King Charles III marked his 77th birthday on Friday with a full slate of engagements, showing a firm commitment to public duty despite his ongoing cancer treatment.
The day began with traditional gun salutes across London in his honour, while the monarch braved the rain in South Wales to inaugurate a train depot. Charles and Queen Camilla later attended a reception commemorating the 200th anniversary of Cyfarthfa Castle, a treasured Welsh landmark.
Since announcing his diagnosis with an unspecified form of cancer in February 2024, Charles has maintained a steady workload. He returned to public duties after visiting a London cancer treatment centre, where he met other patients and spoke openly about the “shock” of receiving the diagnosis.
His schedule has remained active in recent months, including hosting a grand state visit for US President Donald Trump at Windsor Castle in September.
Living With Cancer
While most of his engagements have remained within the United Kingdom, Charles has continued to represent the monarchy abroad. Last month, he and Queen Camilla travelled to the Vatican, where he participated in a historic joint prayer session with Pope Leo XIV.
Royal author Robert Jobson noted that the palace has offered limited updates on the king’s health, saying only that he is “living with cancer.”
“It’s not the same as being in remission,” Jobson explained. “But I think he’s doing a terrific job. He can’t be expected to be 100 percent fit.”
Known for his strong work ethic, Charles is believed to have pushed for an early return to royal duties. Yet some routines have reportedly shifted—most notably, he has begun adopting a regular lunch habit, something he had long avoided.
Camilla, speaking to the BBC during their Vatican visit, affirmed that work continues to motivate him. “You’ve been ill and you are recovering, you’re getting better, and now he wants to do more and more and more. That’s the problem,” she said with a smile.
Challenges Within ‘The Firm’
Despite Charles’ smooth personal return to duty, internal challenges within the royal family persist. Tensions remain with his younger son, Prince Harry, and renewed controversy surrounds his brother, Prince Andrew.
Last month, Charles stripped Andrew of his prince title due to lingering fallout from Andrew’s association with convicted US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein. Andrew was also instructed to vacate his residence on the Windsor estate. With new Epstein-related material continuing to surface, analysts say the issue is far from over.
William Steps Forward
As Charles continues treatment, other senior royals are assuming greater visibility. Prince William, the heir apparent, made his first visit to Brazil this month for the Earthshot Prize ceremony, which awards £1 million to each of five groundbreaking environmental initiatives.
An active environmentalist like his father, William has emphasized carving out time for family—his wife Catherine and their children George, Charlotte, and Louis. However, he recently hinted at broader ambitions, noting that “change is on my agenda.”
