Britain’s King Charles III has announced that his cancer treatment will be significantly reduced in the new year following what Buckingham Palace described as an “exceptionally positive” response to medical care.
The 77-year-old monarch disclosed this in a recorded video message aired on Channel 4 on Friday during the Stand Up To Cancer fundraising programme, organised in partnership with Cancer Research UK. It is the most optimistic update on his health since he revealed his diagnosis in February 2024.
“Thanks to early diagnosis, effective intervention and adherence to doctors’ orders, my own schedule of cancer treatment can be reduced in the new year,” the King said.
Palace sources said his treatment has now entered a “precautionary phase,” with medical interventions expected to be less frequent. Officials, however, stressed that King Charles is neither in remission nor declared cured, and that treatment and monitoring will continue.
The specific type of cancer has not been disclosed, though royal sources reiterated that it is not prostate cancer.
Describing the development as both personal and symbolic, the King said it reflected major advances in cancer care. He also used the message to urge the public to take cancer screening seriously and seek early diagnosis.
“Early diagnosis quite simply saves lives,” he said, warning that millions of people were missing life-saving opportunities by failing to attend routine screenings.
Citing Cancer Research UK data, the King noted that around nine million people in the UK are not up to date with NHS cancer screening programmes. He highlighted bowel cancer survival rates, stressing that early detection dramatically improves outcomes, while clarifying that the reference was not linked to his own condition.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer welcomed the update, describing it as a “powerful message” and expressing relief that the King’s treatment would be reduced in the coming year.
Despite his diagnosis, King Charles has continued to carry out official duties, including overseas engagements and state functions. He recently attended an Advent service at Westminster Abbey, where he delivered a message of hope.
Cancer Research UK said the King’s openness about his illness could encourage more people to seek medical checks, noting that early detection offers the best chance of successful treatment.
The UK currently runs national screening programmes for bowel, breast and cervical cancers, with lung cancer screening being rolled out for high-risk groups. There is no national screening programme for prostate cancer.
