Buckingham Palace released new photos of King Charles for Maundy Thursday (today). In one of the photos, you can see Charles behind his desk, about to delivery his Maundy message. The Royal Maundy service is something QEII always enjoyed – the monarch goes to a pre-Easter church service and hands out Maundy money to peasants, usually specially-made gold coins. Last year, Charles and Camilla did the Maundy service together. This year, Camilla will go alone, but Charles wanted to be included, thus the Maundy message/address. Plus, Charles simply wants to ensure that there is never any kind of clamor for proof of life on his side. He’s been photographed consistently, not just within Buckingham Palace, but also as he’s being driven back and forth in London. This is all part of a larger strategy for the king, according to the Daily Beast’s sources, who emphasize that it will be very significant for Charles to step out to church on Easter Sunday:
The former staffer told The Daily Beast: “There has of course been concern about Charles’ health as there would be for anyone who said they had cancer. But if he can walk to church and wave and smile, that will shut down any speculation that he is not actually doing so well. Announcing his attendance in advance is a sign of confidence because, if for any reason he now can’t go, everyone will assume he is at death’s door.”
A friend of Charles and Queen Camilla told The Daily Beast that Camilla was “thrilled” her husband was going to be attending the Easter Day service. Camilla has been standing in for her husband at a series of events and is due to attend an important Maundy Thursday church service this week.
The king’s determination to remain part of public life (he has made a point of being driven around London to his various medical appointments in a state vehicle with big windows in recent weeks) means he will be far from absent; it is understood an audio message recorded by Charles, which does not reference his recent health struggles, will be played at the service.
The king has taken a very different approach to Princess Kate over his illness, insisting on visibility and inserting himself into the national conversation. An Easter Sunday walkabout is the logical next step. Of course, he doesn’t have young children of school age to protect, a fact which has driven almost all of William and Kate’s strategy. More importantly, of course, he is also the monarch, and the example here is his mother, who never let her bone cancer, which can be a very painful condition, stop her from making her way out onto the balcony when she needed to.
“The king has taken a very different approach to Princess Kate over his illness, insisting on visibility and inserting himself into the national conversation.” LOL. While there have been conversations about whether Charles should reveal much more about his diagnosis and treatment, let’s be real – Charles has never looked more competent and steady than when he’s being compared to the absolute clownery of Kensington Palace in the past three months. Now, all that being said… these new photos of Charles aren’t inspiring a lot of confidence.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.
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- London, UK, 27 March 2024: King Charles III (left) during an audience with Mohamed Nasheed, Secretary-General of the Climate Vulnerable Forum at Buckingham Palace in London.,Image: 860104632, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Yui Mok / Avalon
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- London, UK, 27 March 2024: King Charles III (left) during an audience with Mohamed Nasheed, Secretary-General of the Climate Vulnerable Forum at Buckingham Palace in London.,Image: 860104632, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Yui Mok / Avalon
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- London, UK, 27 March 2024: King Charles III (left) during an audience with Mohamed Nasheed, Secretary-General of the Climate Vulnerable Forum at Buckingham Palace in London.,Image: 860104654, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Yui Mok / Avalon
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- London, UK, 27 March 2024: King Charles III (left) during an audience with Mohamed Nasheed, Secretary-General of the Climate Vulnerable Forum at Buckingham Palace in London.,Image: 860104654, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: Yui Mok / Avalon
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- EMBARGOED TO 2230 WEDNESDAY MARCH 27 EDITORIAL USE ONLY. Publications are asked to credit BBC/Sky/ITV News. The photograph is being made available by way of license on condition that the photograph shall be solely for news editorial use only; there shall be no commercial use whatsoever of the photograph – including any use in merchandising, advertising or any other non-editorial use. The image must not be digitally enhanced, cropped, manipulated or modified in any manner or form. Undated handout photo issued by the Royal Household of King Charles III during the recording of the The King’s audio message which, was recorded in the 18th Century Room at Buckingham Palace, London, for the Royal Maundy Service which will take place at Worcester Cathedral on Thursday. Issue date: Wednesday March 27, 2024. Photo credit should read: BBC/Sky/ITV News/PA Wire NOTE TO EDITORS: This handout photo may only be used in for editorial reporting purposes for the contemporaneous illustration of events, things or the people in the image or facts mentioned in the caption. Reuse of the picture may require further permission from the copyright holder.,Image: 860289484, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: *** NO UK USE FOR 48 HRS ***, Model Release: no, Credit line: BBC/Sky/ITV News / Avalon
Charles is looking a lot like his father in that picture. He doesn’t look well at all.
