I keep going back and forth about how serious this situation is with King Charles. Charles was hospitalized last Thursday, but he didn’t stay in the hospital overnight. They sent him back to Clarence House to rest, and on Friday, he was driven to Highgrove, where he spent the weekend alone (except for his household staff). Queen Camilla stayed at her private home, Ray Mill, this weekend (according to the Times). The reason for the hospitalization and medically-advised rest period was some kind of side effect of Charles’s cancer treatments, which are ongoing more than one year after his diagnosis. Buckingham Palace really went on a briefing spree this weekend to emphasize how hard Charles works at his age:
A friend of the King said: “He’s got a puritanical work ethic. It goes beyond any concept of a ‘working week’. He doesn’t understand the concept of downtime. In a world where he has had difficult times in terms of public perception and popularity, work has always been his protection and safe space. Even at his worst times, it has been an anchor for him. It goes deeper than people realise. If you work for him, the only time in the week you can relax is 11am on a Sunday when he will be at church. Other than that, you need to be ready from 8am until midnight, when he might call you at any time.”
The “minor bump”, as royal sources described last week’s “short period of observation” in the London Clinic after he suffered side-effects from his scheduled treatment on Thursday, will have frustrated him. The afternoon’s engagements and a day trip to Birmingham on Friday had to be cancelled.
But the King remains reluctant to entertain any idea of easing his diary. As one of his closest confidants told me: “He just really doesn’t feel as if he’s ‘being King’ if he’s not out there actually doing it all. That’s what drives him.”
“If you work for him, the only time in the week you can relax is 11am on a Sunday when he will be at church. Other than that, you need to be ready from 8am until midnight, when he might call you at any time.” But… but… bullying?? 5 am emails?? Toxic workplace?? Mean boss?? I guess those kinds of coded insults and smears are lodged at a Black woman. When it’s a white dude, it’s all about his “Puritanical work ethic.” Speaking of, the Sun reported this weekend that Charles’s medical situation is so dire, he had to cancel… two vacations.
The King has cancelled two holidays abroad as he continues to have cancer treatment following his hospital dash. He pulled out of a planned trip with Queen Camilla to an African spa retreat and his annual walking holiday in Romania. His Majesty, 76, is resting at his countryside home Highgrove this weekend after being taken to hospital on Thursday suffering side effects of his treatment. It meant he was forced to cancel engagements in both London and Birmingham on Thursday and Friday. It comes more than a year after he was diagnosed with an unspecified type of cancer.
Now The Sun on Sunday can reveal the King was due to join Camilla on a short trip to a luxury spa resort in Africa earlier this month — but was forced to pull out only days in advance. He is also postponing his annual visit to Romania in the spring — which usually involves arduous countryside walking.
An insider said: “Charles is a hardworking King, but he needs and deserves occasional time off. It was unfortunate that he couldn’t fly with Camilla, as it was hoped they could have a well-earned break together. He adores Romania and looks forward to visiting every year, but it would have involved just too much walking and he can’t face it right now.”
His Majesty has also given up his annual skiing trip with pals to Klosters, in Switzerland. He went there almost every spring for 45 years, but stopped ahead of his Coronation in 2023, amid fears he could get injured.
Wait… are they saying that Camilla went to a luxury spa resort in Africa in early March and no one knew? It wasn’t announced or reported? That’s what it sounds like – Charles and Camilla were supposed to slip away to a spa together, but Camilla ended up going alone. As for Romania… he usually goes to Romania alone and Camilla vacations somewhere else. He could have just gone to Romania and NOT gone for long, arduous walks, but what do I know.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Cover Images.
