King Charles ‘deeply touched’ by reaction to ‘good news’ about his cancer

King Charles ‘will be deeply touched’ by the positive reaction to his message that his cancer treatment can be reduced, Buckingham Palace has said.

The King issued an update on his treatment on Friday, saying the ‘good news’ was down to early diagnosis, successful care and following ‘doctors’ orders’.

A Palace spokesperson said on Saturday that it has been ‘delighted by the scale and sensitivity of the worldwide media reaction’ and is ‘most grateful for the many kind comments we have received for the King, both from those working in cancer care and from the general public’.

They added: ‘I know His Majesty will be greatly encouraged and deeply touched by the very positive reaction his message has generated.

‘He will be particularly pleased at the way it has helped to shine a light on the benefits of cancer screening programmes.

‘It has long been the King’s view that if some public good can come from sharing elements of his personal diagnosis and treatment journey, then it would be his pleasure and duty to do so.

‘His thoughts and warmest wishes will remain with all those affected by cancer and those who care for them.’

King Charles has been receiving cancer treatment as an outpatient since February last year.

In his message on Friday, delivered in support of the Stand Up To Cancer campaign, the monarch said: ‘Today I am able to share with you the good news that thanks to early diagnosis, effective intervention and the dearest of doctors’ orders, my own schedule of cancer treatment can be reduced in the new year.

‘This milestone is both a personal blessing and a testimony to the remarkable advances that have been made in cancer care in recent years – testimony that I hope may give encouragement to the 50% of us who will be diagnosed with the illness at some point in our lives.’

He added: ‘Therefore this brings my most heartfelt thanks to the doctors, nurses, researchers and charity workers involved in diagnosis and treatment programmes – together with my particular good wishes to those for whom they care so selflessly.’

The King said early diagnosis enabled him to ‘continue leading a full and active life, even while undergoing treatment’.

He went on to say he was ‘troubled’ that nine million people in the UK are not up to date with cancer screening available to them.

‘That is at least nine million opportunities for early diagnosis being missed,’ the King said, adding: ‘Too often, I am told, people avoid screening because they imagine it may be frightening, embarrassing or uncomfortable.

‘If and when they do finally take up their invitation, they are glad they took part.

‘A few moments of minor inconvenience are a small price to pay for the reassurance that comes for most people when they are either told either they don’t need further tests or, for some, are given the chance to enable early detection, with the life-saving intervention that can follow.’

Charles urged people to use Stand Up To Cancer’s online screening checker, which enables them to discover if they are eligible for screening.

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