King Charles III issues first message since hospitalization

King Charles III has given his first public statement since being taken to hospital on Thursday, issuing a statement in support of those affected by the earthquake in Myanmar.

The 76-year-old is currently undergoing cancer treatment and was forced to cancel planned engagements on Friday after spending a short period of time in hospital. The BBC reports that he will spend the weekend at his Highgrove estate in Gloucester but he issued a statement addressing the people of Myanmar.

“My wife [Queen Camilla] and I were most dreadfully shocked and saddened to learn of the devastating earthquake in Myanmar, with its tragic loss of life and appalling damage to homes, buildings and livelihoods, not to mention the destruction of sacred pagodas, monasteries and other places of worship,” the King wrote.

“I know that the people of Myanmar continue to endure so much hardship and tragedy in your lives, and I have long admired your extraordinary resilience and spirit.”

Why was King Charles taken to hospital?

The King is currently undergoing cancer treatment and experienced temporary side effects on Thursday. He was taken to hospital but soon returned to his Clarence House residence and was able to continue work on state papers and calls from his study, although a tour of Birmingham planned for Friday was cancelled.

“Tomorrow, he was due to undertake four public engagements in Birmingham and is greatly disappointed to be missing them on this occasion,” a statement from the Palace explained.

“He very much hopes that they can be rescheduled in due course and offers his deepest apologies to all those who had worked so hard to make the planned visit possible.”

In February 2024 Buckingham Palace announced that the King had been diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer. The issue was first identified while he underwent treatment regarding a separate issue in January.

Soon after that announcement his wife Camilla confirmed that the King was “doing extremely well under the circumstances, he’s very touched by all the letters and the messages the public have been sending from everywhere – that’s very cheering.”

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