Weeks after announcing that he had been diagnosed with cancer, King Charles is slowly getting back to work. The monarch was pictured meeting with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at Buckingham Palace this week. While this isn’t the first time the king has been spotted out in public since his diagnosis, which came after treatment for benign prostate enlargement, this is his first time picking back up with his royal duties after working behind the scenes since he began treatment earlier this month.
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Charles made a joke about his appearance.
The king and prime minister have a standing weekly meeting to discuss the state of affairs, but those meetings have been happening over the phone recently, so this in-person meeting was a welcome change. Rishi said it was "wonderful" to see Charles looking well, to which he quipped, "It's all done with mirrors.”
The reactions to his cancer diagnosis have had a positive impact on him.
"Well, we're all behind you. The country's behind you," the prime minister assured the king.
"I've had so many wonderful messages and cards. It's reduced me to tears most of the time," he replied.
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He says more people are interested in Britain's cancer charities now.
They also talked about how Charles’ openness about his diagnosis is affecting people’s interest in helping those with cancer. "I hear there's been a lot more attention and interest on those main, wonderful cancer charities, many of which I've been patron for years," he said.
"They do incredible work up and down the country," Rishi agreed.
Charles is slowly returning to in-person work.
Their meeting came after Charles held an in-person meeting with his Privy Council. As of right now, it looks like the weekly in-person meetings between the king and the prime minister will continue unless Charles’ doctors advise otherwise. He is currently spending the majority of his time at his Sandringham estate, but does travel to London for treatments and other commitments.
According to the British prime minister, the king's cancer was caught early.
Shortly after King Charles’ diagnosis was made public, Rishi made an important revelation.
"Obviously, like everyone else, shocked and sad, and just all our thoughts are with him and his family. Thankfully, this has been caught early," he told BBC Radio Five Live, adding he hoped Charles "gets the treatment that he needs and makes a full recovery."
