Royal news: King Charles’s Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment Timeline

From his prostate surgery in January to his return to public duties, here’s everything we know about King Charles’s cancer diagnosis, treatment, and recovery.

King Charles had a tough start to 2024, health-wise.

After he was treated for an enlarged prostate in January, doctors discovered cancer, and he is currently undergoing treatment. After sharing the news of the King’s diagnosis, Buckingham Palace said they will not be sharing regular updates on his health or treatment.

Here, a complete timeline of what the Palace and other members of the royal family have said about Charles’s health and recovery:

January 17: Buckingham Palace announces the King is receiving treatment for an enlarged prostate.
On the same day Kensington Palace announced Kate Middleton had underwent abdominal surgery, Buckingham Palace also shared that King Charles would be undergoing treatment.

“In common with thousands of men each year, The King has sought treatment for an enlarged prostate,” Buckingham Palace said. “His Majesty’s condition is benign and he will attend hospital next week for a corrective procedure. The King’s public engagements will be postponed for a short period of recuperation.”

It is understood that King Charles wanted to share the specific details of his diagnosis so as to encourage others who may be experiencing symptoms to get checked.

January 26: King Charles is admitted to the hospital.
The King was admitted to the London Clinic for his procedure, and upon his admittance, he visited Kate, who was also a patient there.

“The King was this morning admitted to a London hospital for scheduled treatment,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement. “His Majesty would like to thank all those who have sent their good wishes over the past week and is delighted to learn that his diagnosis is having a positive impact on public health awareness.” (NHS officials said that Internet searches for his condition, a benign enlarged prostate, soared.)

January 29: The King is discharged from the London Clinic.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla are seen leaving The London Clinic on January 29, 2024.
After spending three nights at the London Clinic, Charles left the hospital on January 29. He was photographed leaving through the front doors with his wife, Queen Camilla. (Camilla had visited him daily during his hospitalization.)

“The King was this afternoon discharged from hospital following planned medical treatment and has rescheduled forthcoming public engagements to allow for a period of private recuperation. He would like to thank the medical team and all those involved in supporting his hospital visit, and is grateful for all the kind messages he has received in recent days,” the Palace said in a statement.

February 5: The Palace announces Charles has cancer.
One week after the hospital discharged King Charles, Buckingham Palace announced the King was diagnosed with cancer. Before the news was shared with the public, the King personally told his sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, and his siblings (Princess Anne, Prince Andrew, and Prince Edward).

“During The King’s recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted. Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer,” the Palace said in a statement. “His Majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties. Throughout this period, His Majesty will continue to undertake State business and official paperwork as usual.”

The Palace continued, “The King is grateful to his medical team for their swift intervention, which was made possible thanks to his recent hospital procedure. He remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible. 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.”

The Palace noted that King Charles does not have prostate cancer, but they will not be sharing what type of cancer he has.

February 6: Prince Harry flies to the UK to visit his father.
The Duke of Sussex made a quick trip to London to see his father. He stayed for just over 24 hours, reportedly spending between 30 to 45 minutes at Clarence House with his father, before Charles departed for Buckingham Palace to take a helicopter to Sandringham.

February 10: King Charles shares first personal message.
The weekend after his diagnosis was made public, the King shared a personal message.

“I would like to express my most heartfelt thanks for the many messages of support and good wishes I have received in recent days,” he wrote. “As all those who have been affected by cancer will know, such kind thoughts are the greatest comfort and encouragement.”

He continued, “It is equally heartening to hear how sharing my own diagnosis has helped promote public understanding and shine a light on the work of all those organizations which support cancer patients and their families across the UK and wider world. My lifelong admiration for their tireless care and dedication is all the greater as a result of my own personal experience.”

February 21: Charles holds his first in-person meeting with the Prime Minister, and reads get well cards.

