King Charles, now 76, made his way back to Clarence House, where he reportedly delved into his governmental responsibilities and conducted essential calls from the confines of his study. Following medical guidance, he regrettably canceled his scheduled tour of Birmingham for Friday.
The monarch had been eager to embark on a jam-packed itinerary in the city, encompassing four significant events. The news of his cancer diagnosis was first made public by Buckingham Palace in February 2024.
A spokesperson from the palace revealed that three ambassadorial meetings planned for Thursday were also impacted by this change in plans. "Tomorrow, the King was poised to engage in four public appearances in Birmingham, and he is deeply disappointed to miss them on this occasion," the statement further elaborated. "He sincerely hopes to reschedule these engagements at an appropriate time and extends his heartfelt apologies to all who diligently worked to make the visit a reality."
A palace insider downplayed the situation, describing it as a "minor hiccup on a journey very much progressing in the right direction." No additional details about the side effects of his treatment were disclosed.
Meanwhile, Queen Camilla attended a reception in Wembley, north London, on Thursday and did not accompany the King during his brief hospital stay. Upon hearing the news, a spokesperson for Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer conveyed his best wishes to His Majesty the King.
The overall message from the palace aimed to reassure the public, portraying the postponement of the Birmingham visit as a temporary setback against an otherwise optimistic backdrop of the King's health. There was no fanfare; instead, he traveled to the London Clinic hospital by car, not an ambulance, and the announcement was made late in the evening following a prudent decision to postpone Friday's engagements.
It might have seemed prudent to preemptively address the minor issue with transparency rather than escalating it into a significant event marked by a last-minute cancellation. Despite his ongoing cancer treatment, the King has shown resilience, unwilling to be defined by his illness. He thrives on public interactions and maintains a bustling schedule of engagements, which has sometimes made it easy to overlook his condition, as noted by Robert Hardman, an author of several books about the royal family.
"You see the King doing what he loves—being out and about," he shared on BBC Radio 4's Today programme on Friday. "This serves as a gentle reminder that our head of state is undergoing cancer treatment."
In recent weeks, the King has been at the forefront, undertaking various tasks, including a trip to Northern Ireland, launching a playlist of his favorite music, and attending the Commonwealth Day service—an event he missed last year due to his diagnosis. Moreover, he has unexpectedly played a pivotal role in global diplomacy, inviting President Donald Trump for a second state visit to the UK and expressing solidarity with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky following Zelensky's troubled meeting with Trump. He also warmly welcomed Mark Carney, Canada's new prime minister, whose country has faced pressure from Trump.
None of these activities hinted at the monarch's waning energy. Earlier this week, the postponement of the state visit to the Vatican was announced due to Pope Francis's health, not the King's, with the rest of the Italian visit expected to proceed as scheduled.
While acknowledging that further health complications cannot be ruled out, Buckingham Palace conveys the expectation that the King will resume his normal duties next week. His broader state visit to Italy, scheduled for April, will also continue with slight adjustments to the planned itinerary, as announced by the palace this week.
The exact type of cancer the King battles remains undisclosed. Last April, after a period of treatment and recuperation, he returned to his public duties with renewed vigor.
