King Charles III briefly returned to hospital on Thursday after experiencing temporary side effects from his ongoing cancer treatment, Buckingham Palace said. The 76-year-old monarch has since returned to Clarence House, where he continues to work on state papers and make calls from his study. On medical advice, the King canceled a scheduled visit to Birmingham on Friday, which would have included four public engagements. Meetings with three ambassadors on Thursday were also affected. "He is greatly disappointed to be missing them on this occasion," a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said. "He very much hopes that they can be rescheduled in due course and offers his deepest apologies to all those who had worked so hard to make the planned visit possible." Palace sources described the incident as a "most minor bump in a road that is very much heading in the right direction," emphasizing that the King's health continues to improve. No further details about the side effects were provided. Queen Camilla did not accompany the King to hospital but continued her engagements, attending a reception in Wembley on Thursday evening. The decision to announce the brief hospitalization late Thursday evening was described by insiders as a move toward transparency, aiming to reassure the public and avoid speculation after the postponement of Friday's trip. The King was diagnosed with cancer in February 2024 and has since resumed many public duties. In recent weeks, he has taken part in a number of engagements, including a visit to Northern Ireland, the Commonwealth Day service, and a reception at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday. He also played a prominent diplomatic role, hosting world leaders including U.S. President Donald Trump and expressing solidarity with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky following tense talks in Washington. The King also welcomed Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney during his visit to the UK. A planned state visit to the Vatican was recently postponed, though officials clarified it was due to concerns over Pope Francis' health, not the King's. The rest of the monarch's visit to Italy is still scheduled to proceed in April with some program adjustments. Buckingham Palace has not disclosed the type of cancer the King is being treated for. He returned to public-facing duties in April 2024 following a period of treatment and recuperation. The palace emphasized that, barring unforeseen developments, the King is expected to resume his official diary as normal next week. — BBC
