Achi news desk-
LONDON –
King Charles III returned to public office on Tuesday, visiting a cancer treatment charity and beginning his carefully managed comeback after the queen’s own cancer diagnosis sidelined him for three months.
The event marks the monarch’s first formal public engagement since February 6, when Buckingham Palace announced he would be taking a break from his public duties to focus on his treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer.
This will be the first of several public appearances that Charles will make in the coming weeks as he prepares to host a state visit by the emperor and empress of Japan in June.
It is not clear how many traditional summer royal events, including the king’s formal birthday parade and the horse races at Royal Ascot, Charles will attend as his treatment continues. The palace said last week that doctors were “very encouraged” by the king’s progress, but his schedule would be adjusted as necessary to protect his recovery.
For now, Tuesday’s appearance gives Charles another opportunity to raise awareness of the benefits of early diagnosis and treatment of cancer and other health problems as he has done throughout his illness.
Unlike most royals before him, Charles chose to go public with details of his health when he was first treated for an enlarged prostate and later diagnosed with cancer. The decision raised awareness of these issues.
The National Health Service in England said the number of people seeking advice about prostate problems increased 11 times in the weeks after Charles announced he was undergoing treatment.
