Sovereign to Broadcast First-Hand Address on Illness in Nationwide Address
King Charles has recorded a personal message concerning his journey with cancer, which will be broadcast as part of this year's annual cancer awareness initiative, run by Cancer Research UK and a major network.
The royal household confirmed the King would discuss his "healing process" as a cancer patient, in a video message on Friday evening at 8pm UK time.
The recording, filmed within Clarence House a fortnight ago, will stress the importance of preventative health checks to ensure more people catch the illness at an early stage.
This will be a rare update on the wellbeing of the Sovereign, who has been in a course of therapy since the news was shared in early last year. However, it is believed doubtful the King will disclose his specific form of cancer.
Fundraising Primary Goal
The Stand Up To Cancer event each year raises funds for scientific studies and therapies and prompts people to get check-ups to boost the probability of an timely detection.
The King's candid approach about his condition, and managing the disease, has been intended to raise awareness and to encourage more people to get checked - and this will be escalated with this unusual royal involvement.
So far the King's key philosophy to his cancer has been to keep working, maintaining a hectic timetable alongside his frequent sessions of therapy, and he is understood not to have sought to be overshadowed by his illness.
This year has seen the 77-year-old Monarch, taking several overseas trips, notably to Italy and Canada, and receiving the highest tally of foreign dignitaries to the UK for decades, featuring the German president recently.
The Televised Special Show
This Friday's charity broadcast on Channel 4, presented by celebrities including several TV personalities, will encourage people not to be afraid of getting preventative tests.
The hosts have been had experience with cancer - McCall revealed last month she had received treatment for a tumour, while Balding was treated for thyroid cancer more than 15 years ago. Presenter Adam Hills has previously spoken about his parent, who had stomach cancer and then later blood cancer.
The broadcast will target the approximate nine million people in the UK who health organisations state are not compliant with public health checks, with an website to let people determine if they are qualified for examinations for several common cancers.
In an attempt to explain health tests and illustrate the benefit of prompt detection there will be a live broadcast from treatment centres at medical facilities in Cambridge.
"My aim is to remove the anxiety surrounding preventative tests and demonstrate the public that they are not isolated in this," said a presenter.
The Landscape of Health Checks
At present in the UK, there are several key national health screening services - for major health concerns - available to certain age groups.
A new lung cancer screening programme is also being gradually implemented for anyone at increased risk of contracting the disease, primarily aimed at people aged 55-74 years old, who currently smoke or were former smokers.
Male patients may request prostate screenings, but there is not a universal scheme in place.
Ongoing Efforts
The charity initiative, which has collected £113m over the past decade, is funding 73 clinical trials involving thousands of patients.
King Charles, in a statement for attendees at a gathering for cancer charities in the spring, had spoken of recognising the "overwhelming and at times alarming situation" for cancer sufferers and their support networks.
But he noted his first-hand encounter of coping with cancer had shown him that "the darkest moments of illness can be illuminated by the kindness of others," as he praised those who looked after those receiving treatment.
The Palace has not revealed the nature of cancer the King has, or what treatment he has been given. The King's cancer was identified after he had received a routine operation.
