British monarch, King Charles III, is set to resume some public duties next week, following positive updates on his cancer treatment.
According to AFP, the palace spokesperson who disclosed this said while it’s early to determine the duration of King Charles’s treatment, the medical team is optimistic about his recovery. The pace of his public engagements will be managed in consultation with his doctors.
Accompanied by Queen Camilla, he will visit a cancer treatment center, marking his first official engagement since the treatment began. The royal couple will also host Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan for a state visit in June.
This announcement comes after a challenging period for the royal family, with both King Charles and Catherine, Princess of Wales, revealing their battles with cancer. Catherine, the wife of Prince William, announced her preventive chemotherapy treatment in a video on social media.
The upcoming state visit with the Japanese royals was initially planned for 2020 but was postponed due to the pandemic. Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako attended the state funeral of King Charles’s mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in 2022, which was their first overseas trip after the emperor’s enthronement.
Both King Charles and Catherine have not disclosed the specific types of cancer they are dealing with. King Charles had a surgery for a benign prostate condition in January and has been gradually increasing his public appearances since then while He expressing gratitude for the well-wishes he received during his health battle and is eager to resume some public duties.
The concurrent illnesses of King Charles and Catherine have posed a challenge for the monarchy, as senior royals are limited in their availability for public duties.
Prince Harry, the king’s younger son, and his wife Meghan, who could have assisted, have distanced themselves from the royal family and now reside in California.
The upcoming visit by the Japanese royals will be their second international goodwill visit since the emperor’s enthronement. Reports suggest they may also visit the University of Oxford, where they both studied at different times, and have a luncheon with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his wife, Akshata Murty.
