King Charles’ cancer treatment continues as royal aide gives rare update on his ‘personal commitment’

King Charles is continuing to receive cancer treatment while fulfilling a full schedule of royal engagements, a senior aide confirmed this week during the release of the Royal Household’s annual financial report.

James Chalmers, the new Keeper of the Privy Purse, offered a rare public comment on the monarch’s health. He praised His Majesty’s determination and “personal commitment to duty”.

King Charles’ aide gives health update on cancer treatment

King Charles resumed public-facing duties in April 2024 after a brief pause earlier in the year.

According to the report, he took on 178 audiences during the financial year ending March 31. This included 46 meetings with government ministers, 27 farewells to outgoing diplomats, and 35 audiences with new ambassadors.

“The king demonstrated remarkable resilience by undertaking a wide programme of public and state duties at home and overseas while continuing to receive treatment,” James told reporters at the Sovereign Grant briefing on Monday (June 30).

While Buckingham Palace has declined to disclose the exact type of cancer or treatment the king, 76, is receiving, James’ remarks are the first official acknowledgement in recent months of the health challenges the monarch continues to face behind the scenes.

James reflected on the significance of this period: “By happenstance, the period to which this Sovereign Grant Report relates correlates almost exactly with His Majesty’s return to public-facing duties.”

Despite ongoing medical care, Charles has remained an active presence on the public stage.

His efforts, James said, exemplify “not only His Majesty’s personal commitment to duty but also the adaptability and resilience of the Royal Household in ensuring continuity of service, no matter the personal circumstances”.

Royal family’s tough year

The 2024–25 financial year has been marked by personal challenges for the royal family.

In addition to the king’s cancer diagnosis, the Princess of Wales also revealed she was undergoing cancer treatment last year.

Prince William, speaking about this time, described it as “brutal” and “probably the hardest year of my life”.

However, both Charles and Kate have now resumed limited public engagements, with their return drawing widespread public support.

James highlighted the public’s reaction.

He added that the support reflects the “profound connection the royal family maintains with people across the country and indeed the world”.

The report also noted record engagement across the monarchy’s digital platforms, with 4.2 million new visitors to royal websites and almost 400 million views of royal video content.

Social media content generated 1.3 billion impressions, suggesting a growing global appetite for royal updates.

“No metric can fully capture the scale of this connection,” James noted.

However, the numbers are a powerful indicator of continued interest and support.

The Sovereign Grant, the annual public funding for royal duties, remained at £86.3 million for a fourth consecutive year.

Other updates from the report included the decommissioning of the Royal Train, increased royal travel costs, and the announcement that Prince William and Princess Kate have been granted the authority to issue Royal Warrants for the first time.

Although the king continues to receive treatment, the Palace has not announced any changes to his upcoming schedule.