King Charles has cancelled engagements, including a trip to Birmingham on Friday, to prioritise his recovery as a precautionary measure after experiencing side effects to his cancer treatment

King Charles is pictured earlier this week in London(Image: Anadolu via Getty Images)

Poignant well wishes have been pouring in today to King Charles after he was admitted to hospital amid his cancer treatment.

Keir Starmer has led the kind messages following the monarch’s “bump in a road” as he continues his cancer journey. Charles has, though, had to cancel an away day to Birmingham today and a busy April lies ahead. A spokeswoman for the Prime Minister said Mr Starmer “wishes His Majesty the King all the very best.” Royal commentator Angela Levin also sent her regards to the King, writing on social media: “He’s a great man and I wish him well.”

The King experienced “temporary side-effects” of his cancer treatment, which required a short period of observation in The London Clinic in the heart of the capital. He is now back at Clarence House, Buckingham Palace confirmed last night in a statement to the press.

A royal aide called the visit a “most minor bump in a road” before adding Charles’ treatment was still “very much headed in the right direction”. He was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer in February 2024 and returned to public-facing duties in April despite still undergoing weekly treatment.

King Charles and Queen Camilla are set to visit Italy next month(Image: Getty Images

And it is this attitude our Royal Editor, Russell Myers, noted in an opinion column for the Mirror last night. The expert left a kind message to the monarch in the piece and said Charles, known for being a workaholic, has adopted the late Queen’s mantra, “one must be seen to be believed”.

Such is Charles’ drive, he is still prepared to carry out a state visit to Italy on April 7 with Queen Camilla. It will be the King’s first overseas trip of the year following on from a gruelling two-week foreign tour to Australia and Samoa in October, during which he temporarily paused cancer treatment.

Mr Myers wrote: “I have watched him up close on engagements since then, both at home and abroad, and must admit I thought he may have bitten off a rather sizeable chunk in travelling to Australia and Samoa for such a massive tour last October. Anyone who has travelled Down Under will tell you the jet lag is another level when you arrive and Charles looked particularly shattered during the first few days on engagements. But after a dose of the gorgeous Aussie sun, he settled into the time zone and looked in his element.”

As his and other well wishes continue to pour in, Buckingham Palace clarified the monarch’s hospital admission. It stressed the 76-year-old father of two needed to be “observed” just for a short time.

A spokesperson said on Thursday: “Following scheduled and ongoing medical treatment for cancer this morning, the King experienced temporary side effects that required a short period of observation in hospital.

“His Majesty’s afternoon engagements were therefore postponed. His Majesty has now returned to Clarence House and as a precautionary measure, acting on medical advice, tomorrow’s diary programme will also be rescheduled. His Majesty would like to send his apologies to all those who may be inconvenienced or disappointed as a result.”