King Charles III announced Friday that his cancer treatment will be reduced in 2026, following “early diagnosis, effective intervention and adherence to doctors’ orders.”
“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 percent of us who will be diagnosed with the illness at some point in our lives,” the 77-year-old monarch said in a televised address recorded at Clarence House.
In February 2024, Buckingham Palace revealed that the king had been diagnosed with cancer, a shift in approach for the palace, which has traditionally been secretive about the health of the country’s ruler. The palace has not provided details about the type of cancer Charles is being treated for — except to say that it is not prostate cancer. In a statement Friday about his health, the palace said Charles “has responded exceptionally well to treatment and his doctors advise that ongoing measures will now move into a precautionary phase.”
Friday’s address is part of British Channel 4’s “Stand Up to Cancer” broadcast, aimed at raising funds for cancer research. It coincided with the launch of a national online screening tool, which allows Britons to find out which cancer screening programs they are eligible for.
During the address, Charles encouraged all Britons to undergo cancer screening, crediting early detection with “enabling me to continue leading a full and active life, even while undergoing treatment.”
“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 they don’t need further tests, or, for some, are given the chance to enable early detection, with the lifesaving intervention that can follow,” said Charles, who serves as a patron of Cancer Research UK.
“I know from my own experience that a cancer diagnosis can feel overwhelming. Yet I also know that early detection is the key that can transform treatment journeys, giving invaluable time to medical teams — and, to their patients, the precious gift of hope,” he added.
In January, Catherine, Princess of Wales, announced that she is in remission from cancer, four months after revealing that she had completed chemotherapy. The royal family has not said what type of cancer Catherine was diagnosed with or what stage it was.
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