Just like that, he was back.
Flashing a broad grin, King Charles III returned to in-person royal duties on Tuesday, after more than seven weeks away from the spotlight.
Buckingham Palace has released few details about the king’s prognosis and condition since it revealed he had been diagnosed with cancer in February.
But if his demeanour in his first in-person public royal function since he began treatment is anything to go by, the monarch has plenty to smile about.
Fittingly, King Charles and Queen Camilla visited the University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre, in central London, on Tuesday, to meet staff and patients.
The royals were all smiles as they greeted a crowd of well-wishers who had gathered outside.
While the facility is not where Charles has been receiving treatment, the fact it was chosen as the location for the king’s first public visit is a clear message the palace wants to highlight the plight of those living with the disease, and the medical professionals who treat them.
The king’s openness to share details about his health publicly this year has signalled a significant departure from tradition, in which Britain’s royals do not disclose details of illnesses.
In February, it was revealed the king had been diagnosed with cancer after being treated in hospital for a separate issue: an enlarged prostate.
That ailment affects thousands of men in the UK each year, and the king’s decision to announce he was receiving surgery to correct the condition is credited with an uptick in the number of men making medical appointments in the country.
“His majesty would like to thank all those who have sent their good wishes over the past week and is delighted to learn that his diagnosis is having a positive impact on public health awareness,” an earlier statement from Buckingham Palace read.
The monarch is still receiving treatment for his cancer, although in a statement released late last week, Buckingham Palace said doctors were “pleased” with the 75-year-old’s recovery thus far, and had cleared him to resume some public-facing duties.
Specifics of his treatment and condition have not been disclosed, although the palace has confirmed the king does not have prostate cancer.
It’s expected the royal’s calendar will include numerous public engagements in the coming months, and a trip to Australia and Samoa — where the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting will be held — later this year has not been ruled out.
“The pacing of the king’s program will be carefully calibrated as his recovery continues, in close consultation with his medical team,” the Buckingham Palace statement released last week read.
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