King Charles smiled and waved at passers-by on Tuesday (6 February), making his first public appearance since it was revealed he had cancer and his estranged youngest son Prince Harry flew to London to see him.
Buckingham Palace announced on Monday that 75-year-old Charles, who has been on the throne less than 18 months since the death of his mother Queen Elizabeth, had been diagnosed with the disease and would postpone his public appearances to undergo treatment.
On Tuesday afternoon, Charles waved to passers-by as he was driven from Clarence House in central London to Buckingham Palace. He and his wife Queen Camilla then travelled by helicopter to his Sandringham estate in rural eastern England to begin his recovery.
Harry, who has fallen out with his father and the rest of the royal family since he stepped down from royal duties almost four years ago, arrived in the United Kingdom to visit his father as messages of support for the monarch poured in from world leaders.
However, a royal source said there were no plans for Harry to see his elder brother, heir-to-the-throne Prince William, during his visit to the UK.
Despite the diagnosis, Charles plans to continue much of his personal work as monarch, including weekly audiences with the prime minister and handling government paperwork. Rishi Sunak said he is in constant contact with the king. He added:
Of course, everything will continue as usual and we will continue with all business.
The cancer was discovered when Charles spent three nights in hospital last month, where he underwent a corrective procedure for a benign enlarged prostate. Other than confirming it was not prostate cancer, the palace gave no other details.
