Princess Anne's blunt response when asked about King Charles' cancer diagnosis
Princess Anne has been living up to her reputation as the hardest-working royal as King Charles receives cancer treatment.
With the monarch stepping back from public-facing duties due to his diagnosis, other working members of the Firm have been carrying on usual with their schedules. Among them is Anne, who carried out a total of four engagements yesterday, crisscrossing the country as well as having a packed diary today.
Her first engagement yesterday was at Windsor Castle, where she carried out an investiture ceremony before she headed to Nottingham to meet occupational therapists at the Nottingham West Primary Care Centre. As she arrived at a church hall in the city to meet the therapists, several reporters asked her how the King was doing.
However, according to the Daily Mail, she did not reply and quickly headed into the venue. Later, she visited a luxury knitted lace company also in Nottingham before completing her day with a prizegiving ceremony at the Science Museum in London. Anne's refusal to answer questions about her brother comes as Buckingham Palace is keen not to offer a running commentary about King Charles' treatment for cancer. As Anne carried out her engagements yesterday, Charles was pictured for the first time since news of his cancer diagnosis emerged and Prince Harry travelled to the UK to visit him.
The King, 75, looked emotional and waved to crowds as he was driven in the State Bentley alongside Queen Camilla from Clarence House down The Mall to Buckingham Palace, where he was taken by helicopter to Sandringham to continue his cancer treatment. It came soon after Harry was pictured back in the UK and entering Clarence House for a half-hour meeting after catching a flight from California to visit his father, with whom he has a rocky bond.
Kate Middleton swears by £19.99 rosehip oil that helps 'reduce wrinkles & scars'His Majesty had told members of the Royal Family about his cancer news before going public with the news. Charles personally told both of his sons Prince William and Harry about his diagnosis. Harry, who was seen arriving in a car looking sombre and wearing a black T-shirt and blazer spent around 45 minutes with his father before Charles headed to the palace. Today, Harry was seen smiling at Heathrow Airport's Windsor Suite preparing to jet back to Los Angeles after a whirlwind trip lasting just 25 hours.
Buckingham Palace confirmed the King, who only acceded to the throne 17 months ago, does not have prostate cancer. Further details of his condition have not been disclosed, and the Palace, which announced the news in a statement at 6pm on Monday, asked for privacy and only confirmed it is a "form of cancer".
Charles was diagnosed after a "separate issue of concern was noted" and investigated while he was being treated for his benign prostate condition.
The Palace has called for the King's privacy to be respected, especially during his treatment, but said he wanted to make his diagnosis public because of his long-running support for cancer charities. This is the latest major royal health scare to hit the monarchy at the start of 2024, coming after the King's hospital stay, Kate's major surgery, keeping her away from official duties until after Easter, and Sarah, Duchess of York's skin cancer diagnosis.