King Charles Shares Health Update on Return to Work

King Charles III was asked about his cancer treatment as he returned to public-facing duties for the first time and replied: "I'm all right, thank you."

The monarch, 75, visited the University College Hospital (UCLH) Macmillan Cancer Centre and was named a new patron of major charity Cancer Research UK.

It comes after he was diagnosed with cancer in February and stepped back from frontline duties in order to focus on his health.

Buckingham Palace announced his return to work late on Friday after doctors were positive about the rate of his recovery.

As the king arrived he was asked by a journalist "Sir, how are you feeling?" and put his hands, palms up, in the air with a shrug and a nod of his head.

The audio on the social media video did not clearly capture his response, meaning it is impossible to say with certainty how he replied, but he appeared to say "much better, thank you."

That would certainly be in keeping with the tone of Buckingham Palace statement on Friday that his recovery has been going well.

"His Majesty's treatment program will continue," a spokesperson said on Friday, "but doctors are sufficiently pleased with the progress made so far that the King is now able to resume a number of public-facing duties.

"Forthcoming engagements will be adapted where necessary to minimize any risks to His Majesty's continued recovery."

Inside the UCLH center Charles was asked again and replied: "I'm alright, thank you."

Charles and Queen Camilla met clinicians to hear about how technology including CT scanners are used to help with early detection of cancer.

They also learned about a project called TRACERx, which has seen 250 researchers and clinicians across 19 centers in Britain work together "to investigate how lung cancer evolves over time and why treatments sometimes stop working," Buckingham Palace said.

Aides announced the king's return to work late on Friday after months in which he has been reduced to light duties, including paperwork and some meetings at Buckingham Palace.

The major difference now is that he is undertaking visits outside the palace which means he will be in contact with strangers, which can pose a risk when undergoing treatment for cancer.

Charles is not yet in remission and his treatment continues but doctors were so pleased with his progress they gave him the green light to step up his duties.

That could mean a busy summer, with major events in the calendar including Trooping the Color, his birthday parade as well as a state visit from Japan, the 80th anniversary of D-Day, horse racing at Ascot and summer garden parties, though most of these have not yet been confirmed.

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.

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