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- LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 25: Queen Camilla and King Charles III arrive for a reception to mark the launch of the Queen’s reading room medal at Clarence House on March 25, 2025 in London, England. Queen Camilla, accompanied by King Charles III, The Duchess of Gloucester, and distinguished authors along with members of the literary community, came together to celebrate the continued efforts of The Queen’s Reading Room and its mission to inspire greater reading among people.,Image: 979399175, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Chris Jackson/Avalon
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- LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 25: King Charles III applauds Queen Camilla during a reception to mark the launch of the Queen’s reading room medal at Clarence House on March 25, 2025 in London, England. Queen Camilla, accompanied by King Charles III, The Duchess of Gloucester, and distinguished authors along with members of the literary community, came together to celebrate the continued efforts of The Queen’s Reading Room and its mission to inspire greater reading among people.,Image: 979402100, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Chris Jackson/Avalon
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- LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 26: King Charles III unveils a plaque to commemorate the visit at Somerset House on March 26, 2025 in London, England. King Charles III is Patron of The Royal Countryside Fund. The visit coincides with the 25th anniversary of Somerset House.,Image: 979865791, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Chris Jackson/Avalon
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- LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 26: King Charles III during a visit to the ‘Soil: The world at our feet’ exhibition at Somerset House on March 26, 2025 in London, England. King Charles III is Patron of The Royal Countryside Fund. The visit coincides with the 25th anniversary of Somerset House.,Image: 979866137, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Chris Jackson/Avalon
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- LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 26: King Charles III during a visit to the ‘Soil: The world at our feet’ exhibition at Somerset House on March 26, 2025 in London, England. King Charles III is Patron of The Royal Countryside Fund. The visit coincides with the 25th anniversary of Somerset House.,Image: 979866165, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Chris Jackson/Avalon
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- King Charles III waves goodbye to well-wishers following a visit to the Cancer Research Centre at Ulster University, on day two of the royal visit to Northern Ireland Featuring: King Charles III Where: United Kingdom When: 20 Mar 2025 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
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- King Charles III is driven by car from Clarence House, his London home, along The Mall towards Buckingham Palace. The King has been seen in public for the first time since a hospital visit for side effects from his cancer treatment as he waved at well-wishers while leaving Clarence House in London this morning Featuring: King Charles III Where: London, United Kingdom When: 28 Mar 2025 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
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- King Charles III is driven by car from Clarence House, his London home, along The Mall towards Buckingham Palace. The King has been seen in public for the first time since a hospital visit for side effects from his cancer treatment as he waved at well-wishers while leaving Clarence House in London this morning Featuring: King Charles III Where: London, United Kingdom When: 28 Mar 2025 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
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- King Charles III is driven by car from Clarence House, his London home, along The Mall towards Buckingham Palace. The King has been seen in public for the first time since a hospital visit for side effects from his cancer treatment as he waved at well-wishers while leaving Clarence House in London this morning Featuring: King Charles III Where: London, United Kingdom When: 28 Mar 2025 Credit: PA Images/INSTARimages **NORTH AMERICA RIGHTS ONLY**
So the bully is overworking his staff!! Two things about the two vacations: one he saw the backlash that was had by the leftovers or two he really is sicker than he is saying?
I wonder if the African spa retreat was part of the Romania trip? Like if he was going to go to Romania first and then join Camilla at this spa or go to the spa first and then stop in Romania on the way home?
When was Camilla at this spa? I’m trying to think of her schedule and her appearances in early March.
Is this either trying to make it seem like Charles is in really bad shape or is this about making sure we all know Charles and Camilla vacation too, not just the Waleses?
also i’m kind of LOLing that the article both mentions his puritanical work ethic and then talks about his vacations lol.
Why does Camilla need to go to India and Africa for spa vacations? I’m sure there are lovely spas in the UK.
Why spend a little bit of money when you can spend a lot?!?!!?
I’m betting that these spas in India and Africa are more able to keep their staff from talking to the press than spas of a similar caliber in the UK. They can also be much more physically isolated in India and literally ANY country in Africa than they can in the UK, so less worries about the tabloids obtaining photo evidence of her being there and being able to use it against her.
Camilla doesn’t even have to be DOING anything that might warrant such concerns, the whole family has good reason to be paranoid about the tabloids. They all know their own deals and shenanigans with the tabloids, they would rightfully assume (in most cases) that everybody else in that cesspool is doing the same.
And then there’s the cesspools next door to worry about (the press itself, the various independent factions of courtiers, the various factions in each political party within the government, random rogue rich assholes domestic, random rogue rich assholes abroad, etc., etc.).
The vacations thing is funny–it’s backhanded to Charles but also highlights that some royals can actually turn up for events AND still vacation.
But overall, this doesn’t sound good for his health. Apparently he can’t travel to the Romanian home he loves or even to a spa. He’s retreated to Highgrove, where he’s most at home. I’m eerily reminded of when QEII started missing engagements in the months before her death with the public being kept mostly in the dark.
Came here to say the same. I think he’ll be gone before year end.
Where’s the African spa resort? Mineral springs?
Don’t they have spas in the UK?
Yes but I’m sure they don’t feature the desert air or whatever that only Africa can provide.
In his most recent pics – he looks rally bad. If the press there were worth anything, they would report the truth, hell even the American press. But this is where we are….
“He doesn’t understand the concept of downtime.”
Oh, please- cry me a river.
This is a man whose socks and underwear are laid out for him and who has toothpaste applied to his toothbrush *for* him.
His entire life is downtime when he isn’t wearing stupid hats and socializing.
