Earlier this month, it was rumored that King Charles was preparing himself for what might be his “last Christmas” due to the fact that “his health isn’t the best”—but now we’re finally getting a health update from the monarch himself. On December 12, Charles appeared in Channel 4’s Stand Up To Cancer broadcast with a pre-recorded message (which was filmed in late November), and he shocked viewers by opening up about his ongoing cancer treatment.
“Today I am able to share with you the good news that thanks to early diagnosis, effective intervention and adherence to ‘doctors’ orders,’ my own schedule of cancer treatment can be reduced in the New Year,” he said, adding that “this milestone is both a personal blessing and a testimony to the remarkable advances that have been made in cancer care in recent years.”
However! While his treatment will be “reduced” in 2026, he is not totally in the clear yet. A spokesperson for the King later told CNN that “His Majesty has responded exceptionally well to treatment and his doctors advise that ongoing measures will now move into a precautionary phase.”
The spokesperson added, “This position will be continuously monitored and reviewed to protect and prioritize his continued recovery.”
As a reminder: Charles first announced he had been diagnosed with cancer in February 2024. Ahead of the holidays last year, palace sources noted that “his treatment has been moving in a positive direction and as a managed condition the treatment cycle will continue into next year,” but the King seemingly had a setback in March 2025, when he was briefly hospitalized due to side effects from his ongoing treatment.
By April, insiders told Harper’s Bazaar that—while there are no plans for Charles to abdicate—the royals have been preparing for William to become King “earlier than expected” for years now.
The last time Charles offered an update on his health was back in September while meeting with cancer patients at Midland Metropolitan University Hospital. According to Hello! magazine, the monarch told a patient, “I’m not too bad,” when asked about his recovery.
During Prince William’s appearance on Eugene Levy’s The Reluctant Traveler the following month, Wills gave a similarly vague update about his father’s health, noting, “Everything is progressing in the right way, which is all good news.”
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