Strange, I was just looking at Charles thinking how handsome Prince Philip was but he and the Queen did not have good looking children.
You may want to look at the Cambridge statue of Prince Philip! It’ll be a shock. Poor man.
Came here to say the same thing, he doesn’t look well and he seems like he’s wearing 3 layers of foundation in that photo. He’s sick so that’s completely understandable. Amazing that he managed to look more truthful than the other 2 at KP.
I could rant in a million ways about giving gold coins to peasants (really? In the 21st century they’re still throwing coins like in the Middle Ages??) but I’ll keep my mouth shut or I would get censored.
I saw the anti red makeup on Charles yesterday and of course whoever did it didn’t bring it down his neck all of the way. I can almost guess what product they’re using too by the way it looks.
But please bring it down his neck especially on the side he’s being photographed, royal make up artists! Use setting spray to protect his collar. My god these people are out of date.
I don’t really think the redness is cause for alarm – he’s always had pretty bad rosacea and has worn makeup for it the past few years I believe. The swollen hands are concerning, but again that seems to be something that he’s had for a number of years now. The main things I notice now are that his lips seem very dried out and also his eyes seem more bloodshot and watery, I would not be surprised if both of those things (which do seem to be new) are results of whatever cancer treatments he is receiving.
@WiththeAmerican The royal makeup artists put QEII in the wrong shade of foundation for like a decade so I don’t have much faith in their skill
Yeah – the resemblance to his father is striking her but I can also see elements of QE2 in his face/demeanour.
He is looking quite frail here – he’s def lost weight.
He’s either sicker than the palace is letting on or the treatment is really doing a number on him.
Cam has been throwing “thrilled” around a lot lately. It’s the Thrilla in Camilla!
Haha! I spewed my coffee. Well done, Water Lilly, well done.
😂😂😂
Hilarious!
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
🤣I love the Thrilla in Camilla comment🫶
LOL
🤣🤣🤣
If I go with ‘that’s what Charles said’ am I being too crass?
@SARAHCH, “Portrait of the King as a Young Tampon”? 🤣
Top marks @Water Lilly!
😂 that is a great line!
He looks like an elderly man in poor health. I mean, he IS an elderly man in poor health. This is fine. And I’m actually ok with the level of information Charles has given. He’s consistently being seen and family are giving updates and he’s fine.
Exactly, Tuesday.
Totally agree. He looks like an ill old man, which is what he is. He’s nicely balanced his need to recover in private alongside his duty to keep Brits informed. From his first announcement, to the sweet cards video, to this – why oh why have others in his family ****ed it up so badly.
He has enough powder on his face to be a fop.
It’s giving him a vampiric pallor
L84TEA I feel bad for laughing at that but lol
So the Daily Beast just confirmed that QEII did in fact have bone cancer. Has any other “reputable” outlet stated it so matter of factly before?
I caught that, too.
She had Multiple Myeloma which is cancer of the bone marrow and essentially a blood forming system cancer. It’s really nasty. I could go on but everyone would be bored. Another degree I didn’t finish but is useful.
MM is a funny one: it sometimes doesn’t manifest itself at all for many years – known as ‘smouldering’ myeloma. I’ve known people be diagnosed with it but die from other completely unrelated causes after several years but before suffering any symptoms. So whilst “having MM”, it may not have made itself felt before her death.
Anyway, cancer gets 1:2 of us & many of us more than once & with more than one type, so anyone’s chances of getting at least one type of cancer are pretty high. there are over 200 different types so, no, it will never be “cured” but we’re managing it better & better (although the UK is well behind the curve at the moment) & making living with cancer much more achievable & better.
