King Charles set to resume public duties after stepping away for cancer treatment
Buckingham Palace says monarch's medical team 'very encouraged' by progress
King Charles will resume his public duties next week following treatment for cancer, Buckingham Palace announced Friday.
Charles took a break from public appearances almost three months ago to focus on his treatment for an undisclosed type of cancer.
The palace said Charles would make a public visit to a cancer treatment centre on Tuesday in the first of several appearances he will make in coming weeks. One of his first major engagements will be hosting a state visit by the emperor and empress of Japan in June.
The palace didn't provide an update on the king's health or his treatment, though it said the "medical team are very encouraged by the progress made so far and remain positive about the king's continued recovery."
Charles continued his state duties, including reviewing government documents and meeting with U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, after his diagnosis was disclosed on Feb. 5.
"His Majesty is greatly encouraged to be resuming some public-facing duties and very grateful to his medical team for their continued care and expertise," the palace said in a statement.
"As the first anniversary of the coronation approaches, their majesties remain deeply grateful for the many kindnesses and good wishes they have received from around the world throughout the joys and challenges of the past year,'' the statement reads.
Other royals take on added tasks amid absences
Charles's return will relieve the pressure put on other members of the royal family during his absence, coupled with that of the Catherine, Princess of Wales, also due to illness. It highlighted the challenges faced by a slimmed-down monarchy.
Catherine stepped away from public duties in January when she underwent a "major abdominal surgery." Last month, after much speculation about the state of her health, she released a video statement revealing she had been diagnosed with cancer following her surgery.
Prince William also took time off to support his wife and their young family.
Amid the king's commitment to cut costs, and the decision of Duke and Duchess of Sussex — more commonly known as Prince Harry and Meghan — to walk away from royal duties, there are simply fewer family members available to carry out the endless round of ribbon cuttings, awards ceremonies and state events that make up the life of a modern royal.
Queen Camilla, the king's sister Princess Anne and his younger brother Prince Edward were left to shoulder the load in the absences of other members of the royal family.
Camilla, once shunned by the public for her role in the breakup of Charles's marriage to Princess Diana, played a particularly prominent role during the king's absence, standing in for her husband at major events such as the annual Royal Maundy service on the Thursday before Easter.
Charles's return will be a chance for him to reinvigorate his reign, which began in September 2022 amid expectations that he would modernize the monarchy, while reaching out to young people and minority groups to cement the royal family's role in the 21st century.
The king's challenges include strengthening ties to the Commonwealth and the 14 independent countries outside the United Kingdom where the British monarch is still head of state, an unwelcome reminder to some people of Britain's colonial history.
The return of the king is significant, not the least because it will help quell speculation about his well-being, said George Gross, the founder of the British Coronations Project at King's College London.
He cited an adage attributed to Queen Elizabeth II, noting that the monarch needs to be seen to be believed.
"I think there is that feeling that, it's very difficult to have a functioning monarchy with the head of state away for any considerable length of time,'' Gross said. "And this felt like a long time."
With files from Geoff Nixon