King Charles III experienced temporary side effects from his ongoing cancer treatment that required a brief stay in a hospital for observation Thursday morning, Buckingham Palace said in a statement.
“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,” the palace said Thursday.
“His Majesty’s afternoon engagements were therefore postponed.”
The palace said the king had since returned to Clarence House, where he lives in London, 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.”
KING CHARLES III TO MEET POPE FRANCIS DURING VISIT TO VATICAN NEXT MONTH
King Charles III had a brief stay in a hospital due to his cancer treatment. He has now returned to Clarence House. (Dan Kitwood/Getty Images)
Along with his Thursday engagements in London, the 76-year-old had planned to head to Birmingham, in England’s West Midlands, Friday.
“His Majesty was due to receive Credentials from the Ambassadors of three different nations this afternoon,” the palace said. “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 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 initially reduced his schedule after the palace first announced his cancer diagnosis in February 2024 but has since returned to a more normal pace, staying busy fulfilling his state duties and continuing to travel.
King Charles greeting guests at Buckingham Palace Wednesday. He has maintained a busy schedule since announcing his cancer treatment. (Aaron Chown/Pool/AFP)
He plans to meet with Pope Francis at the Vatican next month, which comes after he delayed the visit due to the pontiff’s recent health problems. That will be followed by a broader state trip to Italy.
“Once again, we see the palace issuing clear information about the king’s health situation when rumor could have run riot,” British broadcaster Jonathan Sacerdoti told Fox News Digital. “Having had to cancel some events, they would have known people might speculate. So, they have been clear in explaining what happened.
“The royal family has been far more open with its public declarations about the king and the Princess of Wales’ cancer diagnoses and treatments. In previous times, they kept such details private, even as recently as during the life of Queen Elizabeth II.
“Today the palace is acknowledging that the king is experiencing the same health challenges as many other people, and in so doing he is sure to encourage openness and empathy between others who face the same stresses and complications.”
The king’s duties on Wednesday included attending an exhibition at Somerset House and a reception at Buckingham Palace.
“To hold such an amazingly high-profile role and balance it with fighting cancer is an extraordinary feat.”
King Charles and Kate Middleton have undergone cancer treatments in the past year. (Getty Images)
Kate Middleton faced pressure to reveal her cancer diagnosis last March, two months after the palace announced the 43-year-old had been admitted to a hospital for a “planned abdominal treatment.”
Until her announcement, she was rarely seen in public, which fueled public speculation about her health.
The princess said in September she had finished her preventative chemotherapy treatment.
“Although I have finished chemotherapy, my path to healing and full recovery is long, and I must continue to take each day as it comes,” the princess said in a video shared on social media at the time. “I am, however, looking forward to being back at work and undertaking a few more public engagements in the coming months when I can.”
Royal expert Ian Pelham Turner told Fox News Digital, “Recently King Charles has not looked in better health. It is not surprising therefore that he has once again had a short stay in hospital.
“He has tried still [to] complete a hectic schedule … that would have strained the energy of a man of his age in full health. There are planned visits this year, which is why his doctors have stressed rest for him.”
He said the brief hospital stay will “once again open the question should William and Kate take over the monarchy and, behind the scenes, this might [be] privately negotiated or at least discussed. Should further periods of rest ensue, this will highlight further the whispers around the palace.”
King Charles and Queen Camilla attend the Trooping the Colour ceremony in June. (Yui Mok/PA Images via Getty Images)
Royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams told Fox News Digital despite having to cancel engagements through Friday, keeping up with his duties is part of recovering for a “workaholic” like the king.
There “has been a setback. So far only tomorrow’s diary is affected, but part of his cure is, for a workaholic like him, to get back to normal as [soon] as possible,” Fitzwilliams said. “He has done his utmost to involve others in his recovery, which has been remarkable. And it is so unfortunate to have had this battle so early in his reign. He has the queen, who is devoted to him, as his support.
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“To hold such an amazingly high-profile role and balance it with fighting cancer is an extraordinary feat.”
Fox New Digital’s Stephanie Nolasco and Ashley Papa contributed to this report.
