King Charles cancer diagnosis LATEST updates: Prince William to attend charity gala, Prince Harry leaves London for California and monarch recuperates at Sandringhamthedigitalchaps

The Prince of Wales has retuned to royal duties after his wife’s abdominal operation and is now the monarchy’s most prominent public figure following the King’s cancer diagnosis.

For some time William, as heir to the throne, will be the leading member of the royal family at official events across the country as his father receives treatment.

William began his working day by hosting an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle, awarding honours like CBEs, OBEs and MBEs to recipients, and during Wednesday evening he will attend a gala fundraising dinner for London’s Air Ambulance Charity.

The King’s cancer treatment as an outpatient started earlier this week, and he returned, with the Queen, to his Sandringham home in Norfolk on Tuesday after seeing Harry.

Charles has postponed all public-facing duties, but is continuing with behind-the-scenes work on his red boxes of state papers.

The royal family has partnered with several leading cancer charities to promote support for those suffering from cancer and their loved ones.

In two posts on its social media pages, the royal family collaborated with Macmillan Cancer Support and Maggie’s Centres less than 48 hours since the shock news from Buckingham Palace that King Charles has been diagnosed with cancer.

The diagnosis was revealed on Monday night, with the monarch already starting outpatient treatment for the cancer, which has reportedly been spotted ‘early’.

Royal commentator Phil Dampier gave MailOnline a damnding verdict on the prospect of Harry and Charles meeting up again.

He said: ‘I don’t think anybody knows at the moment not even themselves. It’s a first step – it’s a break the ice sort of meeting – Harry would have been anxious to find out how the King is – and take it from there.

‘I think the most important thing is when he returns to California none of this conversation with the King becomes public.

‘The trust will have gone if he starts leaking things. If after a few weeks nothing has been leaked the trust will return.

‘I’d say the jury is out. This is his last chance to regain some trust.’

Lioness Ellen White is among the MBE recipients who have praised the Prince of Wales after he rerturned to royal duties to carry out an investiture ceremony today.

White said: ‘Prince William put me at ease. I send my best wishes to the King and Kate’.

Watch more reaction from the recipients here:

It was a visit filled with poignancy: a popular future king meeting a disgraced former king.

In October 1970, the 21-year-old Prince Charles met his great-uncle, the erstwhile Edward VIII, at his Paris home.

The Duke of Windsor, then 76, was just a year away from being diagnosed with the throat cancer that would go on to kill him in May 1972.

For he later wrote in his diary of the duke’s ‘most dreadful American guests’ and how he was ‘relieved to escape’ his home after just 45 minutes.

An NHS nurse who met King Charles at a Marie Curie hospice event said the openness the monarch has shown around his cancer diagnosis is ‘absolutely fantastic’ as she wished him a ‘full recovery’.

Michelle Beaver, 51, a cardiology nurse at Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, met the King twice in 2019: first in Liverpool at the 60th anniversary of the Marie Curie Hospice, of which Charles is a patron; and again at a garden party held at Buckingham Palace which Ms Beaver was invited to attend.

She said Charles was ‘really down to earth’ and ‘made everyone feel special’, adding that the awareness he has raised around getting checked for signs of cancer has been ‘absolutely fantastic’.

‘I thought it was really good because it got awareness out there and I believe men going to get their prostate checked went up massively which was absolutely fantastic’ Ms Beaver, who has worked within the NHS for 32 years, said.

‘He’s had the tests and getting dealt with and hopefully he’ll make a full recovery.’

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak will have his weekly audience with the King over the phone following Charles III’s cancer diagnosis, Downing Street has confirmed.

Number 10 took the unusual step of revealing details about the audience following an agreement with Buckingham Palace to disclose the information this afternoon.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: ‘We don’t in general and we are not going to get into the habit of commenting on the PM’s conversations with the King.

‘But we have agreed with the Palace in this specific instance to confirm that they will be speaking on the phone later.’

The King’s cancer treatment as an outpatient started earlier this week, and he returned with Queen Camilla to his Sandringham home in Norfolk yesterday after seeing his son Prince Harry, who has flown back to the UK from California.

Prince Harry has been pictured arriving at Heathrow Airport a little over 24 hours after he touched down in London.

The Duke of Sussex cleared his diary to rush to the UK on Tuesday after hearing of his father’s cancer diagnosis.

The King telephoned Prince Harry to tell him the news personally, it is understood.

The Duke of Sussex returned to Heathrow this afternoon, having been escorted to Clarence House in a police escort from the same airport yesterday.

Harry flew into London on a ten-hour flight from Los Angeles and arrived at the royal residence at 2.42pm yesterday before spending around 45 minutes with Charles.