Don’t forget his sheets and jim-jams have to be ironed “just so” or he throws a wobbly.
Honestly, a small part of me feels sorry for him as I would anyone who is struggling with cancer because I know what it’s like and how your life changes drastically upon diagnosis, but having to forego vacations is no reason to give him a sympathy cookie.
Puritanical work ethic unless he’s on holiday?
How much of his ‘work’ NEEDS to be done? It’s an argument you can make about a lot of jobs as we have done an amazing job of creating busywork to keep our economy ticking along but with him I do wonder. Sure he’s done stuff that legit has an impact (Princes Trust as was, etc.) but I also smell something of a man who thinks he’s better than his ‘subjects’ but yet spent his life with not much to actually do while he waited for his mother to die so he could get The Job. LOOK AT ME I’M SO BUSY THE COUNTRY NEEDS ME.
Or to put it more succinctly: we have no need for a monarchy.
FK certainly will be unavailable at weekends which run from Friday to Tuesday when he’s King and on Wednesday and Thursday it will just be 10 until 4 so no staff will be on call 24/7.
Omfg. These people. Wish him good health but other than that omfg.
Shouldn’t FK be fully focussed on delivery as King’s deputy instead of bullying his brother?
So are they setting this up that when he passes he was the “poor overworked king” (insert eye roll). One thing is for sure this man is a lot sicker than we have been told and whatever cancer he has is more advanced than they want anyone to know about..
A couple of observations: Charles is much more ill than the palace is letting on and, I suspect, the chemo is more of an ongoing regime to desperately try and slow down the progression of the disease rather than stopping it in its tracks. I doubt the institution has much faith in the next monarch.
This is also setting up an obituary narrative that “he was so dutiful that he just carried on, selfless etc”.
Finally, it’s a dig at Kate and William and being shady about their lack of work ethic and commitment to their roles.
The recent news does make me wonder if they haven’t boosted the dosage or started a different (stronger) chemo drug and he’s having a bad reaction to it. If either one of those are true, that’s not an encouraging sign.
Agreed, it absolutely sounds like A) he’s not got much time left and they’re trying to max it with the treatments and
B) Like his mother before him, doesn’t trust his heir/heir doesn’t come up to scratch, and therefore wants to do as much as possible before he’s forced to hand the reign over.
BP is going to absolutely implode within six months of Huevo’s con-a-nation. Not even tabloid rants about H&M, or fawning courtiers can save that sinking ship. The Establishment as we know it is officially cooked the moment Cluck falls off his perch.
There isn’t much they actually NEED to do as ceremonial heads of state. It’s really not a big commitment. Most of what they do day to day is not required by their constitutional role, it’s just to preserve good will for the monarchy. I think QEII cared deeply about the monarchy continuing after her death but I don’t think Charles really does. I honestly don’t think William or George would really care if they weren’t kings as long as the settlement with the government preserved their inherited wealth.
@Meredith: “… as long as the settlement with the government preserved their inherited wealth.”
— There’s the rub! Once you start dismantling monarchy, a lot of the loot goes along, with it!
Cancellation of the Romanian trip is a red flag for certain, but if the trip to Italy is called off, KC’s situation is far more dire than they’re letting on.
Well the Pope cancelled meeting him, due to his own ill health.
He’s not just physically ill (and probably sicker than they’ve let on) but there are real mental health issues as well. His obsession with appearing to be working 24/7 is not healthy. And harassing his staff at all hours is abusive. We know he’s abusive to his second son and daughter in law. The palace really wants us to think that hiding his illness and his obsessive busy work is dedication to duty. In fact, it’s sick AF.
@BrassyRebel: maybe alone with the servants he realizes how much he messed up his first wife and children? And needs to tell himself how dedicated to work he is?
Or we go with the Queen who said in Spare: Charles does what he wants.
Polo, riding, fishing, painting… And they wanted to sell access to the tour in Italy.
Who can go to a spa in Africa, could go to California too… I bet there are spas too.
I feel like the latest Harry bashing news was intended to cover up Charles’s current situation. Harry is still the Spare at the end of the day. They don’t want any attention on Charles.
By British press logic are Charles and Camilla separated?
They can only stay together for short periods of time, Camilla’s smoking isn’t helping Chuckie.
What happens if KC becomes too unwell to work does FK automatically take over or can he share it with Anne and let her do all the hard work?
Charles wanted to be king in the 70s, he’s not giving up his crown til the Grim Reaper takes him kicking and screaming. The family can fill in.
My only regret is that Charles has less energy to wind up Trump and distract him from ruining everything he touches. For a moment there Charles was useful.
