King Charles III experiences temporary side effects of cancer treatment

King Charles III spent a short time in the hospital on Thursday. This was due to temporary side effects from his cancer treatment, according to Buckingham Palace.

The King has returned to Clarence House. He is continuing to work on state papers and make calls from his study. However, he has canceled a tour of Birmingham on Friday based on medical advice.

Charles, who is 76 years old, had planned a busy schedule in Birmingham. This included four public engagements.

The palace announced the King's cancer diagnosis in February 2024. A spokesperson said that meetings with three ambassadors were also affected by his condition.

The palace stated that the King is disappointed about missing the Birmingham events. He hopes they can be rescheduled soon and apologizes for any inconvenience caused.

A palace source described this situation as a "minor bump" in an otherwise positive health journey. They did not provide details about the specific side effects he experienced.

Queen Camilla attended a reception in Wembley, north London, instead of joining the King at the hospital. After the news broke, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer wished him well.

The palace aims to reassure everyone regarding the King's health. The postponement of his visit is seen as a brief setback rather than a major issue.

There was no drama during his hospital visit; he arrived by car instead of an ambulance. The late-night announcement followed a decision to postpone Friday's visit for safety reasons.

It seems wise for the palace to be transparent about this minor issue rather than create unnecessary drama with last-minute cancellations.

Despite ongoing cancer treatment, King Charles remains active and engaged with crowds. He has shown no signs of slowing down and continues with a full schedule of engagements.

Recently, he visited Northern Ireland and launched a playlist of favorite music. He also attended Commonwealth Day service after missing it last year due to his diagnosis.

In recent weeks, he has been involved in global diplomacy efforts as well. He invited President Donald Trump for another state visit and showed support for Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky after Trump's meeting at the White House.

He welcomed Canada's new prime minister Mark Carney amid pressure from Trump’s administration. None of these activities suggest that he is running out of energy or enthusiasm.

Earlier this week, it was announced that Pope Francis's health led to postponing their state visit to Vatican City—not due to concerns about the King’s health. The rest of his trip to Italy is expected to proceed as planned.

While it's impossible to rule out future health issues, Buckingham Palace expects him back to normal next week regarding his schedule.

His wider state visit to Italy will continue in April but may have some changes in plans, according to recent statements from the palace.

The type of cancer affecting King Charles has never been disclosed publicly. He resumed public duties last April after undergoing treatment and recuperation.