They had a ‘brief meeting’ before the King and Camilla were driven to Buckingham Palace where a helicopter was waiting to take them back to Sandringham in Norfolk.

Harry, 39, had flown more than 5,000 miles yesterday from Los Angeles to London after his father informed him of his devastating diagnosis. It was their first formal meeting in person since the late Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in September 2022.

Prince Harry has been seen arriving at Heathrow Airport as he prepares to travel home to California after rushing to London to visit his cancer-stricken father.

The Royal Family has shared several posts on its Instagram page in collaboration with cancer charities including Macmillan.

The post with Macmillan reads: ‘We hope that by sharing his diagnosis so publicly, His Majesty The King will encourage others to reach out for support if they are concerned about cancer.

‘If you have any possible signs or symptoms, speak to your GP to get them checked out.

‘If you’re looking for cancer information or support, visit our website, or call our Support Line on 0808 808 00 00. We offer specialist, confidential support to people living with cancer and their loved ones.

‘If you need to talk, we’ll listen.’

Prince Harry’s brief meeting with King Charles has renewed hopes of a royal truce – but with the Duke’s relationship with William still ‘incredibly broken’, an old confidant is being touted as the one man who could build a bridge between the brothers.

Harry met his father for the first time in 17 months yesterday – for just 45 minutes – following the King’s cancer diagnosis. Their brief meeting took place at Clarence House, with Charles emerging soon after looking remarkably fresh and cheerful.

But hopes of a broader familial reconciliation were quickly scotched, with a source close to the Prince of Wales making it abundantly clear that he had ‘no plans’ to see his younger brother.

William, 41, is now completely estranged from his 39-year-old sibling following several years of vicious attacks against the monarchy, including personal criticism of himself and his wife, Kate, in his searing biography, Spare.

Yet a source has pointed out a mutual friend who might be able to act as a bridge between the brothers – the former Welsh Guards officer turned royal equerry Mark Dyer.

The Prince of Wales handed out around 50 honours in total today as he returned to royal duties.

King Charles will continue his weekly audience with the Prime Minister and speak with Rishi Sunak on the telephone, it has been confirmed.

Less than 48 hours after his cancer diagnosis was confirmed, the King shows no siogn of slowing down his constitutional engagements.

Downing Street took the unusual step of confirming details about Rishi Sunak’s audience with the King following an agreement with Buckingham Palace to disclose the information.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: ‘We don’t in general and we are not going to get into the habit of commenting on the PM’s conversations with the King.

‘But we have agreed with the Palace in this specific instance to confirm that they will be speaking on the phone later.’

Princess Anne appeared in high spirits as she visited The Defence Explosive Ordnance Disposal Training Regiment at St George’s Barracks in Bicester, today.

The Princess Royal, 73, was immaculately dressed in a pillar-box red coat, which she debuted in 2005, and knee-high leather boots.

Anne met with Royal Navy personnel, who showed her an explosive device and next generation weapons – and was even greeted by a protection dog.

The royal wrapped up against the chill in a pink paisley scarf and suede gloves, while her hair was swept back into her signature voluminous style.

Princess Anne, who is Colonel in Chief of The Royal Logistical Corps, continues to carry out royal duties following King Charles’ cancer diagnosis.

Former England footballer Ellen White said she sent her ‘best wishes’ to the King when speaking with the Prince of Wales at an investiture ceremony.

William, who is president of the Football Association, made the record-scoring Lioness an MBE for services to football.

Asked about her conversation with the prince, she said: ‘I sent my best wishes to the King.

‘I just think, you know, it must be a difficult time for the family.

She said: ‘It was a really nice conversation. I’ve met him a couple of times, he definitely puts you at ease.’

Hopes are growing of a reconciliation between Prince Harry and the royal family as experts warn him to stay in the UK and keep his meetings with the King private.

Harry flew 5,000 miles from California yesterday to see his father for 45 minutes following the King’s shock cancer diagnosis.But while Harry’s transatlantic dash raised hopes he will continue to heal wounds with his family, there hasn’t been ‘any sign’ of a reunion between the Duke of Sussex and his brother Prince William.

Royal expert Phil Dampier gave MailOnline his thoughts on the prospect of Harry and Charles meeting up again.

He said: ‘I don’t think anybody knows at the moment not even themselves. It’s a first step – it’s a break the ice sort of meeting – Harry would have been anxious to find out how the King is – and take it from there.’

Click on our story in full for the comments.

One of England’s Lionesses Ellen White has been awarded an MBE in a ceremony conducted by Prince William this morning.

