King Charles is battling cancer, but not much is known about his condition at this point. The Palace has not provided many information.
The king was diagnosed with an unidentified type of cancer earlier this year after undergoing a standard operation in January to treat an enlarged prostate.
Ever since, there have been reports that Charles has been dividing his time between the royal estate of Sandringham, where he prefers to relax and recover, and London, where he is receiving medical attention.
It is very much up for debate just how the King is doing throughout his health battle. The Palace informed him of his diagnosis in a straightforward and open manner, although they withheld the precise type of cancer he had or its stage.
LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 5: This handout photo provided by Buckingham Palace shows King Charles III during the state tour of France in September 2023 on February 5, 2024 in London, England. Buckingham Palace announced the King has been diagnosed with a form of cancer after treatment in hospital for an enlarged prostate last week. (Photo by Samir Hussein – Handout/Getty Images)
Unsettlingly, TMZ repeated a Daily Beast article from this week indicating that His Royal Highness is not doing well. According to them, although Charles has appeared good on the few occasions that he has been observed since January, things aren’t exactly going as planned behind the scenes.
The Daily Beast even claims that the King’s advisors are constantly revising his funeral arrangements. Operation Menai Bridge is purportedly another covert name for the aforementioned plans.
“Of course he is determined to beat it and they are throwing everything at it,” a royal insider is quoted by TMZ as saying. Though everyone is continuing to be positive, he is actually quite ill. More than they’re willing to admit.
Given Charles’s advanced age and current health concerns, it makes sense that funeral plans are being thought through. In addition, a monarch’s send-off is a lavish event that needs careful organization anyhow. Nevertheless, it’s a disturbing concept to consider that Charles’s treatment may not be proceeding as planned.
WINDSOR, UNITED KINGDOM – MARCH 31: (EMBARGOED FOR PUBLICATION IN UK NEWSPAPERS UNTIL 24 HOURS AFTER CREATE DATE AND TIME) King Charles III attends the traditional Easter Sunday Mattins Service at St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle on March 31, 2024 in Windsor, England. Following the service The King greeted members of the public, during a walkabout, for the first time since the announcement that he had been diagnosed with cancer. Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
Earlier this month, other reports suggested that Charles is planning to invite Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to the UK later this year in the hopes of spending more time with his grandchildren, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
Given the tumultuous circumstances that have plagued the King’s relationship with Prince Harry in recent years – and all that Harry and Meghan have said since moving to the US – it should come as small surprise to many that Charles hasn’t seen nearly so much of Archie and Lilibet as he would have liked.
“I can see Charles desperately wanting to see the children, and extending this olive branch to Meghan and Harry,” a royal insider told Page Six. “He may decide that life is just too short. Balmoral is truly the perfect, restful place for a reunion. If he does issue an invite, then Harry and Meghan should surely agree to the visit.”
