King Charles shares news of reduced cancer treatment in TV message

The King has delivered a video message to the nation with the “good news” that his cancer treatment will be dramatically reduced in the new year.

Describing it as “a personal blessing” and a “milestone” in his treatment, Charles said he hoped his own experience “may give encouragement” to others.

Stressing the importance of early diagnosis, the King urged people not to avoid cancer screening “because they imagine it may be frightening, embarrassing or uncomfortable”. He added: “Your life — or the life of someone you love — may depend upon it.”

In a pre-recorded video, shown on Channel 4 as part of an evening of programming for the Stand Up to Cancer campaign, Charles said: “Today I am able to share with you the good news that thanks to early diagnosis, effective intervention and adherence to doctors’ orders, my own schedule of cancer treatment can be reduced in the new year.

“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 per cent of us who will be diagnosed with the illness at some point in our lives.”

He said that he had “learnt something that troubles me deeply: at least nine million people in our country are not up to date with the cancer screenings available to them. That is at least nine million opportunities for early diagnosis being missed.”

Charles said: “Throughout my own cancer journey, I have been profoundly moved by what I can only call the ‘community of care’ that surrounds every cancer patient — the specialists, the nurses, researchers and volunteers who work tirelessly to save and improve lives.”

Wearing a pinstripe suit and a Stand Up to Cancer badge, Charles appeared with slightly bloodshot eyes as he delivered the first update on his cancer treatment in months. The short film was recorded in the Morning Room at Clarence House in the last week of November.

The news about the King’s treatment has been seen within the Palace as a huge step forward. It does not, however, mean that the King is in remission from the disease and he is not cancer free.

The Palace said: “His Majesty has responded exceptionally well to treatment and his doctors advise that ongoing measures will now move into a precautionary phase. This position will be continuously monitored and reviewed to protect and prioritise his continued recovery. As the King has said, this milestone on his recovery journey is ‘a great personal blessing’.”

The Prince and Princess of Wales welcomed the news. It is not known what correspondence the palace has had with the Duke of Sussex.

Sir Keir Starmer wrote on X: “A powerful message from His Majesty The King.

“I know I speak for the entire country when I say how glad I am that his cancer treatment will be reduced in the new year.

“Early cancer screening saves lives.”

The King was admitted to hospital in January 2024 for a procedure to treat an enlarged prostate. During the treatment, doctors discovered another area of concern and diagnosed a form of cancer.

The King has not revealed the type of cancer nor the kind of treatment he has received. Palace aides have, however, confirmed that it is not prostate cancer.

A Palace spokesman said that the decision to withhold this information was taken on the advice of “cancer experts” and out of a determination on the part of the King “to support the whole cancer community” so that he can speak “to those affected by all forms of the disease”.

The King and Queen visited the University College Hospital Macmillan cancer centre last year

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As part of the campaign, Charles backed an online screening tool (screeningchecker.co.uk) launched to help people to check if they are eligible for breast, bowel and cervical cancer screening programmes.

He said: “As I have observed before, the darkest moments of illness can be illuminated by the greatest compassion. But compassion must be paired with action.”

Charles called on the nation to make it part of our resolutions for 2026 “to play our part in helping to catch cancer early”.

The King’s video was shown on Channel 4 at 8pm on Friday as part of an evening of programming to promote Stand Up To Cancer 2025, in conjunction with the television channel and Cancer Research UK, of which the King is patron.

There was also a live broadcast from a cancer clinic at Addenbrooke’s Hospital in Cambridge hosted by Davina McCall, the television presenter, who last month revealed she had undergone surgery for breast cancer.

A spokesman for Charles said: “When His Majesty was approached about the possibility of lending support to the launch of a new online screening tool, which carries the backing of Cancer Research UK for whom he is royal patron, he was therefore happy to assist.

“This seemed a fitting moment to provide a brief update on the positive trajectory of his own continued recovery.”

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Dame Laura Lee, chief executive of the cancer support charity Maggie’s, said: “His Majesty the King has again spoken so openly and eloquently about living with cancer. It can be a difficult thing to do, but we know that his openness will give more people with cancer the courage to talk about their own experiences — helping to turn their silence and fear into hope.”