White, 34, was a member of the Euro-winning squad and is England’s record goal scorer.

She competed in three World Cups on behalf of the Lionesses, but retired prior to the 2023 tournament.

King Charles reportedly ‘100 percent’ supports his son Prince William’s return to royal duties at his own pace in the aftermath of his wife’s abdominal surgery.

A source said: ‘The King adores Catherine and thinks she is doing a wonderful job. He understands that family comes first.’

The King has been spending an increasing amount of time at Windsor Castle since his accession, often staying over on Sunday evenings, affording him more time with his son and young grandchildren to whom he is growing ever closer.

William, who now lives in Adelaide Cottage on the Windsor Estate, a short walk from the castle, also often uses rooms in the historic royal residence for meetings.

The Princess of Wales was unexpectedly admitted to hospital last month for what has been described only as ‘abdominal surgery’.

She spent two weeks in The London Clinic, where the King also underwent his prostate operation, and she is unlikely to start undertaking royal duties again until after Easter.

Aides said at the time that her husband had cancelled all his forthcoming engagements to be by her side and support their children Prince George, ten, Princess Charlotte, eight and five-year-old Prince Louis.

While they did not put a timeline on it, sources suggested the Prince would remain at Windsor with them for ‘several weeks’.

Prince William returned to royal duties today by leading an investiture ceremony at Windsor while Kate recovers from abdominal surgery and Charles recuperates at Sandringham after his first cancer treatment.

William is handing out more than 50 honours, including one to former England women’s footballer Ellen White, 34, in a ceremony that would have been carried out by his father.

The Prince of Wales was last seen outside The London Clinic on January 18 after visiting his wife, who is set to be out of the public eye until at least Easter.

Prince Harry arrived in London yesterday and had a ‘brief meeting’ with Charles at Clarence House, but sources close to William have made it clear he has ‘no plans’ to see his estranged brother.

William will appear at a charity gala tonight, where he is expected to speak about his father’s charity diagnosis for the first time. He may also thank wellwishers and discuss what the Royal Family have been through in recent days.

As Prince William broke his cover on Wednesday and handed out honours, he was pictured smiling and laughing – despite the double blow of his father’s and wife’s health struggles.

With King Charles diagnosed with a form of cancer and his wife out of action until at least Easter following abdominal surgery, the heir to the throne is currently going through a ‘scary time’, royal experts have said.

But as he made Brigadier Tobias Lambert an Officer of the Order of the British Empire, the Prince put on a brave face as he carried on with his duties as normal.

Prince William has begun handing out honours at an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle this morning.

It is the first time he has appeared in public since visting his wife Kate Middleton at The London Clinic on January 18 following her abdominal surgery.

As the Princess Royal embarks on another bumper day of public duties today, MailOnline takes a look back at her non-stop tour of the UK on Tuesday.

Despite the announcement of her brother’s cancer diagnosis, Anne left her home in Gloucestershire and took part in visits in London, Windsor and Nottingham.

She handed out honours, visited a community centre, gave a speech at the Science Museum and barely stopped for a sandwich!

Watch as guests on today’s Good Morning Britain debate whether the Duke of Sussex should return to royal duties in order to ease the burden on the rest of the royal family.

The King may have been advised by doctors to stop meeting with the public and take time to recover as he is treated for cancer, but those close to him say the ‘workaholic’ will find the instructions ‘frustrating’ – having always been a hands-on member of the royal family.

While cancelling all his public engagements, Charles is insisting on carrying on with his ‘red boxes’ of paperwork and he may even conduct a small number of face-to-face private meetings.

But the King will now spend the vast majority of his time in the countryside.

He is expected to return to London on a weekly basis, for business and to meet with prime minister, as well as his privy council meetings. He will also be continuing treatment for cancer in London.

The King will also have the option of conducting meetings over a secure telephone line or video-link, to best accommodate his recovery.

Prince William ‘didn’t want to take on extra responsibilities’ while Kate Middleton recovers from surgery and is going through a ‘scary time’ following King Charles’ cancer diagnosis, a royal expert has claimed.

Speaking to Ok!, royal expert Jennie Bond said King Charles’ shock cancer diagnosis has come at a difficult time for the Wales family.

She explained: ‘This is not a time in which he wanted to take on extra responsibilities, and it’s not a time when he wanted really to contemplate the fact that one day in the very foreseeable future he is going to be a monarch.

‘This is a time in his life where we know when he just wants to be a hands on dad and a very supportive husband. He’ll feel somewhat besieged by his wife being ill and now his father having cancer – this is a scary time for him.’

Today’s investitures ceremony at Windsor will be William’s first appearance since Kate Middleton went into hospital for abdominal surgery last month.

