How sick is Charles and what could happen to the Royals?

2024-02-07 09:20:00, Kosova & Bota CNA

In fact, it was a routine prostate surgery, which often happens in old men - from which even a king can be affected. Therefore, King Charles has been quite open about his illness, and he has even done awareness campaigns for men, from a certain age, to show prophylactic care against this problem. Charles is 75 years old.

How sick is Charles and what could happen to the Royals?

On January 29, he and Queen Camilla at his side left the hospital satisfied, not far from Buckingham Palace. Everything seemed fine, until the doctors, after detailed analysis after the operation, found that King Charles is suffering from a "form of cancer". "His Majesty has started the relevant therapies, while on the advice of his doctors he will not undertake official meetings abroad. He will however continue to take care of state affairs and the processing of official documents." This was communicated on Monday evening (5.2.2024) through a press statement from Buckingham Palace.

How sick is Charles and what could happen to the Royals?

Even Harry will come

According to a "BBC" announcement, Charles personally communicated the diagnosis to the close family circle. Even his young son Harry, Duke of Sussex, will soon arrive from California in London to meet his father. Their relations have been cold in recent years, after Harry and his wife Meghan in January 2020 left Buckingham Palace, renouncing the royal title and related privileges.

With Harry coming to London, it leaves room for speculation as to how dire the king's condition might actually be. But it can also be just a courtesy visit of the son to his father diagnosed with cancer.

Charles wants to openly challenge speculation about his condition. This is a sign that Charles wants to change and modernize the monarchy, says historian Sarah Gristwood for "BBC": "Until now, the fragility of a monarch was kept carefully locked within the walls of the palace." Charles' mother, Queen Elizabeth, was quite reticent about her health. In this context, it has always been discussed to what extent the public has the right to be informed about the state of the head of state.

How sick is Charles and what could happen to the Royals?

Wishes for a speedy recovery from all over the world

Charles succeeded to the throne after his mother Queen Elizabeth II passed away in the fall of 2022. As Britons worry about Charles, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak is confident the king will soon be back to full health. And also from all over the world encouraging messages are coming to the king, wishing him a speedy recovery.

What can be done next?

Last year, King Charles made over 500 meetings. From now on he has to limit many activities – to replace this gap other members of the royal family will be activated. Charles' wife Queen Camilla will continue the programme, and Prince William, the direct heir to the throne, will represent his father.

In the worst case scenario, if Charles cannot return and cannot cope with the illness, shortly after the start of his regency 17 months ago, it has been arranged how to proceed. As for his mother, there is a precise protocol, which provides for the steps to be taken in case the king is no longer alive. As in the case of Queen Elizabeth ("London Bridge") this protocol is named after a bridge: "Menai Bridge" – named after the world's first iron suspension bridge in Anglesey, Wales. It is clear that this name is related to the title that Charles held until he ascended the throne: Prince of Wales.

It is expected that "Operation Menai Bridge" will have many similarities with "Operation London Bridge". Once the protocol is implemented, Prince William and his wife Kate will be crowned.

How sick is Charles and what could happen to the Royals?

For now, however, it appears that Buckingham Palace is far from mentioning Operation Menai Bridge. The statements are optimistic and the British people are encouraged in a positive spirit. Although this year has not started well for the royal family.

Another "Annus horribilis"?

It all started on January 4, when it became known that Charles' brother, Prince Andrew, in the wave of the sexual affair scandal surrounding Jeffrey Epstein, sexually harassed another woman. A little while ago he escaped a process with accusations of abuse by reaching an agreement with the plaintiff - but now it becomes clear that this woman was not the only one, and now it is about "orgy with minors".

On January 17, news of the king's prostate disease followed, and at the same time it was announced that Princess Kate had undergone surgery on her uterus. On January 20 came the other bad news about the diagnosis for the second time in a year of cancer of Charles' ex-sister-in-law, Sarah Ferguson.

Despite all this bad news, King Charles apparently won't give up. He, according to information from the royal palace, "is optimistic" and is happy that he can return to the service of his country as soon as possible./ DW