Royal Health Shock

THE 75-YEAR-OLD MONARCH RECEIVES A CANCER DIAGNOSIS LESS THAN ONE YEAR INTO HIS REIGN-BUT THE PALACE OFFERS SCANT DETAILS ON HIS CONDITION. AS HE PAUSES PUBLIC DUTIES, HOW THE KING'S FRACTURED FAMILY IS RALLYING AROUND HIM

- SIMON PERRY

On Feb. 4 the royal family used their social media to highlight World Cancer Day, showing photos of Queen Camilla at a new cancer support center in the U.K. That same morning King Charles, 75, accompanied by Camilla, 76, attended a morning service at St. Mary Magdalene Church, near their country retreat in Sandringham. The monarch, still recovering from his Jan. 26 operation for a benign enlarged prostate, cheerfully waved to well-wishers, offering no hint of the impending announcement that would shake the world just a day later: Charles has cancer, the palace revealed in a 138-word statement that concluded, "His Majesty has chosen to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer."

Although the statement offered few details, the palace did reveal that when Charles underwent his prostate procedure, a separate issue of concern was detected, and "subsequent diagnostic tests have revealed the presence of a form of cancer." (The type of cancer has not been disclosed, in keeping with the palace's tight-lipped approach to medical conditions, but it is not prostate cancer, a spokesman confirmed.) “In time we might know,” says Robert Hardman, author of The Making of a King: King Charles III and the Modern Monarchy, “but for now, there is a feeling that they have been pretty open.”

The King has begun “regular treatments” and will postpone public duties, the palace statement added, noting that Charles “remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible.”