King Charles taken to hospital after suffering side effects of cancer treatment
The King was taken to The London Clinic where his daughter-in-law Princess Kate also underwent cancer treatment
Matt WilkinsonMilad Sherzad
KING Charles has been taken to hospital after suffering side effects from his cancer treatment, Buckingham Palace has confirmed.
The monarch, 76, is now back at Clarence House after he visited hospital on Thursday afternoon.
King Charles III waving goodbye.
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King Charles has been taken to hospital 'after suffering side effects from his cancer treatment'Credit: Getty
King Charles III and Queen Camilla waving at University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre.
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Charles revealed his cancer diagnosis to the public last yearCredit: Getty
Portrait of King Charles III wearing a blue pinstripe suit.
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He has now pulled out of a string of engagements set for FridayCredit: Getty
Buckingham Palace confirmed Charles experienced "temporary side effects" from his cancer treatment, and he has now pulled out of a string of engagements set for Friday.
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Sources says this trip to hospital was not unexpected and that his treatment is heading in the right direction.
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A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: “Following scheduled and ongoing medical treatment for cancer this morning, The King experienced temporary side effects that required a short period of observation in hospital.
“His Majesty’s afternoon engagements were therefore postponed.
"His Majesty has now returned to Clarence House and as a precautionary measure, acting on medical advice, tomorrow’s diary programme will also be rescheduled.
“His Majesty would like to send his apologies to all those who may be inconvenienced or disappointed as a result.”
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The King's hospital dash to The London Clinic was due to side effects coming after a busy work schedule, it is understood.
While Buckingham Palace has said it will not comment on the side effects, they are understood to not be uncommon with cancer patients.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla descending a staircase.
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It is understood the King and Queen's State Visit to Italy in April will still go ahead as plannedCredit: Getty
King Charles III waving goodbye.
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It was said last year that the King's recovery was 'moving in a positive direction' but was still ongoingCredit: Getty
King Charles getting into a car.
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The King arriving at the London Clinic last year to undergo a procedure on his prostateCredit: Peter Jordan
The King was at home at Clarence House on Thursday evening where he was said to be in good form and continuing to work on State Papers and making calls from his study.
He had been taken to hospital by car and not by emergency services, the palace said.
It also confirmed that Queen Camilla did not join the King at hospital.
A palace spokesman said: "His Majesty was due to receive Credentials from the Ambassadors of three different nations this afternoon.
"Tomorrow, he was due to undertake four public engagements in Birmingham and is greatly disappointed to be missing them on this occasion.
"He very much hopes that they can be rescheduled in due course and offers his deepest apologies to all those who had worked so hard to make the planned visit possible."
The King's hospital visit meant he also postponed a number of audiences he had due to hold with ambassadors at Buckingham Palace on Thursday afternoon.
Timeline of Charles' health battle & recovery
JAN 17, 2024: Buckingham Palace announces the King has been diagnosed with enlarged prostate.JAN 26: The Sun exclusively photograph the King arriving at The London Clinic for his 'corrective procedure'.JAN 29: The King seen waving and smiling as he left hospital after an extra night.FEB 5: Palace reveal while in hospital for his prostate operation doctors discovered the the King has a form of cancer.FEB 10: King issues 'heartfelt thanks' in a written statement.FEB 11: Charles makes his first public appearance since the announcement of his cancer diagnosis, visiting St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk.MAR 31: King attends Easter Sunday service and tales part in 'walkabout' with members of the public and aides say 'it was a significant step' as KIng had 'responded to treatment very encouragingly'.APR 4: The Sun exclusively reveals King has ordered aides to 'supercharge' his diary for the summer and is 'raring to go'.APR 26: Buckingham Palace announce King will return to public-facing front-line duties.APR 30: King Charles visits a cancer treatment centre with Queen Camila to meet patients and medical specialists in order to raise awareness of early diagnosis and the work of Cancer Research UK.SEP 7:
The King's health is said to be 'heading in a very positive trajectory' following a very 'stressful year' for the family.OCT 18: King and Queen begin a landmark tour of Australia. The six-day trip to Canberra and Sydney was Charles' first to Australia as its head of state. Doctors gave permission to briefly halt his weekly cycle for the tour.DEC 20: It is announced King's cancer treatment will continue into next year.DEC 25: King uses his Christmas address to pay tribute to the 'selfless' doctors and nurses who provided 'strength, care and comfort' during cancer treatment for himself and the Princess of Wales.DEC 31: Charles personally honours senior staff that had been on his medical team during his cancer treatment.MAR 20, 2025:
King Charles shared advice with cancer patients telling them to “keep b****ring on".MAR 27: King taken into hospital after suffering from 'side effects' related to his cancer treatment. This 'short period of observation in hospital' was not unexpected and the monarch is still said to be 'very much heading in the right direction'.