The Prince was last seen outside The London Clinic after visiting his wife on January 18 – and she is set to be out of the public eye until at least Easter.

At today’s investiture, due to start at 11am, William will hand out more than 50 honours, including one to former England women’s footballer Ellen White, 34.

In the evening, he will attend the London Air Ambulance annual fundraising gala in central London. He has been the charity’s patron since 2020.

The dinner is being held in support of the charity’s largest ever fundraiser, hoping to produce £15million to replace its helicopter fleet.

King Charles arrived at Sandringham for the first time yesterday after his cancer diagnosis on the anniversary of his grandfather’s death.

Charles arrived back at the Norfolk country house with Queen Camilla after meeting his son Prince Harry for less than an hour in their first face-to-face encounter for nine months.

His arrival back at the royal residency fell on the same day that King George VI died 72 years ago.

The father of Queen Elizabeth II passed away in his sleep at Sandringham at the age of 56 on February 6, 1952, after suffering from lung cancer.

The condition was kept secret from the King himself, who died five months after having part of his left lung removed.

Continuing with her visit to St George’s barracks in Bicester on Wednesday, the Princess Anne appeared to put the family’s health concerns to one side.

She was seen smiling as she spoke with an underwater explosive ordinance disposal operator for the Royal Navy, before she was shown an explosive device by Lieutenant Darren Powell.

The princess appeared to share a joke with several members of the regiment as they gathered to meet her, ahead of her visit to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission headquarters in Maidenhead later.

Prince Harry cleared his diary in a flash after King Charles phoned him and informed him of his cancer diagnosis, rushing from California to London on Monday night.

Arriving at lunchtime yesterday, the Duke of Sussex had a brief meeting with his father before the monarch travelled to Sandringham to recuperate after beginning his cancer treatment.

Prince Harry is thought to have stayed in a hotel in London overnight. It is unknown exactly how long he plans to spend in the UK.

Harry and Charles could meet again after their emotional reunion but there is no sign of a thawing in the ‘incredibly broken’ relationship between The Duke of Sussex and his brother William, royal experts have said.

Prince Harry flew 5,000 miles from California yesterday to see his father for 45 minutes following Charles’s shock cancer diagnosis – making him the first relative seen to visit the unwell King.

But while Harry’s transatlantic dash raised hopes he will continue to heal wounds with his family, there hasn’t been ‘any sign’ of a reunion between the two royal brothers.

BBC Royal Correspondent Daniella Ralph said the chances of a reconciliation between the two siblings remains unlikely given their ongoing feud.

‘It’s a sibling relationship that still looks incredibly broken. We don’t know if either side has reached out in any way, if there has been any attempt to find a truce. As things stand there doesn’t seem to be any sign of that,’ she told Radio 4.

Hardy Princess Anne has again put on a brave face following her brother’s cancer diagnosis as she embarks on another packed day of royal engagements.

The Princess Royal visited the Defence Explosive Ordnance Disposal Training Regiment at St George’s barracks in Bicester on Wednesday morning.

She was picture smiling broadly as she spoke with members of the regiment and posed for photographs.

Listen to the Mail’s Richard Eden explain why he believes Harry’s visit to London could be the perfect opportunity for him to make up with his family, including his brother the Prince of Wales.

Crown Prince Alexander of Serbia has revealed he ‘only recently defeated prostate cancer’ after admitting he was encouraged to speak up by King Charles’ ‘openness’.

In a shock statement, the 78-year-old, who is cousin to the British monarch, 75, disclosed that he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in December last year.

He previously kept his battle with the illness under wraps, but Charles’ ‘openness’ about his own cancer diagnosis inspired him to speak out.

The 78-year-old said he was ‘terrified’ at the time of diagnosis, but the support of family and friends helped him through the struggle. Alexander has since received the ‘all clear’ from doctors.

He concluded the message by sending well wishes to his ‘dear friend and cousin’ Charles and expressed his ‘high hopes’ that the monarch will also be ‘triumphant’ in recovery.

The announcement that King Charles has been diagnosied with a form of cancer shocked the world on Monday.

Less than 24 hours later, the globe’s media had descended on the small patch of grass in front of Buckingham Palace in central London.

King Charles’ cancer battle is changing his normally regimented daily routine – with doctors now insisting he starts work later, finishes earlier and can no longer continue his habit of skipping lunch.

The monarch has been told he will have to implement a number of new lifestyle changes to remain as healthy as possible, including cutting back on the time he sits at his desk.

Charles, who has been described as a ‘workaholic’ by his wife, has long been admired for his strong work ethic, burning the midnight oil and working long into the night.

