Buckingham Palace, the royal residence in London, said in a statement that King Charles III was temporarily hospitalized on Thursday, March 27, after experiencing “temporary side effects” from cancer treatment. As a result, all of his scheduled engagements for Thursday afternoon and Friday have been canceled, Newsweek reported.
What happened to Charles?
The health of the 76-year-old monarch of the United Kingdom has been under intense public scrutiny since early 2024, when he revealed that he had been diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer. Although King Charles has been absent from public duties for nearly three months, he has continued to carry out important state duties, including reviewing government documents and meeting with the prime minister.
What to Know
His diagnosis has added to the strain on the royal family, as they are still coming to terms with the death of Queen Elizabeth II, who reigned for 70 years, according to reports. Since succeeding his mother (who died at the age of 96) in September 2022, Charles has been working to demonstrate the relevance of the monarchy in a diverse and modern Britain.
On Tuesday, King Charles and Queen Camilla postponed their state visit to the Vatican after Pope Francis was hospitalized on February 14 with a case of bronchitis that eventually developed into bronchitis and pneumonia, after doctors advised the pope to rest following his ongoing illness. According to Newsweek, a statement from Buckingham Palace said the decision to postpone the king and queen’s visit was a “mutual agreement.”
The royal family has suffered another setback amid the monarch’s health challenges, with Catherine, Princess of Wales’ recent cancer diagnosis, which saw her stay out of public life for more than six months. Prince William’s wife then returned to duties in late September.
Buckingham Palace said, “His Majesty has now returned to Clarence House, and, as a precautionary measure acting on medical advice, tomorrow’s diary program will also be rescheduled. His Majesty would like to send his apologies to all those who may be inconvenienced or disappointed as a result.”
