King Charles III's recent return to public-facing duties and confirmation of his attendance at the upcoming Trooping the Colour ceremony are being viewed as positive indicators of the monarch's health amid his ongoing cancer treatment.
According to royal commentator and historian Gareth Russell, the 75-year-old British monarch likely needed medical clearance before he could confirm his attendance at next week's Trooping the Colour and resume a fuller schedule of royal duties, including a trip to France on June 6.
Speaking to GB News, Russell noted that doctors giving the "green light" to King Charles' public return is "a good sign of the monarch's health." He added, "We know that the King had to receive permission from his doctors to return to public duties. So it's a positive indicator that he's back with a soft launch into the public view."
The monarch's candor about his battle with cancer has also earned him "a huge amount of goodwill and support" from the public, according to recent polls cited by Russell. "We've heard him talking to some people during the meet and greets about shared experiences of battling cancer," the royal expert said. "I think it's been very well-received."
King Charles announced his cancer diagnosis on Feb. 5, revealing that he was stepping back from public-facing royal duties to undergo treatment for an unspecified form of the disease. However, the monarch continued to work behind the scenes and hold small audiences for months until he officially returned to public outings on April 30 with a visit to a cancer hospital in London alongside his wife, Queen Camilla.
During a garden party last month, Queen Camilla revealed that King Charles was "getting better," according to royal reporter Roya Nikkhah. This news, coupled with the palace's confirmation that the King will attend his second Trooping the Colour as monarch despite his ongoing cancer battle, has been met with relief and optimism by many.
While King Charles will not ride on horseback during this year's Trooping the Colour review, instead opting to be seated in a horse-drawn carriage alongside Queen Camilla, his presence at the event is seen as a significant milestone in his recovery. A Buckingham Palace spokesperson confirmed, "His Majesty's treatment programme will continue, but doctors are sufficiently pleased with the progress made so far that The King is now able to resume a number of public-facing duties."
The spokesperson added that forthcoming engagements will be adapted where necessary to minimize any risks to the King's continued recovery, but noted that it is too early to say how long cancer treatments will continue. However, they emphasized that the monarch's medical team is "very encouraged by the progress made so far and remain positive about The King's continued recovery."
As King Charles resumes his public duties, there is still uncertainty surrounding the attendance of his daughter-in-law, Kate Middleton, at the Trooping the Colour ceremony. The Princess of Wales, who is also battling an undisclosed form of cancer, will not carry out her role of Inspecting Officer at the traditional Colonel's Review on Saturday, and the palace is expected to announce soon whether or not she will attend the King's birthday parade on June 15.
Despite these challenges, King Charles' return to public life and his openness about his cancer experience have garnered widespread support and goodwill from the public. As Russell noted, "The King has said he feels as if he's come out of his cage, and he's very keen to get back to his public-facing duties."