Inside King Charles’ (Sad) Life Since Cancer DIagnosis
The King braved the rain with Queen Camilla in what has become a weekly tradition during his cancer treatment
King Charles stepped out in Sandringham with Queen Camilla for their weekly church outing just days after Prince Harry spoke about his father’s cancer diagnosis for the first time.
King Charles, 75, and Queen Camilla, 76, braved the rain to attend the service at St. Mary Magdalene Church on Sunday. He gave a wave to well-wishers gathered outside in what has become a recent weekly tradition.
The King has been mainly staying on the royal family’s Sandringham estate in Norfolk since the palace revealed on Feb. 5 that he had been diagnosed with cancer. However, he has traveled to London for treatment as well as meetings with palace staff.
During one visit to London, King Charles met with Prince Harry, who traveled to the U.K. from California after getting the news of his father’s cancer diagnosis. Harry spent about a day in the U.K. before heading back to the airport to catch a flight back to the U.S., where he and his wife, Meghan Markle, relocated in 2020 after stepping back as working members of the royal family.
A source later told PEOPLE of the family reunion, “That is good. Hopefully [Harry] will bring the grandchildren at some point too, as that would be lovely for all of them.”
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Prince Harry, 39, spoke about his dad’s health news with Good Morning America‘s Will Reeve in an interview that aired on Friday in conjunction with his trip to Canada for the Invictus Games one-year-to-go event.
When asked how he first learned about his father’s cancer diagnosis, the Duke of Sussex replied, “I spoke to him. I jumped on a plane and went to go see him as soon as I could.”
“Look, I love my family. The fact that I was able to get on a plane and go and see him and spend any time with him, I’m grateful for that,” Harry added.
When asked about his outlook on the state of his father’s health, he said, “That stays between me and him.”
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As for whether King Charles’ diagnosis could have a “reunifying effect” on the royal family, Harry, who is connecting with Invictus Games competitors and their families this week, said: “Absolutely. Yeah, I’m sure. Throughout all these families, I see it on a day-to-day basis, the strength of the family unit coming together.”
When asked about being physically far from his father during this time, Prince Harry said, “I have my own family, as we all do. My family and my life in California is as it is. I’ve got other trips planned that would take me through the U.K. or back to the U.K., so I’ll stop in and see my family as much as I can.”
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Although the palace did not specify what form of cancer King Charles was diagnosed with, the news came a week after his surgery for an enlarged prostate. However, they clarified that the King does not have prostate cancer.
Those close to the family were taken aback by the announcement. “I was really shocked when I heard it,” a palace insider told PEOPLE exclusively.
Added a palace insider: “He will want to get on with the job. But that will depend on what treatment he is having. It may be utterly draining on him. He will need a lot of support.”
PEOPLE understands King Charles will continue to receive red boxes, the monarch’s daily delivery of documents needing his attention, and process state documents during his treatment despite largely stepping out of the public eye.
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