It’s been a busy and anxious week for the royals as King Charles recovers from treatment at Sandringham
WORDS: REBECCA RUSSELL PHOTOS: GETTY, PA, PETER MACDIARMID/LNP, ALEXI LUBOMIRSKI
SHOW OF SUPPORT
King Charles waited more than 70 years to ascend the throne, a record in the royal family. But after just 15 months as monarch, he’s been dealt a devastating blow following his shock cancer diagnosis – forcing him to step back from public duties.
In a statement issued last week, Buckingham Palace announced the King was diagnosed with a form of cancer after the disease was found during his recent operation for an enlarged prostate.
Breaking his silence following the sad news, the 75-year-old monarch, who will continue to undertake State business and official paperwork as usual, apologised for being unable to attend an event to celebrate the 50th anniversary of independence of the former British colony Grenada. He said, “I can only say how sorry I am that I cannot be with you in person to mark this momentous milestone, and to enjoy a little Oil Down [Grenada’s national dish] with you all!”
The monarch broke the news of his diagnosis to both of his sons personally. The Prince of Wales was said to be in regular contact with his father, while the Duke of Sussex was reportedly informed in a phone call.
Prince Harry then made a 5,000-mile journey across the Atlantic to the UK, with royal sources claiming that the King’s diagnosis has been a wake-up call for him.
“Harry was rather panic-stricken when he heard the news about his dad and wanted to head over to the UK as soon as possible,” a source told OK!. “He needed to know if what his dad had told him about his illness over the phone was true and not something that he had sugar-coated to not worry him. Once he was sure that the King was in the best hands, he calmed down a bit and realised that he had time to work things out.”
Their meeting is said to have lasted 45 minutes, before the King took off for Norfolk in a helicopter. Meanwhile, the duke, 39, headed back to Heathrow airport – just 25 hours after he arrived – to be reunited with his wife Meghan, 42, and their children Prince Archie, four, and Princess Lilibet, two, in California.
Upon Harry’s return, our source has claimed that emotions were high when he and Meghan discussed the future of their relat
