King’s health ‘heading in positive trajectory’ ahead of accession anniversary
The King reaches the second anniversary of his accession to the throne and the death of Queen Elizabeth II on Sunday, with his health “heading in a very positive trajectory”, a royal source has said.
Charles, 75, became head of state immediately upon the death of his mother, the nation’s longest-reigning monarch, who died peacefully at Balmoral Castle on September 8 2022 at the age of 96.
But a source said Charles had coped with the past year with a “determination to be as public as he was able” to reassure the nation about how much he could still do.
He has also been buoyed by Queen Camilla’s support.
“Her natural warmth, resilience and sense of humour, as I’m sure any patient will tell you, is a wonderful thing to have,” the source told the PA news agency.
“Of course it’s been a stressful year for Her Majesty, too, but there was never a sense of despondency, only a determination that they would get through this, as with so many other challenging issues in the past.”
The source: “There will be personal thoughts, prayers and reflections.
“I’m sure it will be a very poignant day for all. How could it not be, not least given the year of challenge that the whole family has had?”
The King and Queen are gearing up for an important tour to Australia and Samoa in the autumn – their first major overseas trip since news of Charles’s cancer was announced.
“Health has to remain the number one priority, albeit heading in a very positive trajectory,” the source said.
Down-time will be incorporated in Australia and Samoa, with not too many back to back meetings, consideration given to the time difference, and a hoped-for trip to New Zealand removed to reduce the travel demands, but Charles’s programme is still expected to be “pretty full on”.
The King spent around three months away from public-facing duties and returned in April with a visit to a cancer centre in London.
He had a high profile run of engagements through the next few months with D-Day 80th anniversary commemorations in Portsmouth and Normandy, Trooping the Colour, the incoming Japanese state visit, a short trip to Jersey and Guernsey, the appointment of a new Prime Minister after Labour’s landslide general election, and the State Opening of Parliament.
“From the earliest outset of the health challenge, it was the King’s determination to be as public as he was able, so that people could be reassured by just how much he was still able to do in the circumstances, under his doctors’ advice.
“That has obviously slowly dialed up as the program of treatment and recovery continued, with the result that the King is off on a 12,000 mile trip to Australia and Samoa in a few weeks’ time.”
The third year of his reign will see a continuation of his so-called “4Cs” – his guiding principles of “culture, Commonwealth, community and climate” – with an additional sideline theme of “cancer”.
He hopes to be able to show how people diagnosed with cancer can, if it is right for them, carry on with as much of their normal lives as possible.
Saturday sees the staging of the annual Braemar Gathering when the royals usually take front row seats to watch the traditional highland games, a short drive from Balmoral.
The King has been enjoying his summer break, and looked happy and relaxed when he attended the Aberdeen flower show last Saturday.
Both regiments taking part were responsible for firing the Death Gun salutes to mark the death of Queen Elizabeth II two years ago, with almost all of the soldiers and horses taking part playing a part in the Queen’s state funeral and the proclamation of the King.