I saw King Charles days before his hospital stint for cancer treatment side effects – he’s firing on all cylinders

A ROYAL expert saw King Charles just days before his hospital stint for cancer treatment side effects and said he is still “firing on all cylinders”.

The Monarch, 76, was taken to hospital after suffering side effects from his cancer treatment, Buckingham Palace has confirmed.

The King is now back at Clarence House after he visited hospital on Thursday afternoon.

Buckingham Palace confirmed Charles experienced “temporary side effects” from his cancer treatment, and he has now pulled out of a string of engagements set for Friday.

It's definitely a setback. And also the fact his office had to put out a statement and tell us about this, obviously will produce a lot of speculation.

Hugo Vickers

Hugo Vickers had seen the King and Queen Camilla on Tuesday earlier this week.

The Queen held an event at the Reading Room and invited many prevalent authors, Mr Vickers explained.

Speaking about how Charles appeared, he said: “I think that he has aged quite a bit in the last year, and he does look older.

“But you know, on the other hand, he's very alert. He's vital. He's firing on all cylinders, it seems, and doing a pretty good job when he can.”

He also told Flying Eze: “He started his treatment in January last year, and it's still ongoing, and that's quite a long time.

“So what I'm hearing is that his cancer has been controlled, but obviously needs to be observed and treated continually.

“I do think it's a bit concerning that he has to go into hospital all of a sudden, because I don't quite know what sort of side effects you get, but if it requires him going into hospital, it's not just nothing.

“I think the other thing about him is that he's incredibly hardworking, and having come become king at a rather late age in life, he just wants to do as much as possible.

“I know that his office and his family and things are concerned that he does too much, that he pushes himself too hard.

“So maybe he's just been overdoing it, and there's been a bit of an effect from that.”

The author also highlighted how much the Monarch has enjoyed taking on his new role, holding high profile meetings with leaders across the globe.

“I think it was very sad that just as he was getting into his stride and enjoying this new role last January 2024, he was struck down, and we didn't see him, as you know, for several weeks, you know he had to get better,” he said.

“Since then he has been better, and he has been to Australia, he's undertaken an enormous amount of engagements, and he does seem to be, you know, doing the maximum that he possibly can.

“It's possibly just that he's been overdoing it, and that something has therefore gone wrong.

“But he is still having treatment, which means to say that that's been going on for over a year. I mean, really, for 14 months.

“Now, that's a long time to be having treatment.”

The King's hospital visit has seen his engagements on Friday cancelled.

Mr Vickers believed he “would be very upset to let anybody down”.

He said: “It's definitely a setback. And also the fact his office had to put out a statement and tell us about this, obviously will produce a lot of speculation and headlines.

“It's obviously of some concern. But let's hope it's not of of particular concern.”

This comes after sources said King Charles' trip was not unexpected and that his treatment is heading in the right direction.

A Buckingham Palace spokesman said: “Following scheduled and ongoing medical treatment for cancer this morning, The King experienced temporary side effects that required a short period of observation in hospital.

“His Majesty's afternoon engagements were therefore postponed.

“His Majesty has now returned to Clarence House and as a precautionary measure, acting on medical advice, tomorrow's diary programme will also be rescheduled.

“His Majesty would like to send his apologies to all those who may be inconvenienced or disappointed as a result.”

The King's hospital dash to The London Clinic was due to side effects coming after a busy work schedule, it is understood.

While Buckingham Palace has said it will not comment on the side effects, they are understood to not be uncommon with cancer patients.

The King was at home at Clarence House on Thursday evening where he was said to be in good form and continuing to work on State Papers and making calls from his study.

He was taken to hospital by car and not by emergency services, the palace said.

Queen Camilla did not join the King at hospital.

A palace spokesman said: “His Majesty was due to receive Credentials from the Ambassadors of three different nations this afternoon.

“Tomorrow, he was due to undertake four public engagements in Birmingham and is greatly disappointed to be missing them on this occasion.

“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.”

The King's hospital visit meant he also postponed a number of audiences he had due to hold with ambassadors at Buckingham Palace on Thursday afternoon.

The palace say they are not anticipating major changes to the programme but may decide to reduce his engagements.

But they expect the State Visit to Italy in April to go ahead, and doctors will consult with staff to ensure a full recovery.

A source described it as a “most minor bump in a road that is very much heading in the right direction”.

A spokeswoman for Sir Keir Starmer said that the Prime Minister “wishes His Majesty the King all the very best” after his short period in hospital.

The King's cancer journey began in January last year when he revealed he needed a corrective procedure for an enlarged prostate.

Tests undertaken for this, at the same London clinic where Princess Kate was being treated at, revealed his cancer in February, although it has not yet been disclosed which form of the disease he has.

Earlier this month on a visit to Northern Ireland, he gave advice to cancer patients, telling them to “keep b****ring on”.

While at the Pharmacy and Pharmacology department at Ulster University, Coleraine campus, the King said to cancer patients: “What's that Winston Churchill saying? Keep b****ring on.”

Speaking about side effects he said: “You just have to push on, don't you.

He hailed “amazing” research as he looked through a microscope to see how microbubbles are shaken during tests.

In December last year, it was reported Charles' cancer treatment would “continue into next year”, with his recovery still “moving in a positive direction”.