King Charles III on Wednesday spoke of the "frightening" nature of any cancer diagnosis, a disease he revealed he will have in February 2024, in a message of appreciation to charities supporting patients in the UK.
"The darkest moments of illness can be illuminated by the greatest compassion," wrote the 76-year-old monarch, who is still being treated for cancer of unknown origin, before a reception held in honor of these associations at Buckingham Palace.
The diagnosis of this disease is "impressive and sometimes frightening," acknowledged the sovereign, who is one of "the 390,000 people who, unfortunately, receive" such news each year in the United Kingdom.
Charles III, who continues his treatment more than a year after announcing his illness, praised the "extraordinary work" of charitable organizations, which have "the deepest admiration and gratitude of his entire family."
Her daughter-in-law, Kate, wife of Crown Prince William, also revealed in March 2024 that she had cancer. She then announced in September that she had completed chemotherapy and that her cancer would be in remission by January 2025.
The British monarch stressed the importance of "the human connection," whether it is "the careful explanation of a nurse, the hand held by a hospice volunteer, or the shared experience in a support group."
A royal source quoted by the PA news agency said there was no new information on the king's condition or treatment but that it was going in a "very positive direction" as evidenced by his "very busy" schedule.
Charles III, who resumed his royal duties in spring 2024 after a brief hiatus, recently made a state visit to Italy in early April, during which he met Pope Francis and gave a speech to Parliament.
A few days earlier, he had spent a brief time in hospital on March 27 after experiencing "side effects" from his cancer treatment.
The king's personal message was printed in a booklet that was to be distributed Wednesday evening at the reception at Buckingham Palace.
A tribute should be paid on this occasion to Deborah James, a figure in the fight against cancer whose foundation raised some 16 million pounds for research, and whose death shocked the United Kingdom in 2022.
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