King Charles is planning a ‘full programme’ of foreign travel next year, after a fresh vote of confidence in his health from his doctors.
The 75-year-old monarch, who is still undergoing cancer treatment, is said to have felt ‘lifted’ by his trip to Australia and Samoa, where he carried out up to ten assignments a day.
And sources close to Charles, who paused treatment to undertake the 30,000-mile, 11-day tour, have explained that it was all part of his ‘mind, body and soul’ approach to his battle against cancer.
This attitude, they say, is one reason he has insisted on continuing his work since being diagnosed with an unknown form of the disease in February, despite the debilitating physical toll of his illness.
Buckingham Palace has also released new photos of King Charles and Queen Camilla enjoying a walk on the beach in Samoa, looking happy and relaxed.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla during a farewell ceremony in Siumu Village on the last day of the royal visit to Australia and Samoa
Aides say Charles has allowed his doctors to focus on healing his body while he has focused on his mental strength in dealing with such a “striking” and unexpected blow, determined to keep his mind “in the clear” to maintain the correct status.
They also revealed:
- Charles had red boxes of official papers flown Down Under to work on after completing his busy days of assignments
- At Queen Camilla’s insistence, he took some time off to read a ‘great’ new book;
- The king feels closer to his wife than ever. The couple are a ‘remarkable unit’, say courtiers, and she has kept it ‘real’ for him;
- Although his cancer diagnosis came as a huge shock, Charles almost immediately decided to try to turn it into a positive force. He shared his story with millions of other patients and took ‘comfort’ from their support;
- His tour of Australia and Samoa was seen by Buckingham Palace as a huge test of his government – and exceeded all expectations, potentially setting the republican cause back for a generation;
- An indigenous Australian’s protest in parliament left him untouched. “He’s seen it all.”
The positive health news comes as Charles and Camilla conclude their trip by hosting a ‘King’s Dinner’ for the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting in Samoa, followed by a visit to a village to thank locals for their hospitality.
Buckingham Palace also published new photos of the royal couple enjoying a walk on the beach and looking happy and relaxed.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla smile while visiting a beach in Apia, Samoa
King Charles holds a bowl during a ceremony in Siumu Village, Samoa on October 26
When the possibility of touring within eight months of being diagnosed with cancer was raised earlier this year, staff were unsure how the King would react. Mostly, though, they said the answer wasn’t “how dare you?” but ‘why can’t I do New Zealand too?’ A source said: ‘He didn’t even hesitate. We had to stop him.’
A palace official said yesterday: ‘It is a great testament to the king’s dedication to service and duty that he was willing to go that far and he was incredibly happy and very, very determined to do so.’
In terms of the number of assignments he took on each day, despite keeping the evenings free to recuperate, it was clear that he was happy with the challenge.
“It is a good measure of how the king is dealing with the diagnosis,” they said. “He is a great believer in mind, body and spirit.
“It’s hard to overestimate the joy he gets from his duty and service and being in public and seeing those crowds. That really cheers you up. You can see that.’
King Charles III and Queen Camilla wave as they board a Royal Australian Air Force plane before taking off from Faleolo International Airport in Samoa
Aides have told this newspaper of the deep concerns expressed privately about how the king’s visit to Australia, the first to any of his realms as monarch, would be greeted. “There was a lot to play for, it was hugely important for us,” she added. ‘A new king, a new government and a new world.’
Having Camilla, 77, with him helped enormously. A senior royal aide described the pair as a ‘remarkable unit’, adding: ‘The King gains great strength from the Queen’s presence, not least because she keeps it real.’
Charles was so happy last week – as were his doctors – that he expects a return to normality next year. “We are now working on a fairly normal-looking full overseas tour program for next year,” a senior royal official said, suggesting the traditional spring and autumn tours are back on the schedule. Canada is probably high on their list. Of course, any decision made will be subject to discussion with the government, his ongoing treatment – the duration of which has not been disclosed – and ultimately a sign-off by his doctors.
But sources say the future is ‘bright’, which could not always be the case after the king was diagnosed earlier this year.
After the initial shock of such a ‘striking’ diagnosis, he realized ‘in an instant’ how much he had in common with so many millions of people in Britain and across the Commonwealth.
They say that talking to others about their shared experiences has been a tremendous source of strength for him. And he hopes others will take comfort in the fact that even “a king can get cancer.”
