King Charles seen for first time after hospital admission for cancer treatment side effects

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The King has left London to spend the weekend resting at his Highgrove estate in Gloucestershire, it is understood. The monarch was admitted to hospital yesterday suffering from temporary side effects relating to his ongoing treatment for cancer.

Charles, 76, has been receiving weekly treatment in hospital since his diagnosis last February. He was admitted for observation at The London Clinic for several hours but returned home to Clarence House yesterday evening. The monarch waved at wellwishers as he was driven away from his London home this morning in a black Audi. Moments earlier Princess Anne was driven out of the residence in a black Bentley.

Royal doctors advised the King to cancel his afternoon engagements yesterday as well as a planned away day in Birmingham where he alongside the Queen was due to meet local communities. Royal sources said the King would spend the weekend at his country estate in order to rest and spend some time recuperating in the outdoors, as he has enjoyed throughout his treatment schedule.

Friends of the King have described Highgrove as being “a place of great comfort” for Charles during his cancer battle. Buckingham Palace has attempted to calm nerves surrounding the King’s admission to hospital, with royal sources describing it as “a bump in the road” and insisted Charles’ treatment was still “very much headed in the right direction”.

The King returned to full time duties last April but still maintained a reduced schedule in accordance with his weekly treatment at a London hospital. Since then he has embarked on a major tour with the Queen in October to Australia and Samoa and continued his public duties at pace this year.

Sources reiterated today that the King “is in good form”, and last night managed to work on State papers and make calls from his study. A statement from Buckingham Palace at 9pm on Thursday evening said: “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. His Majesty’s afternoon engagements were therefore postponed.

“His Majesty has now returned to Clarence House 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.”

Since his diagnosis last year, the King’s diary of engagements is understood to have been developed in full consultation with his medical team at all stages to protect and prioritise his recovery. Sources stressed the hospital visit was not a major development and no further updates are expected on the King’s health, with any minor alterations to his diary that may be required next week being announced in due course.

It is understood the overseas tour with the Queen from April 7-10, which will see Charles become the first British sovereign to address both houses of the Italian parliament, is expected to go ahead as planned.

The trip has already had to be reorganised after the royals were due to meet the Pope at The Vatican as part of the tour. Pope Francis was on Sunday discharged from hospital after suffering from double pneumonia and will require a period of rest and recuperation.

Last week, the King made a whirlwind three-day visit to Northern Ireland with Camilla, and earlier in March hosted high-profile audiences with key political figures including Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, outgoing Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau and new Canadian PM Mark Carney.

Source: Mirror