@ Chattycath,, My Dad had Multiple Myeloma and you are right its a blood cancer that affects the bones and bone marrow. It can be painful but the treatment has come along way and it can be treated as a chronic illness if you catch it early. My Dad lived/fought for 5 years after he was diagnosed and we are so proud of him.
Thanks for the info, Chattycath. Appreciate the medical knowledge.
It is a nasty one. My mother had it 20+ years ago & it would have caused her death, had not her breast cancer returned and actually caused her death. I’m glad, @Wendy, your dad had another 5 years. That is a tough one.
Tina Brown confirmed it during one of her interviews about “Kategate”. She also confirmed that the queen was wheelchair bound for the last year
BP/Charles is handling this so much better than KP/Will did by such a great margin it’s laughable.
It’s also like they’re continuing to troll KP (despite how “close” Charles and Kate are now). Weird family.
If Chuck has been planning to use the Easter service as his big public outing that explains why Kate won’t be at the service – even him doing a walk about will be a big deal. I also don’t think she will be at Trooping either as her presence will take away from the King and QC and they will NOT have that – I can see Trooping being Chuck’s big return to public life. No way is he going to want her upstaging him. The Wails tried that at his coronation and it didn’t go well for them, the media coverage in the UK focused on Charles and Cams, their arrival / walk to their seats was a few clips here and there. You couldn’t even see them in the procession.
Digital unicorn, I think you’re actually right about that – that Charles would probably rather W&K not be at Easter or Trooping even if they wanted to be (though I would guess that William will be at Trooping and it’s probably just Kate that will miss Trooping). I’m sure William and Kate are happy to miss Easter anyway (and if she’s getting chemo, she probably did get medical advice not to be in crowds due to a suppressed immune system amongst other things like side effects of the chemo that she could be dealing with) – but I hadn’t considered before that Charles will definitely also want some time to soak up his solo attention and press upon his return to public events like these. Kate would take way too much attention from him were she to attend. I’m thinking whatever event she returns to (whenever that will be who knows) will be a solo or joint event with William, I doubt it will be something where Charles is also present.
“But if he can walk to church and wave and smile, that will shut down any speculation that he is not actually doing so well.”
This is a great example of the comms games these people play. Walking to church, waving and smiling, does not actually indicate anything whatsoever regarding Charles’ actual prognosis or recovery. It literally means nothing.
It’s the same as people asking “hey KP, nothing you guys say makes sense, can you maybe clarify?” being immediately spun into “the people are DEMANDING a photo of Kate, how INTRUSIVE, how UNFAIR”.
While everyone is entranced by KP’s little sideshow, we can’t forget that Charles is playing games too.
It isn’t substantive, you’re right. We don’t know what cancer he has, what stage, what treatment. But I’ve said all along that BP had a plan of boring, regular updates, photos, video messages, statements. They *aren’t* revealing, but they fill the void. Seeing him walking into Church *isn’t* proof of good health, but it’s reassuring, it’s proof of life. He isn’t trying to prove he feels good, he’s controlling the narrative. It’s night and day, compared to KP’s disaster of having no plan at all.
I agree. I’m a small-r republican (and frequently remind myself we fought a war so we wouldn’t have to care about this stuff) but until the UK abolishes the monarchy this is the minimum the BRF owes their citizens.
He looks to be declining fast with whatever treatment he is getting, makes me wonder just what type of cancer he has and how advanced it was.
Why do his lips always look like he’s just downed a glass of blood?
Chemo can cause sore chapped lips.
With the amount of makeup used on Charles, why don’t they do something to make his lips/mouth look less red? He always looks like he’s enjoyed the succulent flesh of some doomed newborn!
Whenever I start to feel something akin to sympathy for him, I’m reminded of how he stripped the Sussexes of their protection, refused to lift a finger to protect Meghan, evicted them from their home, refused to acknowledge Archie and Lilibet’s titles, and has briefed against Harry on a regular basis. I’m convinced that Charles is a dyed-in-the-wool racist who has plotted against Meghan since they were first introduced. No sad talk of his cancer or sight of his sausage fingers will ever make me feel sorry for him. I do feel sorry for everything Diana, Harry, and Meghan have suffered at the hands of this fiend.
