King Charles Health Update Given by UK Government

King Charles III is "very good" less than two week after his return to public facing duties, according to a top British politician.

Penny Mordaunt, a minister in Rishi Sunak's Conservative government, said the king was "so pleased to get back to public duties" during an appearance on GB News.

Charles had a procedure on an enlarged prostate in January and was diagnosed with cancer of a different part of the body in early February, leading him to step back from the public eye for months.

He continued with scaled down royal duties until announcing his return to public duties on April 26. He visited a cancer charity on April 30, his first day back.

King Charles at Horse Show
King Charles III is seen at the Royal Windsor Horse Show at Windsor Castle in England, on May 3, 2024. He returned to work in April following treatment for cancer. Chris Jackson/Getty Images

Mordaunt, the Speaker of the House of Commons, said: "He's very good. And I know that he would have been so pleased to get back to public duties. He would have missed it tremendously.

"I think everyone is really pleased to see him back and I know that he wants to do more, so it's been a good week.

"I think people won't be surprised to know that he's completely charming and always calm.

"And he's also got a really good sense of humor as well. But he's always asking about how things are going, particularly issues that we're dealing with in Parliament or about particular groups who he knows that are having a rough time.

"He's always asking after those people, so he cares a great deal and he's a delight to work with."

King Charles braved the Royal Windsor Horse Show on May 3, despite rainy conditions, and is likely to attend a garden party at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday, May 8.

Prince Harry is expected to arrive in Britain ahead of a Service of Thanksgiving marking 10 years of his Invictus Games tournament for wounded veterans, which is at St. Paul's Cathedral in London on Wednesday.

There has been much speculation in the British media about whether Harry and Charles will take the opportunity to see each other while both are in London at the same time.

Afua Hagan, a U.K. based royal commentator, recently told Newsweek: "They definitely should. I think it would be nice for them to spend some time together post the king's cancer diagnosis.

"I always say health is a great leveler, it's really good at bringing people together. If both parties can make time, it would be great for them to have that time together."

Jack Royston is Newsweek's chief royal correspondent based in London. You can find him on X, formerly Twitter, at @jack_royston and read his stories on Newsweek's The Royals Facebook page.

Do you have a question about King Charles III, William and Kate Middleton, Meghan Markle and Harry, or their family that you would like our experienced royal correspondents to answer? Email royals@newsweek.com. We'd love to hear from you.

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About the writer


Jack Royston is Newsweek's Chief Royal Correspondent based in London, U.K. He reports on the British royal family—including King Charles ... Read more

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