Spa treatments in Africa?? Where is the public outrage? I think Charles has prostrate cancer, and since treatment is ongoing, it’s still very serious. I also think it was tacky of Kate, as a senior “working” royal, to release her sunshine & rainbows lifestyle video, celebrating the end of her treatment, while King Charles is still battling his own cancer.
I don’t think the lack of any specificity about Charles’ and Kate’s cancer does anything to lower the stigma. I’m not expecting minutiae but it’s treated as if it’s a dirty secret. Not helpful.
In the past, it was often said that children should neither be seen nor heard. This also seems to be how the monarchy is organised. The patriarchal father is allowed to do everything, every right applies to him. The status of the child applies to everyone else. Obey and be invisible and inaudible. Unless the father wants to see a child. Keep them at your disposal. All of them. The father can do anything. All others will be punished if they are audible. Full stop. Monarchy. It’s quite clear that a grown woman doesn’t accept that.
It’s amazing how Camilla overcomes her aversion to flying to go to far-off spas.
and hunting in Spain…
Tin foil tiara: Charles is worse off than what is reported and William is going to get the Crown pretty soon. The Firm and the Government know William is not fit for the job, and they need Harry back to prop William up again. Hence Operation Sentebale-gate. Iain, William’s stooge, awakes sleeper agent Chandauka to cause chaos to try to takeover the charity. By taking it away and other charities they believe they can force him to return to the UK. William must be desperate to have his toady Iain to have this out in the open.
William was scheming for years now. Like the pathetic Commercial Airline photo op, he pulled. And Knauf etc.
Yes, at this point Charles’ aides probably won’t even buy him green bananas. William doesn’t want the job and is probably making big plans to hide during his reign. He’s going to blow off weekly meetings with the PM, just do Earthshot stuff and no more Sandringham church walks at Christmas. He’ll probably fire a bunch of courtiers too.
The Firm Stooges will probably dangle Sentebale in front of Harry in a futile attempt to lure him back, and they’ll fire Chandauka to sweeten the deal.
Various reports last year said Charles has pancreatic cancer & was much sicker than the Palace was admitting. Who knows if it’s true, the absurd secrecy about his diagnosis means open season for speculation.
@Wesley certain cancers have very poor survival rates and pancreatic cancer is one of them. If that or stomach cancer had been announced then tabs would have openly estimated 6 to 12 months for KC. He would hate that and hence no confirmation of cancer type.
Pancreatic, depending on when it’s found, can be 6mos to 2yrs? Maybe 3 with top docs?
Wild thought: is it possible that he already ill with this when he ascended the throne? Covid (he’s had it at least 2x) can cause new cancers to develop, as well as accelerate existing cancer dx. Her Late Maj went downhill fast after she was exposed to Covid by Cluck & Seabiscuit.
Hey BRF, BM, and men in gray, if you need Harry back that badly, and your poorly orchestrated and executed amateur-hour game plan hasn’t worked, maybe it’s time you made Harry an offer HE can’t refuse. From what I can see, TOB can’t run water, let alone a “kingdom”.
TOB has spent his adult life AVOIDING work. Last year he was shocked to the gunnels about dad’s cancer diagnosis and reacted badly having to take time off and eventually show up actually wobbly. He appears to have told to mix Aston Villa matches with some serious events in preparation for the Big Job. He’s nearly 43 so time to man up and assume his FK responsibility now.
He’s that unwell and she’s at her house? I know somebody want to suffer alone but it feels a little cold.
She loves her spas abroad doesn’t she, being waiting on and pampered by the natives…. Anyway… sounds like it’s not good for Charlie but what can we do. Bummer. They can try and set whatever narrative, it won’t really matter especially not to FK. He’s doing it HIS way.
And I know a few think the monarchy will implode under Willy but I think some underestimate the British appetite for mediocracy if it means retaining power. The institution will work around Willy to stay entrenched.
Is Charles actually battling terminal cancer?
“What’s a weekend?”
“Children should be seen but not heard” s how the old saying went.
The male gland is the PROSTATE gland. The other word, prostrate, means in a face down position.
It is obvious that Charles is very ill. Side effects can crop up at any time with some of the newer cancer drugs.
One of the biggest problems with having a monarchy is that you have to take whatever you get. When King George III had an episode of madness (he had several, some lasting for years) his son would become Regent and take over his duties temporarily. Since UK is a constitutional monarchy, no monarch is needed to govern.
I wonder what Diana would have thought about all this mess. The only ones I feel for are Prince Harry, Princess Meghan and their darling children. They will be targets of hate forever, even though (maybe BECAUSE) they are the best royals (including, of course, Princess Diana) in at least 80 years.