For a nation still reeling from the news of the King’s illness, his statement yesterday came as something of a relief.
Sure, it was chiefly a note of thanks. Charles expressing gratitude for his subjects’ support. To the point, brief, polite and unadorned – exactly what we’d expect.
But ever since Monday’s shocking announcement, after which His Majesty cocooned himself away at Sandringham, there has been pretty much silence – save snippets of soothing assurances from Queen Camilla and Prince William amid busy engagements.
So to hear from the man himself yesterday brought welcome reassurance. The nation was as much grateful for his words as the King was for the ‘good wishes’.
Prayers and support from at home and from the world’s furthest corners had followed the announcement he was undergoing treatment for an unspecific form of cancer.
King Charles and offered ‘heartfelt thanks’ to the British public on Saturday evening
Ever since Monday’s shocking announcement His Majesty has cocooned himself away at Sandringham. Picture shows Prince William and Kate with their three children at Sandringham for the Christmas Day service. The family are expected to visit while the King recovers
King Charles and offered ‘heartfelt thanks’ to the British public on Saturday evening in a letter from Sandringham House
The 75-year-old King will continue resting at the Norfolk estate where he has been based since leaving hospital after his prostate surgery (stock photo)
Hand-signed ‘Charles R’ and topped with the bold red letterhead of Sandringham House, the note read: ‘I would like to express my most heartfelt thanks for the many messages of support and good wishes I have received in recent days. As all those who have been affected by cancer will know, such kind thoughts are the greatest comfort and encouragement.
‘It is equally heartening to hear how sharing my own diagnosis has helped promote public understanding and shine a light on the work of all those organisations which support cancer patients and their families across the UK and wider world. My lifelong admiration for their tireless care and dedication is all the greater as a result of my own personal experience.’
Today, the 75-year-old King will continue resting at the Norfolk estate where he has been based since leaving hospital after his prostate surgery.
In some ways it will be business as usual. He is expected to attend the morning Sunday service at St Mary Magdalene Church, where he was pictured last week with Queen Camilla, 76, a day before his cancer diagnosis was announced.
Friends of the ‘workaholic’ monarch say he will likely be indulging in two of his favourite hobbies – walking and water painting – while doing what clearly doesn’t come naturally – taking it easy.
The King is expected to attend the morning Sunday service at St Mary Magdalene Church, where he was photographed last week with Queen Camilla, 76, a day before his cancer diagnosis was announced (pictured)
Friends of the ‘workaholic’ monarch say he will likely be indulging in two of his favourite hobbies – walking and water painting – while doing what clearly doesn’t come naturally – taking it easy
Sandringham House with its Jacobean style exterior was built by King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra and houses a collection of treasures ranging from the Victorian-era to present day
The estate spans across more than 20,000-acres of land in the Norfolk countryside
The house is surrounded by glorious gardens landscaped by Geoffrey Jelicoe – developed in turn by each Monarch
Despite cancelling all public engagements, insiders joke that he will work through his ‘red boxes’ of paperwork ‘before he’s had his boiled egg in the morning’.
A friend noted: ‘Boredom will be one of the hardest things for him.’
Another added that the King is likely to spend some of his time enjoying one of his more idiosyncratic passions: listening to his beloved records of the late Canadian singer Leonard Cohen, specifically the poetic song Take This Waltz, which he has described as ‘very moving’.
It is understood the King will return to London for a couple of days at the start of this week for a medical appointment and it has been reported that he is well enough to hold face-to-face meetings in the capital.
While the King is resting in Norfolk, insiders say it is possible he might decamp to Wood Farm, the five-bedroom house on the Sandringham Estate, where there would be fewer people around ‘making a fuss’.
It was a favourite bolthole of his mother, the late Queen, and was where Prince Philip spent much of his retirement.
Last night’s statement confirmed the King was pleased with the surge in interest seen by cancer charities following the announcement of his diagnosis. Macmillan Cancer Support said Charles’s openness about his cancer prompted a 42 per cent spike in visits to the information and support part of its website. His Majesty has been patron of Macmillan for more than 20 years.
The charity’s chief executive, Gemma Peters, spoke of how Charles’s frankness could help others, saying: ‘We hope that by sharing his diagnosis so publicly and at such an early stage, the King will encourage others to come forward and speak to their GP if they are worried about any signs or symptoms.’
A friend of the King said he is likely to spend some of his time enjoying one of his more idiosyncratic passions: listening to his beloved records of the late Canadian singer Leonard Cohen (pictured), specifically the poetic song Take This Waltz, which he has described as ‘very moving’
One consequence of the King’s illness is that it has brought him closer to Sarah Ferguson, who was diagnosed with skin cancer shortly after Christmas. Picture shows the pair in 1985 as Prince Charles is presented with an award by his then sister-in-law following a charity polo match
On Thursday, Queen Camilla, who has been by her husband’s side since his diagnosis, said the King was ‘very touched’ by the messages of support he has received from around the world
On Wednesday, Prince William also thanked the nation for its support for his father and his wife, the Princess of Wales in a speech at a gala dinner in support of London’s Air Ambulance Charity
One consequence of the King’s illness is that it has brought him closer to Sarah Ferguson, who was diagnosed with skin cancer shortly after Christmas. The Duchess of York has been sharing supportive letters with the King to express her best wishes and solidarity.
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At a cancer charity fundraiser in Florida last week, the Duchess also shared a touching tribute to the King, urging him to ‘keep fighting on’.
She wrote on Instagram: ‘This was my first event since my melanoma diagnosis and since hearing of His Majesty The King’s recent cancer diagnosis. His Majesty is very dear to me and I think I speak for everyone when I say he is in my thoughts and prayers.’
The Duchess, who went public with her diagnosis last month, also revealed she has a scheduled skin cancer operation this week.
On Thursday, Queen Camilla, who has been by her husband’s side since his diagnosis, said the King was ‘very touched’ by the messages of support he has received from around the world.
Speaking at a charity musical evening at Salisbury Cathedral, she said: ‘He is doing extremely well under the circumstances.
‘He is very touched by all of the letters and messages the public have been sending from everywhere. That’s very cheering.’
On Wednesday, Prince William also thanked the nation for its support for his father and his wife, the Princess of Wales.
In a speech at a gala dinner in support of London’s Air Ambulance Charity, the Prince of Wales said: ‘I would like to take this opportunity to say thank you for the kind messages of support for Catherine and for my father, especially in recent days. It means a great deal to us all.
‘It’s fair to say the past few weeks have had a rather medical focus.’