Queen Camilla says King Charles ‘is doing extremely well, under circumstances’ as she arrives at special ceremony
QUEEN Camilla smiled and said King Charles ‘is doing extremely well, under circumstances’, as she arrived at a special ceremony this evening.
The Queen, 76, appeared in good spirits at Salisbury Cathedral and she continued to put on a brave face amid her husband’s cancer treatment.
She gave an update, speaking to Ben Abbott, 40, Critical care paramedic with Wiltshire Air Ambulance, and said: “He’s doing extremely well under circumstances.
“He is very touched by all of the letters and messages the public have been sending from everywhere.
“That’s very cheering.”
Paul Martin, who presents BBC’s Flog It!, hosted the musical evening held to celebrate the work of local charities including The Wiltshire Bobby Van Trust, The Wiltshire Air Ambulance, Community First – Youth Action Wiltshire and the regimental charities of The Grenadier Guards and The Rifles.
The concert featureed award-winning concert pianist Rupert Egerton-Smith, who will perform alongside The Band of The Grenadier Guards and The Band and Bugles of The Rifles.
Queen Camilla was introduced to members of the Wiltshire Air Ambulance service.
Matt Metcalf, 36, a trainee critical care paramedic, Dr Maria Smith, 54, and Ben Abbott, 40 a Critical care paramedic.
It marks her first public engagement since news of His Majesty’s cancer broke on Monday.
Buckingham Palace confirmed in a statement the King remains “wholly positive” and has begun treatment.
Camilla was seen with Charles on Tuesday for the first time since his cancer shock – taking a helicopter to Sandringham after meeting Prince Harry.
The King was seen smiling as they were driven from their London home Clarence House to the palace.
Queen Camilla’s stoic appearance this evening comes as Prince William has also taken the lead and continued with royal duties.
On Wednesday, despite the turbulent time for his family as Princess Kate recuperates from her abdominal surgery, the prince gave a speech at a charity fundraising gala.
William, who served as a rescue pilot saving lives for seven years, attended the event for the London Air Ambulance Charity.
The Prince told guests at London’s Raffles Hotel: “Thank you for being here. And thank you to all those whose hard work has made this evening possible.
“I’d like to take this opportunity to say thank you, also, for the kind messages of support for Catherine and for my father, especially in recent days. It means a great deal to us all.
Then in a light-hearted joke amid a stressful past three weeks, he added: “It’s fair to say the past few weeks have had a rather “medical” focus.
“So I thought I’d come to an air ambulance function to get away from it all.”
It came hours after he returned to public engagements for the first time since Kate’s surgery, and held an investiture at Windsor Castle.
William was seen smiling and joking as he handed out gongs at the ceremony.
Meanwhile, brother Harry flew back to his Montecito mansion in California yesterday after making a transatlantic dash on Tuesday.
It is understood King Charles phoned his estranged son personally to share his diagnosis and the duke, 39, got on the first flight available to Heathrow.
Harry’s black SUV was spotted arriving at Clarence House, the King’s residence, at around 2.45pm on Tuesday.
Charles delayed a helicopter ride in order to meet with his youngest son, who he had not seen for 16 months.
Their meeting lasted around 30 minutes and Harry was snapped at Heathrow Airport to return home after his whistle-stop 25 hour trip.
The reunion has sparked belief there could be a reconciliation between the pair, who have shared a strained relationship following the release of Harry’s bombshell memoir Spare, as well as attacks launched in his Netflix docuseries Harry and Meghan.
But now, with the duke’s sudden flight over, it appears there could be hope in the future, according to royal experts.
How Charles bravely revealed diagnosis to help others
KING Charles has bravely broken with royal protocol by sharing his cancer diagnosis.
Senior royals have in past been tight-lipped about their health battles.
The last top royal diagnosed with cancer was Charles’s grandfather George VI.
Heavy smoker George had his left lung removed for “structural abnormalities” in September 1951, months before he died.
The “abnormalities” were actually a life-threatening carcinoma, but the public never learned about George’s cancer ordeal.
Buckingham Palace said Charles wanted to share his cancer diagnosis to boost “public understanding” for cancer patients worldwide.
News of His Majesty’s diagnosis sent shock ripples around the globe this week.
The announcement came just eight days after His Majesty was released from hospital following a “corrective procedure” for an enlarged prostate.
But a “separate issue of concern was noted” during his stay – and tests went on to find cancer.
It remains unclear when the King will be able to resume full-time public appearances.
His Majesty carried out a staggering 516 engagements last year, including 94 trips abroad.
However, King Charles will continue with his weekly audiences with the Prime Minister, but they may have to be scaled back on the advice of doctors.
In the meantime, other Royals, including the Queen, will continue with a full programme of public duties.
They are also likely to undertake additional duties on behalf of the King whilst he is out of action.
Inside Charles' 18-month reign before cancer shock
September 8 2022 – The world was left in mourning after Queen Elizabeth II passed away peacefully at Balmoral Castle on September 8, 2022.
September 19 2022 – The stoic King led his family, marching behind the Queen’s coffin from Westminster Hall to Westminster Abbey, at her funeral.
January 2023 – The Monarch deals with the fall out following Prince Harry’s bombshell memoir Spare – in which the Duke blasted the Royal Family.
April 2023 – Harry has a “heart-to-heart” talk with his dad before agreeing to come to the Coronation in London
May 6 2023 – Charles is crowned King at his Coronation at Westminster Abbey.
September 2023 – Harry rejects an offer to spend the anniversary of the Queen’s death at Balmoral with his father.
November 2023 – The King celebrates his 75th birthday with a gathering of close family and friends at Clarence House.
January 17 2024 – Buckingham Palace announces His Majesty will be undergoing treatment for an enlarged prostate.
Just hours previous it was also revealed Princess Kate had been admitted to hospital for a pre-planned abdominal surgery.
January 26 2024 – The King is admitted to The London Clinic – where Princess Kate was also staying.
January 29 2024 – Charles waves as he leaves the hospital following a three day stay and being given the all clear.
It is understood the Monarch will take a month to recover after the surgery as Queen Camilla stands in during public appearances.
February 5 2024 – Buckingham Palace announces a form of cancer was diagnosed during the King’s prostate op.
The statement confirms Charles has begun a schedule of regular treatments and “remains wholly positive”.
He will also be postponing front line duties on doctor’s advice but continue with his red boxes, weekly audiences with the Prime Minister, and monthly Privy Council meetings.
February 6 2024 – Prince Harry flies to the UK to be with his father as royal experts claim their four-year rift could be put aside.
The Duke of Sussex, who was informed of the news personally by the Monarch, was seen arriving into a private terminal at LAX in his black Range Rover.