While the King has stepped back from public duties amid his cancer treatment, on February 21, he held an in-person meeting with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. During their conversation, Charles told Prime Minister Sunak, “I have had so many wonderful messages and cards. It’s reduced me to tears most of the time.”

Later that day, Charles read get-well cards that were sent to the Palace, and a photo and video of him reading the cards was shared two days later:

March 22: King Charles reacts to his daughter-in-law Kate Middleton’s cancer diagnosis.
After the Princess of Wales announced she too is being treated for cancer, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson shared that King Charles said he is “so proud of Catherine for her courage in speaking as she did.” The spokesperson added that both King Charles and Queen Camilla “will continue to offer their love and support to the whole family throughout this difficult time.”

March 24: Peter Phillips gives an update on his uncle.
Charles’s nephew, Peter Phillips (the son of his sister, Princess Anne) spoke about the king’s health during an interview with Sky News Australia. Phillips said that Charles is in “good spirits,” but “ultimately, he’s hugely frustrated. He’s frustrated that he can’t get on and do everything that he wants to be able to do. But he is very pragmatic, he understands that there’s a period of time that he really needs to focus on himself.”

He added, “But at the same time, he is always pushing, his staff and everybody and his doctors and nurses to be able to say, ‘Actually, can I do this? Can I do that?’ So the overriding message would be that he’s obviously very keen to get back to a form of normality. And he’s probably frustrated that, recovery is taking a little longer than probably he would want it to.”

March 31: The King attends Easter Services in Windsor.

The King joined a small group of royals for Easter Sunday service in Windsor, his first major public appearance since January.

April 26: Buckingham Palace announces King Charles will return to public engagements, but his treatment isn’t over yet.
“His Majesty The King will shortly return to public-facing duties after a period of treatment and recuperation following his recent cancer diagnosis,” Buckingham Palace said in a statement. To mark his return, he and Queen Camilla will visit a cancer treatment center next week. And, the Palace announced, King Charles and Queen Camilla will host the Emperor and Empress of Japan for a state visit in June (though no. specific date has been set yet).

“His Majesty’s treatment programme will continue, but doctors are sufficiently pleased with the progress made so far that The King is now able to resume a number of public-facing duties,” a Palace spokesperson said. “Forthcoming engagements will be adapted where necessary to minimise any risks to His Majesty’s continued recovery.”

April 30: King Charles carries out his first engagement since his cancer diagnosis.

King Charles looked cheerful as he returned to public engagements, visiting a cancer center with Queen Camilla. When asked how he was doing and he replied, “I’m alright thank you, not too bad.”

June 15: King Charles attends his second Trooping the Colour as monarch.

King Charles was at Trooping the Colour 2024, but owing to his health, instead of riding on a horseback, he rode in a carriage alongside Queen Camilla.

His daughter-in-law, Kate Middleton, made her first appearance of 2024 at Trooping amid her own cancer treatment. After Kensington Palace announced the Princess of Wales would be in attendance, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said, the King is “delighted” she “is able to attend,” and that he is “very much looking forward to all elements of the day.”

October 18: Charles pauses cancer treatments during his royal tour of Australia and Samoa.
Ahead of his royal visit of Australia and Samoa, it was reported Charles would pause his cancer treatment for 11 days. It wasn’t specified what treatments Charles has been receiving, or when they would resume.

“The Mail understands that His Majesty will continue with his ongoing cancer treatment right up until he flies but that his doctors are happy for it to be briefly stopped while he is away,” the Daily Mail reported. “The King will then pick up with his treatment cycle as soon as he returns to the UK.”

October 28: Buckingham Palace is planning a “normal looking” 2025 schedule.
After his visit to Australia and Samoa concluded, Buckingham Palace shared a promising update on Charles’s health. A Palace official said, “We’re now working on a pretty normal looking full overseas tour programme for next year, which is a high for us to end on, to know that we can be thinking in those terms.”

We’ll update this timeline with as news becomes available King Charles’s cancer diagnosis, treatment, and recovery.