Carlos III will resume part of his public agenda during his cancer treatment

King Charles III will partially resume his public agenda starting next week, after doctors said they were “very encouraged” by the progress of his cancer treatment, Buckingham Palace announced Friday. His first engagement to Queen Camilla sIt will be a visit on Tuesday to a cancer treatment centersaid Buckingham, noting that in June the couple will receive Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako of Japan for a state visit.

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The announcement follows a difficult period for the British royal family after Charles, 75, and his daughter-in-law Catherine, Princess of Wales, 42, revealed they both had cancer. Kate Middleton, the wife of heir to the throne, Prince William, made the announcement that he was undergoing preventive chemotherapy a little over a month ago, in a video posted on social networks.

Announcing Charles’ partial return to public life, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said it is “too early” to know how much longer his treatment will continue. But he noted that his medical team is “very encouraged by the progress made so far and remains positive about the king’s continued recovery.”

“The pace of the king’s program will be carefully calibrated as his recovery continues, in close collaboration with his medical team,” the spokesperson added.

The King and Queen Camilla will welcome the Japanese royal couple to Buckingham Palace at the end of June, the palace announced, confirming information from Japanese media last month. The Japanese royal attended the state funeral of Charles’s mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in September 2022, which was her first trip abroad after the emperor’s enthronement.

They also attended the king’s reception at Buckingham Palace for heads of state and foreign official guests the night before the funeral. Neither Carlos nor Kate have revealed the exact type of cancer they suffer from.

Charles was only 17 months into his reign when the palace announced in February that he had cancer and would temporarily abandon all public engagements while he began treatment. In January he had been admitted for a benign prostate condition that led him to spend several days in the hospital.

The king has continued to work away from the public spotlight, with meetings and attending some official events. His most notable appearance was on Easter weekend, when he attended a Sunday mass at Windsor Castle, west of London.

“His Majesty is very encouraged to be able to resume some public duties and very grateful to his medical team for their continued care and expertise,” Buckingham’s spokesman said on Friday.

In March, the king said he would continue to serve “to the best of his ability”, and was “deeply moved” by people’s reaction to his health problems. For her part, Kate has been receiving treatment for cancer that was discovered after abdominal surgery, which was also announced in January.

The king and Catherine’s simultaneous battle with serious illnesses has created a crisis for the British monarchy, with a lack of senior members available for public duties.

Until a few years ago, the family could count on the help of Prince Henry, the king’s youngest son, but he and his American wife, Meghan, left the front line of the monarchy in 2020. They have since lived in California and have distanced themselves from the family after a bitter separation.

dmr