BREAKING NEWS King Charles waves to well-wishers as he is seen for the first time since cancelling royal engagements and being admitted to hospital amid ongoing cancer battle
The King appeared in good spirits today as he was seen in public for the first time since it was revealed he visited hospital over side effects from his cancer treatment.
The King appeared in good spirits today as he was seen in public for the first time since it was revealed he visited hospital over side effects from his cancer treatment.
Charles, 76, smiled and waved at well-wishers as he left Clarence House in London in an Audi and is understood to be going to his Highgrove estate in Gloucestershire.
Buckingham Palace announced last night that the King required a short period of observation in hospital earlier that day, with four planned engagements in Birmingham today cancelled to prioritise his recovery as a precautionary measure.
A source described it as a most minor bump in a road that is very much heading in the right direction - with the visit coming just over a year after he was diagnosed.
This morning, a large crowd including members of the public and photographers watched as Charles was driven out of his London residence at around 10.30am.
Sat in the back of a black Audi, he waved down the window, smiled and waved at well-wishers. Moments earlier the Princess Royal was driven out in a black Bentley.
The King visited the London Clinic yesterday morning and travelled to and from the hospital by car. He was not joined by his wife Queen Camilla during his brief stay.
After he appeared today, tourist Julian Mati, 34, said it was a relief to see the King looking well. He added: We were horrified when we heard the news yesterday.
We had come down to the palace today to take pictures but we never imagined we would see the King. To see him smiling and waving, its such a relief.
King Charles III is driven by car from Clarence House in London today after his hospital visit
Charles smiles and waves at well-wishers as he leaves Clarence House in London this morning
The King travels from Clarence House along The Mall towards Buckingham Palace today
King Charles III is driven by car from Clarence House, his London home, along The Mall today
King Charles III and Queen Camilla on Tuesday at a reception at Clarence House for authors, members of the literary community and representatives from The Queens Reading Room
Buckingham Palace said in a statement last night: Following scheduled and ongoing medical treatment for cancer this morning, the King experienced temporary side effects that required a short period of observation in hospital.
His Majestys afternoon engagements were therefore postponed.
The palace added: His Majesty has now returned to Clarence House and as a precautionary measure, acting on medical advice, tomorrows (Fridays) diary programme will also be rescheduled.
His Majesty would like to send his apologies to all those who may be inconvenienced or disappointed as a result.
Last night, the King was said to have been on good form at his London home where he was working on state papers and making calls from his study.
The Prime Minister wishes His Majesty the King all the very best, a spokeswoman for Sir Keir Starmer said after the news was announced.
Charles was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer in February 2024 and returned to public-facing duties in April despite still undergoing weekly treatment.
He has had a busy run of engagements this month, including a reception for media on Wednesday evening after a visit to a soil exhibition in the day, and is due to make a historic state visit to Italy in 10 days time.
It is understood the overseas tour with the Queen from April 7 to 10, which will see Charles become the first British sovereign to address both houses of the Italian parliament, is expected to go ahead as planned.
Last week, the King made a whirlwind three-day visit to Northern Ireland with Camilla, and earlier in March hosted high-profile audiences with key political figures including Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky, outgoing Canadian prime minister Justin Trudeau and new Canadian PM Mark Carney.
Charles, who is known for being a workaholic, is said to have thrived on carrying out public and state duties in recent months, seeing them as being of great benefit to his overall wellbeing.
His long-haul visit to Australia and Samoa last autumn was described at the time as the perfect tonic for the monarch.
Since his diagnosis last year, the Kings diary of engagements is understood to have been developed in full consultation with his medical team at all stages to protect and prioritise his recovery.
Sources stressed the hospital visit was not a major development and no further updates are expected on the Kings health, with any minor alterations to his diary that may be required next week being announced in due course.
It was hoped this year would be a fresh start for the royal family after they endured what the Prince of Wales called a brutal 2024 and probably the hardest year of my life with both the King and the Princess of Wales being diagnosed with cancer.
Kate is now in remission and is gradually returning to public duties.
The King was due to meet ambassadors in audiences at Buckingham Palace yesterday afternoon but these were postponed due to his stay in hospital.
He also had a busy day planned in Birmingham today, with four engagements back to back.
The London Clinic was the same hospital where he was treated for an enlarged prostate in January last year, and also where the Princess of Wales had abdominal surgery the same month.
The specifics of the Kings side effects have not been disclosed but they are understood to be temporary and not uncommon with many medical treatments.
The announcement from the Palace is understood to have been made late last night because time was required for the King to consult his staff and medical team on his return to Clarence House.
It was decided on balance that it was wiser to cancel the visit to Birmingham as a precautionary measure.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: His Majesty was due to receive credentials from the ambassadors of three different nations this afternoon.
Tomorrow (Friday), he was due to undertake four public engagements in Birmingham, and is greatly disappointed to be missing them on this occasion.
He very much hopes that they can rescheduled in due course and offers his deepest apologies to all those who had worked so hard to make the planned visit possible.
The King is known for being a workaholic, and even the Queen said after his cancer diagnosis that he wont slow down and wont do what hes told.
Camilla told author Lee Child at her Reading Room literary festival last year that her husband was doing fine but was not heeding her advice.
When the monarch underwent a procedure on an enlarged prostate before being diagnosed with cancer last year, his wife urged him to slow down and reduce his workload.
But his nephew Peter Phillips said the King was frustrated that his recovery after cancer treatment was taking longer than he wanted, and that he was pushing his staff to return to his duties. He returned to public-facing events in April.
Camilla has described Charles, now 76 as not one for chilling.
The Duke of Sussex once recalled how his father would sometimes fall asleep at his desk and wake up with a piece of paper stuck to his face.
King Charles waves at well-wishers while leaving Clarence House in London in a car today
The King is seen in public in Central London for the first time today since his hospital visit
King Charles III is driven by car from Clarence House, his London home, along The Mall today
King Charles is driven by car away from Clarence House in London this morning
King Charles III is driven by car from Clarence House, his London home, along The Mall today
The King is seen in public in Central London for the first time today since his hospital visit
And Lady Sophie Windsor revealed: You see how he works all day long, has a quick supper and then disappears until about 4am to write letters. He cares about so many things and he comes up with brilliant solutions.
The King is only less than three years into his reign.
He was the longest serving heir to the throne in British history, and faced the formidable task of succeeding his much-revered mother the late Queen Elizabeth II in 2022.
His cancer diagnosis early in 2024 marked the start of what his eldest son the Prince of Wales described as the most brutal year with the Princess of Wales also being diagnosed with cancer.
An early riser, he usually begins each day with a brisk 11-minute military workout of five basic exercises used by the Canadian air force to keep fit, and after a healthy breakfast, has his first meeting between 8.30am and 9am.
His diary often includes meetings and audiences, or a day out for official visits. The King skips lunch but does take a break for a walk if possible.
He will also go through his red boxes, containing official and state papers, and have afternoon tea at around 5pm, before resuming work.
After supper in the evening, the King usually works late into the night, and sometimes into the early hours writing letters.
He sees letter-writing as a therapeutic exercise and prefers BBC Radio 4 to the television, which Camilla watches in the evening to unwind.
Any rare, spare time is devoted to gardening, or listening to classical music and opera, with his medical team no doubt now urging him to rest as much as possible.