A source close to the royal household says thatKing Charlesis “coping well” with hiscancer treatment, but despite his limited appearances, there is still growing concern about his health.
“Even though he has revealed that he has a form of cancer, that has done nothing to quell the speculation about how seriously ill he may or may not be,” royal biographer Sally Bedell tells PEOPLE exclusively in this week’scover story. “That is not doing the monarchy any favors. He is the head of state, and there are constitutional implications.”
Nearly 19 months after bidding farewell to their matriarchQueen Elizabeth— who provided decades of stability to her family and the nation until her death at age 96 in September 2022 — the royals appear vulnerable. Along with the absence ofPrince HarryandMeghan Marklesince their rocky departure in 2020, the current onslaught of issues feels unprecedented.
“The monarchy needs to be that anchor in times of trouble, and any sense of instability, which is inevitable when you have two of the key players are out of action, is understandable,” says Bedell Smith.
Adds Catherine Mayer, who wrote the biographyCharles: The Heart of a King: “This is massively exposing how the royal family has gone from too many people to too few in a short space of time.”
As the royals navigate these challenges, the spotlight has intensified on the King, 75. Amid his cancer diagnosis, which the palaceannouncedon Feb. 5 without disclosing the exact type of cancer, he remains a central figure. Despite his health difficulties, he has kept up appearances, attendingchurch servicesand sharing glimpses of his life, including a photo displaying his appreciation for theuplifting get-well cardshe has received and a video clip of his usuallyprivate weekly meetingwith Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
Queen Camillarepresented the family at King Constantine’smemorial serviceat St. George’s Chapel and is expected tostand infor her husband at the annual Royal Maundy service this month, but demands are mounting for King Charles to be more transparent about his condition.
King Charles reads a card from a well-wisher at Buckingham Palace on Feb. 21.WPA-Rota/Press Association Images
WPA-Rota/Press Association Images
Throughout the unfolding events,Prince Williamhas kept calm and carried on — as his grandmother Queen Elizabeth would have done —returning to dutyand carrying out two consecutive days of royal outings on Feb. 29 and March 1.
“His focus is on his work and not on social media,” a spokesman says.
Prince William with 94-year-old Holocaust survivor Renee Salt at the Western Marble Arch Synagogue on Feb. 29.TOBY MELVILLE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
TOBY MELVILLE/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
However, questions persisted regarding Prince William’smysterious absencefrom his godfather King Constatine’s memorial, with palace aides declining to elaborate on the reason behind his last-minute decision not to attend. Although royal sources clarified that it wasn’t due to his father’s health orThomas Kingston’s death, information remained limited as public concern overKate Middleton’s well-being escalated amid her private recovery fromabdominal surgery.
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PEOPLE Magazine, March 18.
With pressure growing, the palace issued a terse comment noting that the Princess of Wales “continues to be doing well” in her recovery. This scant update — along with abrief sightingof the royal riding in a car with her mother,Carole Middleton, on Monday — comes amid what one palace insider describes as complete “radio silence” regarding her condition.
source: people.com
