It is easy to forget King Charles is 76 years old and undergoing a weekly cycle of cancer treatment.
Last night was a wake-up call and a reminder that His Majesty can experience the same side effects as any other cancer patient.
Cancelling four engagements on Friday is not a decision he would have taken lightly, and the King “offers his deepest apologies to all those who had worked so hard” to make his visit to Birmingham possible.
Doctors, however, deemed the situation serious enough to send His Majesty to the London Clinic – a “world leader” in private cancer care – for observation.
King Charles cancelling royal engagements is a wake-up call amid cancer treatment side effects.
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Royal sources indicate the King’s hospital visit was “precautionary”, and His Majesty is now back at Clarence House, continuing to work through state papers and make phone calls from his private office.
In a further sign of reassurance, the Queen did not accompany her husband to the hospital; he was taken by car, rather than emergency ambulance.
Palace officials indicate His Majesty’s temporary side effects are just a ‘bump in the road’, and they are not anticipating any major updates to The King’s busy diary following the weekend, but they will be mindful that Their Majesties’ planned State Visit to Italy is less than two weeks away, and postponing that could raise alarm bells.
So, just how worried are those close to His Majesty?
I was covering the Prince of Wales yesterday in Aberdeen, where he was celebrating another milestone in his initiative to demonstrate homelessness can be ended – making it rare, brief and unrepeated.
Although we are told the King’s road to recovery remains “positive”, the last six months or so have been relentless for him.
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Prince William’s engagements went ahead as planned, and there was no indication from the heir to the throne that he was in anyway worried about his father’s health.
His Royal Highness’ staff appeared very relaxed too, echoing their principal’s demeanour.
Kensington Palace has officially remained silent on the issue, and we are not expecting any major updates from the Royal Household.
When I have seen His Majesty up close in recent weeks on public engagements, he appears full of energy and keen to speak to as many people as possible.
Although we are told the King’s road to recovery remains “positive”, the last six months or so have been relentless for him.
Not only did he carry out gruelling overseas tours to Australia and Samoa, his domestic diary has, if anything, ramped up since his cancer diagnosis – carrying out far more public engagements than the Prince of Wales, who is far younger and in good health.
The Queen has publicly said she has tried in vain to persuade her husband to slow down, and it is thought royal doctors have also tried.
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The King has also been an integral part of the UK Government’s diplomatic relations, wooing President Donald Trump by offering him an unprecedented second State Visit, and showing support to Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy and two Canadian Prime Ministers.
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The King has also been an integral part of the UK Government’s diplomatic relations, wooing President Donald Trump by offering him an unprecedented second State Visit, and showing support to Ukraine’s President Zelenskyy and two Canadian Prime Ministers.
The Government will want to protect the soft power His Majesty wields; a spokesperson for Sir Keir Starmer said the Prime Minister: “wishes His Majesty The King all the very best.”
The King’s diary is planned months in advance, and I understand his staff are not planning to make any major alterations following his bad reaction to cancer treatment.
His Majesty has been dubbed by many as a “workaholic”, and I suspect he is already ordering his staff to reschedule his cancelled engagements.