All of this, and points for your doomed newborn reference.
Charles is a terrible father and a terrible person. I reflexively feel sad for anyone with cancer, but I’m not going to cry for a guy who deprived his grandchildren of safety.
Yes. And Meghan is such a lovely girl inside and out, her mom sent her to catholic school, she wrote calligraphy on invitations to make extra money on the side, and became a young philanthropist of sorts. No one wrote a single bad word of Meghan before she encountered the evil Windsor men and their female puppets.
It really seems that when good meets evil strange things happen. I mean how did two unrelated people in the same immediate family wind up with similar diagnoses in similar body regions at the exact same time. Creepy. So, so creepy.
Yep all he needs is a red silk lining in his cape, a pair of fangs and a beem to dangle upside down from. They made him up for the camera and gave us his “blad the impaler” lineage in one shot!!
I told you weeks ago they are keeping just how ill he is under wraps, but hopefully Heather will have some tea for me this weekend!
Hi MaryP. I’m fixed to be eating my double decker easter egg while scanning the DM for oversized Sunday bonnets at the BRF walk this Sunday. Is this still what’s happening or are plans off now W’s not going to join? best wishes, Sparrow
Hi Sparrow, I think people are going to have to look for helicopter flights to and from Anmer but, there is still a chance, because I don’t understand how someone “supposedly” to ill to attend church or travel far by car, can fly in a helicopter ⛪because unless they have changed a lot from my military days, you have a lap strap a possible shoulders harness (but not always) and there is pressure on your tummy on take off and landing
@ Mary Pester – did anyone say the reason Kate isn’t attending church is because she’s too weak to attend? I would guess that similar to Charles she received medical advice not to be in crowds (like church) while she was receiving chemo – not sure if Charles is making an exception for Easter or if he’s finished his first rounds of treatment now and is cleared to go now after missing other crowded events before? And also that she may have side effects from chemo that are leaving her nauseous, etc. and she doesn’t want to throw up or be sick in public. But she could still take a helicopter or car and privately be sick so it doesn’t seem that strange to me that she wouldn t go to church. What is the tea on someone wearing a big hat to Easter?
If Charles does show up around folks, I’d like to see him wearing a mask- like we recommend for others.
My cousin had non Hodgkin’s lymphoma cancer. When tests were done it was discovered that a very small cancer was in her stomach. She had nine months of chemotherapy and several months recovery after she finished. During chemotherapy it was reinforced that she should not go out much and definitely not in group settings. At all times she wore a mask. When receiving chemotherapy it is very important to not be exposed to anything that could cause severe illness. The immune system is at its lowest and least effective. I don’t feel either KC or Kate should be out and about. Also this is why I believe the farmer’s market is a fake Kate. The risk of exposure would be far too great.
The farmer’s market Kate is a slap in the face of credibility. Just an awful sham.
So let’s be real, the farmers market photos I believe are real and are Kate – but I would not be surprised if the palace actually requested that she be seen out in public either hoping that someone would leak it to a paper or that they themselves alerted certain papers or publications and wanted them to publish that she was out and about just to calm down some of the rumours. It is sad if the palace asked her to do something that went against medical advice, but I could also see how her doctor might have said she could be around people outside or for short periods of time inside (like.popping into a store for five minutes) while also saying don’t go to something crowded indoors with hundreds of people for extended.oeriods of time like a church service, or a museum, or a fundraising gala, etc.
I typically don’t pay much attention to pics of Charles, and G-d knows I don’t want to say horrible things while I know he has cancer and undergoing treatment. But my heavens, he has aged 10 years since The Commonwealth video speech. I wonder what measures have been put in place for the Easter service to limit his exposure to the public — not because of his immune system, but because he looks frail and I can’t imagine his vanity allows for that to be seen. Liz looked better than he does now at her Jubbly and she was 21 years older then than he is now
I still firmly believe he is not long for this world. This accounts, in part, for William’s bizarre behavior. Something might actually be expected of this do-nothing prince.
Are they just trolling us now? What’s with the fuzzy flowers?