In a major announcement on Monday, Buckingham Palace revealed that Britain's King Charles III has been diagnosed with cancer and will be undergoing treatment. The 75-year-old monarch had recently undergone a corrective procedure for an enlarged prostate, during which tests were carried out and a form of cancer was detected.

While the palace did not specify the type of cancer, a royal source confirmed that it was not prostate cancer. As a result, King Charles will be stepping back from public-facing duties and will be focusing on regular treatments recommended by his doctors. However, he will continue to undertake state business and official paperwork during this period.

King Charles III had recently spent three nights at a London Clinic for his procedure and was reported to be doing well afterward. He was seen in good spirits on Sunday, waving to the public as he attended a church service in Sandringham, Norfolk, accompanied by Queen Camilla.

Following his diagnosis, the King returned to London for outpatient treatment, expressing gratitude to his medical team for swift intervention made possible by his recent hospital procedure. The palace's statement emphasized his positive outlook towards the treatment and his anticipation of returning to full public duty as soon as possible.

The announcement of King Charles' diagnosis marks another challenging period for the royal family, which has already faced health-related setbacks in the new year. Queen Camilla had been by her husband's side throughout his hospital visit, while Catherine, the Duchess of Cambridge, had simultaneously undergone abdominal surgery. Her condition was confirmed to be non-cancerous, and both she and Prince William have been focused on her recovery, clearing their diaries of public duties until at least Easter.

Prince William, next in line to the throne, is set to return to public duties later this week. His involvement in supporting his wife's recovery has been ongoing, and he has remained in regular contact with his father, according to a source close to him. Prince Harry, who has had a strained relationship with his father in recent years, spoke to him about the diagnosis and plans to travel to the UK to visit the King in the coming days.

The news of King Charles' diagnosis prompted reactions from political leaders, with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak wishing him a full and speedy recovery. US President Joe Biden expressed his concern and mentioned his intention to speak with the King soon.

If the King's illness were to affect his ability to carry out his full duties temporarily, he has the option to delegate some of them to Counsellors of State.

The King's decision to share his diagnosis was aimed at preventing speculation and raising awareness about cancer, hoping to assist those across the world who are affected by the disease. King Charles III ascended to the throne following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in September 2022.