King Charles has reportedly confided to those close to him that his recent cancer diagnosis might curtail his reign as the monarch of the United Kingdom.
According to a royal expert who spoke with Fox News, the King is profoundly conscious of the limited time he may have left. “Given he had the longest wait in history as heir to the throne, given his age, as well as his current health crisis, he is poignantly aware that time is ticking,” Hilary Fordwich told the network, as reported by the New York Post. “He has been preparing for this role his entire life, being in line for the throne for 70 years.”
Fordwich further revealed that King Charles has been proactive about his duties, knowing his opportunities to influence are narrowing. “He wants to make his mark. So all that downtime away from his people makes him anxious and agitated,” she explained. “Every single one of the projects he has undertaken is designed to make a real mark. They are not just honorary where he shows up once in a while. He has devoted his life to having an impact.” She emphasized that the public doesn’t desire a “lazy monarch.”
While the Royal Palace has not commented on the specifics of King Charles’s cancer, Queen Camilla has previously stated that despite his health, the King refuses to slow down. “He’s doing fine except he won’t slow down and won’t do what he’s told,” she said earlier this year.
Another royal watcher, Richard Fitzwilliams, told the Post about the King’s rigorous work ethic. “He’s a workaholic who skips lunch. His doctors will control a good deal of his itinerary as it has to be announced in advance, but he is clearly recovering judging by the number of engagements he is undertaking and the energy he has shown during them,” Fitzwilliams said. He recalled the late Queen Elizabeth II’s famous dictum, “I must be seen to be believed,” noting that being visible is a duty King Charles takes seriously.
Recently, King Charles displayed his robust constitution in France at the 80th anniversary of D-Day, outlasting President Joe Biden, who appeared to struggle on stage. Next, the King will appear in London this Saturday at the Trooping the Colour. Unlike previous years, he will participate in a horse-led carriage rather than riding a horse himself. Kate Middleton, also battling cancer, will not attend the event. The change in tradition marks King Charles’s second appearance as the head of the royal family since his coronation in March 2023.