman of University London College Hospitals (UCLH), and David Probert, its chief executive.
It was the 75-year-old monarch’s first public engagement since his cancer diagnosis, and follows a statement issued by Buckingham Palace in which the King was said to be making positive progress in his treatment.
Charles was also announced as the new patron of Cancer Research UK taking over the patronage from his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth.
The public engagement also comes ahead of the planned return to the UK by Prince Harry for a ceremony to mark 10 years of the Invictus Games next week.
Buckingham Palace does not plan to reveal more information about King’s cancer
Buckingham Palace has announced that it does not plan to share any further information about King Charles’s cancer.
The Monarch, 75, is today (30 April) returning to work after a prolonged absence caused by the disease.
His first engagement will be a visit to a cancer treatment centre, where he and the Queen Consort Camilla will meet patients and families affected by the disease.
News of the King’s diagnosis came in February following a routine procedure to treat an enlarged prostate.
The Palace confirmed at the time that the King does not have prostate cancer.
It has now added that there are no plans to share further information about the status of the King’s illness or his treatment plan.
‘Charles is not alone,’ says royal fan outside hospital
A royal fan excitedly waiting for the King’s arrival outside a hospital and specialist cancer centre today has said Charles “is not alone” in his battle against cancer.
As the monarch makes a return to royal duties with his first public appearance since he announced his diagnosis in February, John Loughrey, 69, from London, told The Independent: “One thing Charles does know is he is not alone.
“It doesn’t matter who you are, cancer can strike anyone.”
‘It’s nice to see you back’: Royal watchers tell of hopes to greet King
Royal watchers have told of the well wishes they are hoping to greet the King and Queen with as the royal couple make their first public appearance since the Monarch announced his cancer diagnosis three months ago.
Sky London, 63, John Loughrey, 69, and Amanda, 51, who did not want to share her surname, are waiting for Charles and Camilla’s arrival outside a hospital and cancer specialist centre today, having been royal fans for decades and hardly missing a royal event in that time.
The trio, all from London, told The Independent they are hopeful the royal pair will stop outside to greet members of the public, as they often take the time to do so.
Mr Loughrey said: “I feel great being here today because it’s the King’s first engagement since we heard the news of his diagnosis.”
He and Mr London were holding a bunch of red tulips and roses that they planned on giving to the Queen, who has “been there for Charles”.
Meanwhile, they wanted to tell the King: “It’s nice to see you back - we all miss you.”
King Charles arrives at first public engagement since cancer diagnosis
King Charles has arrived at his first public engagement since his cancer diagnosis in February.
The King and Queen Consort have just arrived at the University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre in London.
Inside the hospital, crowds of staff have gathered in eager anticipation to greet Charles and Camilla.
The royal couple will now greet cancer patients and their families in a bid to raise awareness of how the disease affects more than just sufferers.
It is also hoped that the visit will raise awareness of the importance of early diagnosis and highlight the innovative work being done at the hospital.
This work is being supported by Cancer Research UK, who have recently appointed King Charles as their new Patron.
The visit also marks the King’s first day as the new Patron.
Charles and Camilla in good spirits upon the King’s return to work
The King and Queen Consort appeared to be in good spirits today as they arrived at the King’s first public engagement in three months.
The couple stopped to greet fans outside University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre in London.
John Loughrey, 69, brought tulips for the Queen to acknowledge the support she has given her husband throughout his illness.
Inside, the King took the time to shake hands with his many well-wishers.
The couple are visiting the hospital to raise awareness of cancer after the King’s diagnosis saw him take a step back from public-facing duties in February.
However, last week, the happy news emerged that he has now made enough progress to work.
King Charles shakes hand with fellow cancer patient
King Charles has greeted a fellow cancer patient on his first public engagement since being diagnosed with the disease.
In moving images taken at the University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre in London, he can be seen shaking hands with the patient.
The King and Queen Consort are hoping to raise awareness of the disease as well as the importance of early detection.
This comes amid a tumultuous time for royal family, who have seen three members diagnosed with cancer in the first three months of this year – the Duchess of York, the King, and the Princess of Wales.
‘Royal family facing toughest period seen in our lifetimes’
Royal fans have agreed that the period the royal family has endured in recent months has been the toughest they have seen in the decades they have spent royal watching.
Amanda, 51, who did not want to share her surname, told The Independent: “[It would have been] a very challenging time for any family, and to have them in the spotlight, you can’t imagine the magnification of that and the challenges they’re facing.
“[Harking] back to the late Queen’s annus horribilis - all of these things would be difficult for any family, and they’ve got to do this under a magnifying glass and put on a brave face and say ‘the show must go on’.”
She, John Loughrey, 69, and Sky London, 63, have all been royal watching together for over a decade, while each has been a royal fan for most of their lives.
The trio turned up outside University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre in London to witness the King’s first public engagement since his cancer diagnosis.
They all sent cards with words of support to the King after he announced his cancer diagnosis - and each received a card personally signed by the Queen in response.
Asked if the royal family had faced its toughest period in recent memory over the past few months, Mr Loughrey said: “Definitely in my lifetime it’s been the toughest. It’s been hard on the family.”
Children with flowers wait to say goodbye to King and Queen
A group of children waited outside the treatment centre to say goodbye to the King and Queen.
They held flowers for the pair, who were carrying out the first public engagement together since King Charles’s cancer diagnosis.
During the visit, the couple met with patients, their families and doctors in a bid to raise awareness of the disease that has rocked the royal family in recent months.
King and Queen given gifts by children
King Charles and Queen Camilla were gifted flowers and gifts by children outside of the University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre in London.
They were snapped holding the flowers as they smiled and shook hands with the well-wishers.
Inside, the couple met patients and their families to highlight the centre’s innovative research, supported by Cancer Research UK.
King Charles is the new Patron of Cancer Research UK
Today marks King Charles’s first engagement as the new Patron of Cancer Research UK.
The King, who still battling an undisclosed form of cancer, visited the University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre in London to help raise awareness of the disease.
The visit was also designed to highlight the innovative work being done by Cancer Research UK at the centre.
The King undertook the visit alongside his wife, Queen Consort Camilla. The pair greeted fans and patients alike, who appeared delighted by his return.
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