King Charles III of Great Britain has been diagnosed with cancer. Buckingham Palace said the 75-year-old monarch would postpone public relations but would continue to carry out his public duties.
British media are already discussing how serious the king’s illness is, whether Charles III will be able to continue all his affairs, who will replace him in the event of death, and whether contemporary kings have abdicated the throne due to illness.
Charles III fell ill
King Charles III was diagnosed with cancer while recently hospitalized for benign prostatic hyperplasia, Buckingham Palace said. According to official data, the king has already begun treatment.
Buckingham Palace added: “His Majesty the King has decided to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation, and in the hope that it will enhance public understanding of all those affected by cancer around the world.”
Charles III will continue to handle government affairs and official papers during his outpatient treatment.
Buckingham Palace said the king hopes to return to full public activity as soon as possible.
Charles III became King of Great Britain after the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, in September 2022, after 70 years of rule. Charles III was crowned in May 2023 in Westminster Abbey.
Will the third be able to perform his duties?
British Guardian journalists question the ability of King Charles, 75, to perform a number of duties with such a diagnosis.
The newspaper reported that the king “started his new job ten years after the legal retirement age for most men.”
According to journalists, a cancer diagnosis is much more serious than Charles III’s injured back and broken thumb.
The newspaper wrote that the disease was discovered in the king “at the moment when he became famous and his popularity began to increase.”
Who will take the throne after Charles III?
According to the law of succession to the throne, after Charles III, his eldest son, Prince William, will become king.
In this context, Elena Ananieva, head of the Center for British Studies at the Europe Institute of the Russian Academy of Sciences, expressed her doubt that the monarch would abdicate the throne due to illness. “There have never been such cases in the history of the British monarchy,” Ananieva explains.
In 2013, amendments were made to the Succession to the Throne Law. For example, gender no longer plays a role in determining the next king, therefore, according to the law, after William, his children with Kate Middleton will be able to claim the throne: Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
The second son of the King of Great Britain, Prince Harry, is only fifth on the list of potential kings, followed by his son and daughter with Meghan Markle.
William’s brother lives with his family in the United States, where they moved after stepping down from royal duties in January 2020.
On March 31, Harry and Meghan officially resigned and lost their titles as Their Royal Highnesses.
After learning of his father’s illness, the prince decided to travel to the United Kingdom.
News agencies reported that the Duke of Sussex spoke with the king about his diagnosis and would travel to the United Kingdom to see him in the coming days.
Less popular than his mother
According to the Ipsos poll, Charles III’s performance as king was evaluated positively by 51% of respondents, and negatively by 9%. In the Commonwealth of British Crown Dependencies, there are roughly similar percentages regarding the King’s performance.
For example, in Canada his approval rating was 60%, while Queen Elizabeth II had 82%.
The British expected uncharacteristic activity from Charles III as king, but so far the king has remained true to tradition, with the monarch performing purely ceremonial functions.
Expert Ananieva recalled another fact from the king’s biography, which could influence the attitude of his subjects towards him: “They really don’t like him very much. Firstly, he, of course, has no charisma. Secondly, the story of Princess Diana haunts him. They had an unhappy marriage, betrayal “. She pointed out that this is a kind of melodrama.
Abdication
There are examples in modern history of kings abdicating the throne due to health problems.
For example, in January 2024, Queen Margrethe II of Denmark made such a decision.
She ruled for 52 years, but due to serious back surgery, she abdicated the throne to her son, 55-year-old Crown Prince Frederick.
For a similar reason, the 79-year-old King Albert of Belgium abdicated in July 2013, saying at the time: “I realize that my age and health no longer allow me to perform my duties as I want.” “Prince Philip is well prepared to become my successor,” he added.
In 2014, Spanish King Juan Carlos I also resigned.
Juan Carlos said that this step is necessary “to overcome and correct the mistakes of the past.”
According to Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy, the king abdicated the throne due to his health condition, which was rapidly deteriorating. According to the Prime Minister, in the last years of his rule, the king underwent several hip surgeries.
