Charles opens up about side effects of cancer treatment for first time

13 May 2024 , 16:26
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King Charles poses with service personnel after he officially handed over the role of Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps to Prince William, Prince of Wales (Picture: Reuters)
King Charles poses with service personnel after he officially handed over the role of Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps to Prince William, Prince of Wales (Picture: Reuters)

King Charles has opened up about his ongoing battle with cancer.

The 75-year-old revealed his diagnosis in early February after being treated for prostate enlargement.

The monarch was given permission by his doctors to return to public duties last month, but is still undergoing medical care.

During a visit to the Army Flying Museum in Middle Wallop, Hampshire, Charles revealed he lost his sense of taste.

He was speaking with British Army veteran Aaron Mapplebeck, who had to undergo chemotherapy last year for testicular cancer.

Mr Mapplebeck confided in the monarch that he had lost his sense of taste. ButCharles revealed that this had also happened to him as a side effect.

Buckingham Palace has not yet confirmed details of his treatment. Royal officials have only said so far that he is being treated for an undisclosed form of cancer.

Meanwhile, the King officially handed over the role of Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps to William during the visit.

King Charles III and the Prince of Wales during a visit to the Army Aviation Centre at Middle Wallop, Hampshire, for the King to officially hand over the role of Colonel-in-Chief of the Army Air Corps to the Prince of Wales. Picture date: Monday May 13, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story ROYAL King. Photo credit should read: Ben Birchall/PA Wire eiqkiqkuiqedinv

Charles and William during their rare joint engagement in Middle Wallop today (Picture: Ben Birchall/PA Wire)

ANDOVER, ENGLAND - MAY 07: Prince Charles, Prince of Wales presents Prince Harry with his flying wings at Prince Harry’s Pilot Course Graduation at the Army Aviation Centre on May 7, 2010 in Andover, England. The Prince of Wales, Colonel in Chief, presented flying badges to students, including Prince Harry who had successfully completed the Operational Training Phase of the Army Air Corps. It was announced today that Prince Harry will fly Apache helicopters during the next section of his training. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

Charles presenting Prince Harry with his flying wings at Prince Harry’s Pilot Course Graduation at the Army Aviation Centre on May 7, 2010 in Andover (Picture: Chris Jackson/Getty Images)

The meeting was a rare joint official engagement between the two.

Charles’s decision to hand the role to William was seen as a blow to Harry when it was announced – with the duke most likely to take the role if he had remained a working royal.

The King trained with the RAF when he was a student while William served in the Army with the Blues and Royals.

He was also an RAF search and rescue pilot at RAF Valley in Anglesey, Wales.

Charles said the handover was ‘tinged with great sadness’.

Meeting servicemen, their families and veterans, he said: ‘I do hope you’ll go from strength to strength in the future with the Prince of Wales as your new Colonel-in-Chief.

‘The great thing is he’s a very good pilot indeed – so that’s encouraging.’

David Wilson

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