King Charles' cancer journey timeline in full as he holds touching reception for charities

King Charles had a difficult start to 2024. In January, the monarch was admitted to hospital to be treated for an enlarged prostate - but doctors went on to diagnose him with cancer. said at the time, the King "remains wholly positive about his treatment" and hoped to return to full public duty "as soon as possible".

As King Charles holds a special reception for cancer charities at this evening [April 30], we take a look back at his cancer timeline - and what the Palace and members of the have said about his diagnosis.

26 January 2024

was photographed arriving with at the private London Clinic, the same hospital where daughter-in-law is recovering from abdominal surgery, for a scheduled treatment for an enlarged prostate. Ahead of his own surgery, Charles is said to have visited Kate.

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"The King was this morning admitted to a London hospital for scheduled treatment," Buckingham Palace confirms in a statement. "His Majesty would like to thank all those who have sent their good wishes over the past week and is delighted to learn that his diagnosis is having a positive impact on public health awareness."

Following the procedure, Queen Camilla says of her husband: "He's doing well".

29 January

After spending three nights at the London Clinic, Charles left the hospital. He was photographed exiting through the front doors with his wife, Queen Camilla, who had visited him daily during his hospitalisation.

"The King was this afternoon discharged from hospital following planned medical treatment and has rescheduled forthcoming public engagements to allow for a period of private recuperation. He would like to thank the medical team and all those involved in supporting his hospital visit, and is grateful for all the kind messages he has received in recent days," the Palace says in a statement.

4 February

The King and Queen attended church in Sandringham, with Charles smiling and waving at well-wishers, in his first public outing since his treatment.

5 February

Just one day later, Buckingham Palace announced King Charles' cancer diagnosis.

"During The King's recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted. Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer," the palace says in a statement.

"His Majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties. Throughout this period, His Majesty will continue to undertake State business and official paperwork as usual," it continues.

"The King is grateful to his medical team for their swift intervention, which was made possible thanks to his recent hospital procedure. He remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible.

"His Majesty has chosen to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the who are affected by cancer."

King Charles told his sons, and , about the diagnosis himself, and also personally informed his siblings, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward, before the news was made public.

6 February

The King was photographed for the first time since his cancer diagnosis announcement. Both he and Queen Camilla were seen driving from Clarence House, their home in London.

They waved through the window as they made their way to Buckingham Palace, from where they travelled to Sandringham House by helicopter.

King Charles had just met with his younger son, Prince Harry, who travelled from California to London to see his father following the news. Their meeting is said to have lasted just 45 minutes.

10 February

The King expressed his "heartfelt thanks" for messages of support he had received. In his own message from Sandringham House, the King said: "It is equally heartening to hear how sharing my own diagnosis has helped promote public understanding and shine a light on the work of all those organisations which support cancer patients and their families across the UK and wider world."

21 February

King Charles held his first face-to-face audience with then-Prime Minister since sharing his cancer news.

The prime minister told the monarch, "We're all behind you. The country's behind you." The King replies, "I've had so many wonderful messages and cards. It's reduced me to tears most of the time."

Later that day, Charles read get-well cards that were sent to the Palace, and a photo and video of him reading the cards was later shared.

21 March

During a solo trip to Northern Ireland, Queen Camilla shared an update on her husband's health while visiting the Arcadia Delicatessen in Belfast.

"He's doing very well. He was very disappointed he couldn't come," Camilla said, via Hello! Magazine. She also joked that she tries to "keep him in order" when a member of the public noted that men often don't "make the best patients."

22 March

After the announced that she is also being treated for cancer, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson shared that King Charles is "so proud of Catherine for her courage in speaking as she did."

The spokesperson added that both the King and Queen "will continue to offer their love and support to the whole family throughout this difficult time".

24 March

Charles's nephew, Peter Phillips - the son of Princess Anne - spoke about the king's health during an interview with Sky News . He said that Charles was in "good spirits," but "ultimately, he's hugely frustrated. He's frustrated that he can't get on and do everything that he wants to be able to do. But he is very pragmatic, he understands that there's a period of time that he really needs to focus on himself."

He added, "But at the same time, he is always pushing, his staff and everybody and his doctors and nurses to be able to say, 'Actually, can I do this? Can I do that?' So the overriding message would be that he's obviously very keen to get back to a form of normality. And he's probably frustrated that recovery is taking a little longer than probably he would want it to."

