King adds cancer awareness to list of ‘five Cs’ on return to work
The King hopes to raise further awareness of cancer as one of his top working priorities, which have become known as the “five Cs”.
The King and his aides already plan his public working life in line with his chosen causes of “climate, community, culture and Commonwealth”.
To that, sources have confirmed, they will now add “cancer”.
On Tuesday, the King will undertake his first official public engagement since his own diagnosis in February 2024 as he and the Queen visit a cancer treatment centre.
The couple hope to raise awareness, highlight research and offer personal thanks for the work of doctors in the field.
A palace source said the King hopes to demonstrate how it is possible to continue leading a full life while having treatment for cancer, “not just after it”.
“Cancer can be a scary word but it doesn’t have to be a scary experience,” they told The Telegraph.
The King’s recent personal health battle has led to a fifth “c”, cancer, being added to the four topics already used as guiding principles in his office.
The monarch is already patron of Macmillan Cancer Support, while the Queen is president of Maggie’s.
This week, they will both meet the families of patients to highlight how cancer does not just affect the person diagnosed but their entire support network too.
On Friday, Buckingham Palace announced that the King would return to public engagements three months after he was diagnosed with cancer.
He is still having treatment, with engagements expected to be modified to protect his health.
The Sun on Sunday reported that the King hopes to appear at Trooping the Colour, his official birthday parade, on horseback.
He wants to be seen to “lead from the front” and is determined to ride his horse Noble for the event on Saturday June 15.
It has previously been widely reported that the King will attend Trooping in some form, with the traditional appearance from the Royal family on the Buckingham Palace balcony.
The ambition has not yet been signed off by doctors, who are said to be “sufficiently pleased” with his progress to agree to his return to public duties.
“His Majesty’s medical team are very encouraged by the progress made so far and remain positive about the King’s continued recovery,” his spokesman said.
“His Majesty is greatly encouraged to be resuming some public-facing duties and very grateful to his medical team for their continued care and expertise.”
The palace has not yet confirmed any further appearances for the King, who has continued his state duties of red boxes, audiences and Privy Council meetings at home since Feb 6.
There are now hopes that he will be able to attend the key moments of the royal summer season, including Royal Ascot, as well as the 80th anniversary of D-Day in some form.
Royal sources said the King was also determined to appear at one of the Buckingham Palace garden parties, with 8,000 members of the public invited to celebrate the theme of the “75th Anniversary of the Commonwealth” .
