Prince William returned to royal duties for the first time following the announcement of his father, King Charles III’s cancer diagnosis, and Kate Middleton’s hospitalization for abdominal surgery.
At 41, the future king expressed gratitude at a charity gala dinner, thanking the public for their “kind messages of support” after discussing his family’s health issues for the first time. Earlier that day, he had presided over an investiture at Windsor Castle.
“The past few weeks have been, shall we say, medically focused, so I figured I’d come to an air ambulance function to escape it all,” he remarked with a touch of humor.
The Queen, a former air ambulance helicopter pilot, also attended the black-tie event, where she met with other pilots and conversed with celebrities, including Tom Cruise.
King Charles III is undergoing outpatient treatment for an unidentified malignancy.
Many cancer patients can now undergo treatment and achieve remission or complete eradication of their disease, according to oncologists.
Following Kate Middleton’s operation for an undisclosed condition, Prince William temporarily stepped away from his public duties to help care for their three young children. The Princess of Wales is expected to return to her public duties by April.
Charles’s recent cancer diagnosis has added further strain on
the royal family. To focus on his treatment and recovery, the monarch has
decided to cease all public appearances. Despite undergoing treatment, he will
continue with his administrative duties, such as reviewing and signing state
documents.
Sally Bedell Smith, author of Prince Charles: The Passions and Paradoxes of an Improbable Life, commented, “His absence is putting a lot of pressure on the other members of the royal family, who are certainly up to it.” The recovery of the Princess of Wales, one of the royal family’s shining stars, from surgery only adds to these pressures.
As the King continues to recuperate, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is expected to call him on Wednesday night to extend his best wishes. Live audiences are anticipated to resume later this month.
Charles’s illness has come at an unfortunate time for the House of Windsor. Ascending the throne just 17 months ago, the King has pledged to reduce the monarchy's cost, partly by limiting the number of “working royals” supported by taxpayer funds.
With two of the most visible family members out sick,
maintaining their duties will be more challenging. Besides the high-profile
royal processions and state visits, the Windsors attend hundreds of
less-publicized events annually to recognize public achievements and mark local events, such as the opening of libraries and community centers. Royal
appearances at these events are cherished by charities, as they bring
visibility and credibility to their work among potential donors.
The 75-year-old King was seen in public for the first time since his cancer diagnosis when he left his offices at Clarence House on Tuesday, following a brief reunion with his younger son, Prince Harry.
Harry arrived in London from California less than 24 hours after Buckingham Palace announced the King's cancer diagnosis. The meeting has raised hopes that the two can mend their troubled relationship after Harry publicly criticized the royal family for unconscious racism and the treatment of his American biracial wife, former actress Meghan Markle, by palace officials.
Harry and Meghan, once viewed as stars of the royal family who could help the Windsors connect with a younger generation, stepped away from royal duties in 2020 and now reside in California.
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