27 March

King Charles was hospitalised due to side effects of cancer treatment. Buckingham Palace confirmed King Charles had been admitted to "following scheduled and ongoing medical treatment for cancer this morning".

Charles had experienced "temporary side effects that required a short period of observation in hospital," which also led him to postpone his royal engagements both that day and the next.

28 March

Charles returns to Clarence House to recover, and was photographed being driven in a car, waving to onlookers as he passed by.

31 March

The King joined a small group of royals for Easter Sunday service in Windsor, including Prince Edward and Sophie, Princess Anne, and Prince Andrew and Sarah Ferguson.

Prince William and Kate were not in attendance with their children following the news of Kate's cancer diagnosis. It was Charles's first major public appearance since January.

26 April

Buckingham Palace announced that Charles will return to public duties, but confirmed that his treatment is ongoing.

"His Majesty The King will shortly return to public-facing duties after a period of treatment and recuperation following his recent cancer diagnosis," the statement read. It is also announced that he and Queen Camilla will visit a cancer treatment center the following week to mark his return.

30 April

The King carried out his first public engagement since receiving his diagnoses with a visit to the University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre in London. When asked how he was doing, he cheerfully replied, "I'm alright thank you, not too bad."

17 May

Charles announced his first overseas trip since his diagnosis, confirming he will travel to Normandy, France on June 6, 2024, along with Queen Camilla, to attend the and the Royal British Legion’s commemorative event at the British Normandy Memorial on the 80th anniversary of D-Day. It will be his first international engagement since his cancer diagnosis.

15 June

Charles led the royal family at his second Trooping the Colour since becoming King. Owing to his health, he rode in a carriage alongside Queen Camilla instead of on horseback.

His daughter-in-law, Princess Kate was also in attendance, making her first appearance of 2024 at Trooping amid her own cancer treatment. A Buckingham Palace spokesperson said, the King was "delighted" she "is able to attend," and that he was "very much looking forward to all elements of the day".

18 October

The King and Queen touched down in Australia for the start of their autumn tour, which would also see them visit Samoa before heading back home on Saturday 26th October.

It marked Charles's first visit to any of the 14 Commonwealth Realms outside of the UK since he became their head of state in 2022, and the first time in 13 years that the country has had its head of state on Australian soil.

In addition, it was the King's first major overseas tour since announcing his cancer diagnosis.

28 October

Buckingham Palace shared a promising update on Charles's health. A Palace official said, "We're now working on a pretty normal looking full overseas tour programme for next year, which is a high for us to end on, to know that we can be thinking in those terms."

9 December

President revealed that Prince William spoke to him about his father's health during a meeting in Paris.

He told the New York Post: "I asked him about his wife and he said she's doing well. And I asked him about his father and his father is fighting very hard, and he loves his father and he loves his wife, so it was sad."

6 April 2025

King Charles and Queen Camilla departed for a four-day visit to Italy, which included a brief private meeting with the late Pope Francis in the Vatican, who later passes away on 21 April.

7 April

Charles and Camilla released a new photo to mark their 20th wedding anniversary on 9 April, showing the couple smiling and looking relaxed in images taken soon after they arrived in Italy for their state visit.

They posed for pictures in the gardens of the Villa Wolkonsky, the British ambassador's residence in Rome, with the Queen wearing a lily of the valley brooch, a symbol of enduring love.

The caption read: "As we begin our first visit to Italy as King and Queen, we are so looking forward to celebrating our twentieth wedding anniversary in such a special place – and with such wonderful people! A presto, Roma e Ravenna! -Charles R & Camilla R."

17 April

The King made a wry joke about his health while attending the traditional Maundy Thursday Easter service at Durham Cathedral with his wife. Afterwards, the royal couple greeted well wishers who gathered outside the Cathedral, including Pat Johnson, 54, who was holding her three-stone 18-month-old Pembrokeshire Corgi named Lilibet, who caught the King's eye.

Speaking afterwards, Mrs Johnson said: "He asked me if she was friendly and he asked me her name. I said she was named after the late Queen. I said he looked very well and he said, 'You are very kind, it's all smoke and mirrors!'"