King Charles is “very good” as he returns to public duties after being diagnosed with cancer, according to Penny Mordaunt.
The 75-year-old monarch made a triumphant return to public life earlier this month, despite still undergoing treatment for an unspecified form of illness.
The Leader of the House of Commons spoke fondly of Charles today as she helped mark the first anniversary of the King and Queen’s coronation, speaking of her encounters with him as Lord President of the Privy Council.
Ms. Mordaunt was responsible for carrying the Sword of State and presented Charles with the Precious Sword of Offering on this historic day.
When asked about how he is getting on after his return to duties, Ms. Mordaunt said:
He’s very good. And I know that he would have been so pleased to get back to public duties. He would have missed it tremendously.
At noon in London, 41 volleys were fired from Green Park by the Royal Horse Artillery, accompanied by a band of the Irish Guards.
An hour later, at 1 p.m., three miles away from Tower Wharf near Tower Bridge, the Royal Artillery Company fired a salute of 62 guns, adding 21 salutes for the City of London. Salutes were also fired at Cardiff Castle, Edinburgh Castle and Hillsborough Castle.
The King attended three events last week, resuming royal public meetings. He spoke to patients during a visit to the Macmillan Cancer Centre at University College, where he appeared in good spirits. Charles has been named as the new patron of Cancer Research UK, taking over that patronage from his mother, the late Queen.
Buckingham Palace said earlier that “the King’s treatment programme will continue” as he has not yet been given the go-ahead, but his medical team are “very encouraged” by the progress he has made. The statement read:
Doctors are sufficiently pleased with the progress made so far that The King is now able to resume a number of public-facing duties. Forthcoming engagements will be adapted where necessary to minimise any risks to His Majesty’s continued recovery.
