Daily Mail reports that King Charles who still has cancer and is undergoing treatment visited the University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre on Tuesday morning with his wife Queen Camilla, meeting patients and staff in his role as the charity’s patron.
British monarch, King Charles III and his wife, Queen Camilla on Tuesday visited a Cancer treatment centre in London to meet with patients and staff as the monarch resumed public duties for the first time since his cancer diagnosis.
Daily Mail reports that King Charles who still has cancer and is undergoing treatment visited the University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre on Tuesday morning with his wife Queen Camilla, meeting patients and staff in his role as the charity’s patron.
Recall that Buckingham Palace had announced that King Charles was diagnosed with cancer which had put him off public duties.
The King was first admitted to hospital in January for surgery on an enlarged prostate. He remained in The London Clinic for three days.
There was no suggestion at the time that his condition was cancerous but tests subsequently diagnosed unconnected evidence of the disease and his condition was announced to the nation of February 5.
He immediately began an unspecified form of treatment which is still ongoing.
Aside from attending an Easter Sunday church service at St George’s Chapel in Windsor four weeks ago on March 31, the King has until now stayed away from public events.
But Buckingham Palace gave a positive update last Friday that doctors were sufficiently encouraged by his progress to allow him to undertake more public duties.
A Palace spokesperson was quoted as saying that “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.”
Sources have reported stressed that despite the welcome news the King still has cancer and will continue to be treated for the undisclosed form of the disease.
The Palace spokesperson added that “His Majesty’s medical team are very encouraged by the progress made so far and remain positive about the King’s continued recovery.”
It was reported that the 75-year-old monarch is keen that his inaugural engagement since doctors gave him the all-clear to restart public events will raise awareness of the importance of early diagnosis.
He hopes the trip can highlight some of the innovative research supported by Cancer Research UK, which is taking place at the hospital.
According to the Daily Mail report, it can be announced today that the monarch has agreed to become the new patron of Cancer Research UK, bringing his own ongoing experience to the position.
The hospital was not chosen because it has a link with the King’s treatment or form of cancer, neither of which have yet been publicly disclosed by Buckingham Palace.
However, the centre will provide facilities for the diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of cancer and non-cancer conditions, while also supporting patients and their families.
It was reported that considering that cancer and treatments such as chemotherapy weaken the immune system, medics will be keen for King Charles to avoid infection as he resumes public duties.
Rue King has returned to public life as the weather improves, meaning many events can be outside – minimising the risk he will pick up illnesses from other people in confined spaces.
Patients can cut the risk of infection by avoiding contact with people suffering from illnesses such as sore throats, colds, flu, diarrhoea or vomiting.
They may also wish to avoid swimming where other people could have spread germs, and may want to stay away from crowded places in busy times.
The types of cancers which people have can also wreak havoc with their immune system. Cancers such as lymphoma and leukaemia can prevent the body making enough white blood cells to fight infection.
Cancer patients may be told they can improve their chances of not picking up an infection by washing their hands regularly, including after gardening, not sharing towels and washing hands after dealing with animals.
As the new patron of Cancer Research UK, King Charles was expected to meet the charity’s chief clinician, Professor Charlie Swanton, who has led on a project called TRACERx – a collaboration with 250 researchers and clinicians based at 19 centres across the UK.
The project is the single biggest investment in lung cancer research by Cancer Research UK and aims to investigate how lung cancer evolves over time and why treatments sometimes stop working.
It was said that Amafter meeting patients and their families who receive treatment at the centre, the King and Queen were due to have an opportunity to meet hospital staff and supporters of the UCLH Charity, Macmillan Cancer Support and Cancer Research UK.
Before departing, Charles and Camilla were expected to be presented with posies by young patients.
In 1997, as Prince of Wales, the King become patron of Macmillan Cancer Support, which provides a range of support to people living with cancer and promotes better cancer care.
In addition to the King’s new Patronage of Cancer Research UK, The Duke of Gloucester and Princess Alexandra are also joint presidents of Cancer Research UK.
Since 2008, Camilla has been president of Maggie’s which provides free expert care and support in centres across the UK and online to everyone with cancer as well as their friends and families.
Since becoming president, Camilla has visited 17 centres across the UK, including opening the Maggie’s Royal Free in London earlier this year in January.