But doctors’ orders will mean that the King will have to work reduced hours, including spushing back his daily morning meeting with his private secretary, Sir Clive Alderton, to 9am from 8:30am.

The monarch is also well-known for his strict eating habits, skipping lunch and eating a late dinner – a habit he has kept over many years – but the King will now be advised to eat regular meals instead.

After beginning his cancer treatment King Charles III is recuperating at his Norfolk bolthole Sandringham, along with his wife Queen Camilla.

On Tuesday afternoon the King took a helicopter from Buckingham Palace to Sandringham following a brief meeting with Prince Harry.

Charles and Queen Camilla were seen for the first time since his cancer announcement as they waved to crowds while leaving Clarence House in London in an official car at 3.35pm before catching a helicopter to Norfolk.

The monarch’s Sikorsky S-76C chopper landed less than an hour later at the royal estate at around 4.20pm.

Pictures show the red and helicopter descending to the King’s estate – where the family gathered to celebrate Christmas just two months ago.

Labour MP for Rhondda Sir Chris Bryant has told Sky News that ‘we should all calm down about the King’.

Drawing on his own experiences, Sir Chris added: ‘Cancer is not a death sentence. The worst day was that first night. It does get better.

‘With my treatment they cut a chunk out of the back of my head as you know. It was all very frightening and I’m still here.’

Watch the full clip here:

The Prince of Wales is set to publicly acknowledge his father’s illness in a speech at the London Air Ambulance annual fundraising gala in London this evening.

William is also expected to possibly thank wellwishers and speak about what the Royal Family have been through in recent days since the monarch’s diagnosis.

However, he will not talk about the ongoing breakdown in relations between him and Prince Harry – and has no plans to see his brother while he is in visiting Britain.

William will undertake two public engagements today – first holding an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle on behalf of the King, and then the charity gala tonight.

It’s been a whirlwind of royal news since Buckingham Palace announced that King Charles has been diagnosed with a form of cancer on Monday night.

Here’s what to look out for today:

• King Charles is expected to continue resting at Sandringham with Queen Camilla;
• All eyes are on Prince Harry after he spent last night alone in a hotel;
• Prince William is holding an investiture ceremony this morning as he returns to royal duties following his wife’s abdominal surgery;
• He will later attend a charity gala for London’s air ambulance;
• Princess Anne takes on a busy day of duties including visiting the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and St George’s Barracks.

King Charles has long been an advocate of homeopathic medicine and believes there is great value in complementary therapies.

Such is his belief that he appointed Dr Michael Dixon, 71, a staunch supporter, to be the head of his royal medical household in 2022.

After his appointment became public, Buckingham Palace put out a statement saying: ‘Dr Dixon does not believe homeopathy can cure cancer.

‘His position is that complementary therapies can sit alongside conventional treatments, provided they are safe, appropriate and evidence based.’

Prince Harry’s return to London to visit his father represents a ‘little bit of a thaw’ in their relationship, says the BBC’s royal correspondent Daniela Relph.

Harry reportedly spent around 45 minutes with the King yesterday at his London residence.

Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Relph says both Harry’s return so soon after the cancer diagnosis and the King waiting for him in London are significant.

The fleeting visit might not seem like much, but she says this is a ‘father and son who’ve seen very little of each other over the past four years’.

Their relationship has been ‘incredibly strained and complicated’, Relph says, and it matters that the King’s younger son came to visit.

But Harry’s relationship with his brother Prince William ‘still looks incredibly broken’, she adds, noting there are no plans for the brothers to meet.

The Prince of Wales is to carry out his first royal engagements today since his wife was hospitalised for abdominal surgery.

Before his father’s cancer diagnosis, William had stepped back in order to care for Kate, who will not be performing any royal engagements until at least after Easter, and their three children.

The heir will this morning carry out an investiture ceremony, before attending London’s Air Ambulance charity gala dinner this evening.

King Charles is said to be ‘coping magnificently’ with his cancer diagnosis and is now recovering from a procedure in Sandringham Palace with Queen Camilla after a short meeting with Prince Harry in Clarence House yesterday.

Harry flew more than 5,000 miles on Monday from his home in California to London for what ended up being a 45-minute meeting with his cancer-stricken father before ‘spending the night in a London hotel.’

Following the King’s meeting with Harry, the upbeat monarch flew via helicopter to Sandringham with sources close to Charles insisting that: ‘If you didn’t know what was the matter, you wouldn’t have any idea that he had any condition at all.’

Good morning, and welcome to MailOnline’s live blog.

We will be bringing you all the latest updates on King Charles and the rest of the royal family throughout the day.