The palace say they are not anticipating major changes to the programme but may decide to reduce his engagements.
But they expect the State Visit to Italy in April to go ahead, and doctors will consult with staff to ensure a full recovery.
A source described it as a "most minor bump in a road" for Charles' recovery, adding that he is "very much heading in the right direction".
A spokeswoman for Sir Keir Starmer said the Prime Minister "wishes His Majesty the King all the very best" after his short period in hospital.
The King's cancer journey began in January last year when he revealed he needed a corrective procedure for an enlarged prostate.
Tests undertaken for this, at the same London clinic where Princess Kate was being treated at, revealed his cancer the following month.
It is still yet to be disclosed which form of the disease Charles is suffering from.
Earlier this month on a visit to Northern Ireland, he gave advice to cancer patients, telling them to "keep b****ring on.”
While at the Pharmacy and Pharmacology department at Ulster University, Coleraine campus, the King said to cancer patients: "What's that Winston Churchill saying? Keep b****ring on."
Speaking about side effects he said: “You just have to push on, don't you."
He hailed “amazing” research as he looked through a microscope to see how microbubbles are shaken during tests.
King Charles III looking through a microscope in a lab.
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King Charles visited the cancer research centre at Ulster University in Belfast, Northern Ireland, earlier this monthCredit: Reuters
King Charles III greets well-wishers.
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Charles meeting well-wishers outside the centreCredit: Reuters
King Charles III and Queen Camilla visiting Broighter Gold Farm.
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The King and Queen also visited a farm on their three-day visit to Northern IrelandCredit: AFP
At one stage he was startled by the work and started shaking his own head and hands along with it.
He was particularly interested by the effect of treatment on the immune system, and asked whether pancreatic cancer was particularly hard to treat.
The King withdrew from public duty for 103 days last year, following his diagnosis.
This decision was made as a "precautionary measure" due to Charles' diminished immune response to other diseases.
The Royal Household even copied Covid-style protocols to minimise the risk of secondary infections such as the seasonal cold or flu for the monarch.
He returned to public facing duties on April 30 last year, describing the "shock" he felt over his cancer diagnosis.
Then, in September, it was revealed his health was "heading in a very positive trajectory".
A royal source said a brave Charles had coped with the past year with a "determination to be as public as he was able" to reassure the nation about how much he could still do.
In December, it was reported Charles' cancer treatment would "continue into next year", with his recovery still "moving in a positive direction".
Despite this latest visit to the hospital, Charles is still expected to become the first British sovereign to address both houses of the Italian parliament in April.
The King and Queen's visit, from April 7-10, had originally included a visit to the Vatican to meet Pope Francis, but this has been removed from the schedule following the pontiff's own health battle.
Charles, who is known for being a workaholic, had a busy March, hosting high-profile audiences with key political figures including Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky and outgoing Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau.
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This also included an audience with Canada's new PM Mark Carney.
He is said to have thrived on carrying out public and state duties in recent months, seeing them as being of great benefit to his overall well-being.
King Charles’ cancer treatment ‘will continue in 2025’ with recovery ‘moving in a positive direction’
KING Charles' cancer treatment has been continuing in 2025.
The King's recovery was "moving in a positive direction" but was still ongoing, Sky News reported in December.A source told the broadcaster:
"His treatment has been moving in a positive direction."As a managed condition the treatment cycle will continue into next year (2025)."The King, who is still considered a "newbie monarch" in comparison with his mother's record-breaking tenure, has endured a difficult second year as sovereign.He was diagnosed with cancer and had to deal with ongoing treatment, while his daughter-in-law, the Princess of Wales, was also being treated for the condition.But a source said brave Charles had coped with the past year with a "determination to be as public as he was able" to reassure the nation about how much he could still do.He has also been buoyed by Queen Camilla's support.A source said:
"Her natural warmth, resilience and sense of humour, as I'm sure any patient will tell you, is a wonderful thing to have."Of course it's been a stressful year for Her Majesty, too, but there was never a sense of despondency, only a determination that they would get through this, as with so many other challenging issues in the past.
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