THE ROYALS OPENING UP ABOUT THEIR BATTLES WITH CANCER
The good news about the King's cancer treatment today is just the latest instance of the royals opening up about health battles since the start of the his reign.
The Palace's latest update comes after His Majesty chose to tell the world about his initial diagnosis and treatment for an enlarged prostate.
And in March, the Princess of Wales revealed her own cancer diagnosis and said in a deeply emotional video message that she is undergoing 'preventative' chemotherapy.
The King chose to be open about his initial prostate treatment in the hope it would encourage other men who may be experiencing symptoms to get checked.
The Palace then said that he chose to go public about his cancer treatment because he had been a patron of a number of related charities when he was Prince of Wales.
His diagnosis came after Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York, was diagnosed with skin cancer.
She had a mole removed from her body which tests founds to be a malignant melanoma, the most serious type of skin cancer.
And last year, she told fans that she underwent a reconstruction operation following a breast cancer diagnosis.
The royals' decision to break with tradition by being open about their health scares contrasts with more circumspect statements during the reign of the late Queen.
In the final years of her life, the Palace did not reveal any details of conditions, if any, that Her Late Majesty was suffering from.
In October 2021 she spent a night in hospital for an undisclosed reason, after cancelling a planned visit to Northern Ireland.
Buckingham Palace said at the time that she was admitted for 'preliminary investigations'.
Author Giles Brandreth told in his book, which was released shortly after the Queen's death, that he had heard Her Late Majesty was suffering from a form of myeloma - bone marrow cancer.
He said this may have explained her tiredness and 'mobility issues' that the public were often told about.
However, esteemed royal writer Robert Hardman revealed in his recent book that the Queen slipped away peacefully from old age.
And when her father King George VI was treated for lung cancer, royal doctors chose not to tell him that he was suffering from the disease.
The late Queen Mother was secretly twice treated for cancer - once in 1966 when she had a tumour removed from her colon and again in 1984 when the royal had a cancerous growth excised from her breast.
Prince Philip, who died in April 2021, was known to have a heart condition but Palace officials did not reveal any specifics.
Former royal press secretary Simon Lewis previously told the BBC that Charles' openness about his cancer diagnosis had been as 'style' as monarch.
'I think it's actually been the style of the King's first year,' he said.
'This is obviously one element of it. But if you think of the book and the access that was given to Robert Hardman, if you think of the documentary, if you think of his whole style as King, I think this is very much in keeping with that.
'And I do think his advisors, with this statement I'm sure we'll talk about it, have actually got it spot on.
'I think 20 years ago we would have got a very abrupt, short statement, and that's about it.
'And I think they've gone as far as they possibly can given that the King has had a diagnosis of cancer and, as a lot of people know, processing that is a pretty tough process.'
When the Duchess of York was diagnosed with skin cancer, her spokesman said: She believes her experience underlines the importance of checking the size, shape, colour and texture and emergence of new moles that can be a sign of melanoma.'
The statement outlined the royals' drive to help others by revealing their health issues.
Kate chose to be very open in her video message to the nation in March.
She said the cancer was discovered after she underwent abdominal surgery at The London Clinic in January.
Kensington Palace said at the time that it was non-cancerous.
But later tests after Kate's operation found that cancer 'had been present'.
She said in her video message to the world: 'I wanted to take this opportunity to say thank you, personally, for all the wonderful messages of support and for your understanding whilst I have been recovering from surgery.
'It has been an incredibly tough couple of months for our entire family, but I've had a fantastic medical team who have taken great care of me, for which I am so grateful.
'In January, I underwent major abdominal surgery in London and at the time, it was thought that my condition was non-cancerous.
'The surgery was successful. However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present.
'My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy and I am now in the early stages of that treatment.
'This of course came as a huge shock, and William and I have been doing everything we can to process and manage this privately for the sake of our young family.
'As you can imagine, this has taken time. It has taken me time to recover from major surgery in order to start my treatment.
'But, most importantly, it has taken us time to explain everything to George, Charlotte and Louis in a way that is appropriate for them, and to reassure them that I am going to be ok.
'As I have said to them; I am well and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal; in my mind, body and spirits.
'Having William by my side is a great source of comfort and reassurance too. As is the love, support and kindness that has been shown by so many of you. It means so much to us both.
'We hope that you will understand that, as a family, we now need some time, space and privacy while I complete my treatment.
'My work has always brought me a deep sense of joy and I look forward to being back when I am able, but for now I must focus on making a full recovery.'
She added a message for fellow cancer sufferers, saying: 'At this time, I am also thinking of all those whose lives have been affected by cancer.
'For everyone facing this disease, in whatever form, please do not lose faith or hope. You are not alone.'
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