Britain’s royals suffered a double blow last year: two of the most senior members of the family are battling cancer. King Charles III was diagnosed in early February 2024, just 17 months into his reign. Six weeks later, the 75-year-old monarch’s daughter-in-law, Kate Middleton, revealed that she had also been diagnosed with cancer. Catherine underwent “a course of preventative chemotherapy,” and in January 2025 she announced that she is in remission. In a recorded message released on December 12, 2025, King Charles said he’s made good progress so his “cancer treatment can be reduced in the New Year.”
Here’s a roundup, which we’ll keep updated, of the latest news about the king and the princess’s health, and how Britain’s royal family is handling the situation.
What did King Charles say in his cancer address?
King Charles recorded a message about his cancer journey, which was broadcast on Friday, December 13 as part of a national cancer awareness campaign in the U.K. The video was part of an evening of fundraising programs on Channel 4 for the “Stand Up to Cancer” campaign.
In the message, Charles spoke about the importance of early cancer detection, and shared some good (if vague) news about his 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,” King Charles said.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson released a statement on this new stage in the King’s treatment (which avoided the word “remission,” as People noted).
“His Majesty has responded exceptionally well to treatment, and his doctors advise that ongoing measures will now move into a precautionary phase,” the spokesperson said. “This position will be continuously monitored and reviewed to protect and prioritize his continued recovery.”
What kind of cancer does King Charles have?
We don’t know what type of cancer Charles has, or its stage. Buckingham Palace announced the king’s diagnosis on February 5, 2024, a week after he was released from a London hospital following unrelated treatment for an enlarged prostate. The statement read:
During The King’s recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted. Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer.
His Majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties. Throughout this period, His Majesty will continue to undertake State business and official paperwork as usual.
The King is grateful to his medical team for their swift intervention, which was made possible thanks to his recent hospital procedure. He remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible.
His Majesty has chosen to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer.
Palace officials confirmed Charles does not have prostate cancer, according to the New York Times, but “made clear that they would not issue regular updates on the king’s condition, and they asked reporters not to attempt to contact those involved in his treatment.”
It was unusual for the king to even reveal he was being treated for an enlarged prostate, as the royals are extremely private about their health (for example, Queen Elizabeth II’s official cause of death at the age of 96 was listed as only “old age” on her death certificate).
What treatment is the king receiving?
Charles began outpatient treatment on February 5, 2024. No further details have been released.
Have there been any other updates on Charles’s health?
The king initially stopped appearing at public events as he was undergoing treatment. On April 27, 2024, Buckingham Palace said King Charles’s medical team was “sufficiently pleased with the progress made so far that the King is now able to resume a number of public-facing duties.”
Since then, King Charles has appeared in public regularly, and has made several overseas trips. In October 2024, he paused his cancer treatment for a nine-day tour of Australia and Samoa. The trip was seen as a test of Charles’s stamina, and he passed (though he raised health concerns by leaving a luncheon in his honor after just 10 minutes).
During a farewell ceremony in Samoa, Charles said he hopes “that I survive long enough to come back again and see you all.”
NEW King Charles speaks of hoping “to survive long enough” to return to Samoa: “I shall always remain devoted to this part of the world and hope that I survive long enough to come back again and see you.” As the heavens opened, Queen Camilla got the giggles, hiding behind her fan pic.twitter.com/35ohoIJ6EX
— Roya Nikkhah (@RoyaNikkhah) October 25, 2024
King Charles was briefly hospitalized on March 27, 2025 at The London Clinic “following scheduled and ongoing medical treatment for cancer” that morning, according to a statement Buckingham Palace shared with People. “The King experienced temporary side effects that required a short period of observation in [the] hospital,” the statement continued.
King Charles has publicly alluded to his health issues several times, without going into any detail. At a Buckingham Palace reception for cancer charities on April 30, 2025, he praised “all those who support cancer patients and their loved ones” and spoke vaguely about his own experience:
Each diagnosis, each new case, will be a daunting and at times frightening experience for those individuals and their loved ones. But as one among those statistics myself, I can vouch for the fact that it can also be an experience that brings into sharp focus the very best of humanity.
It has certainly given me an even deeper appreciation of the extraordinary work undertaken by the remarkable organisations and individuals gathered here this evening, many of whom I have known, visited and supported over the years. And it has reinforced what I have long observed during these visits – that the darkest moments of illness can be illuminated by the greatest compassion.
A message from The King in recognition of all who work to support cancer patients and their loved ones.
This evening, Their Majesties will host representatives from community-based cancer organisations and initiatives to thank them for their tireless work in providing support to… pic.twitter.com/jSxrszMZu7
— The Royal Family (@RoyalFamily) April 30, 2025
What type of cancer does Kate Middleton have?
We don’t know. On January 17, 2024 Kensington Palace announced that the 42-year-old Princess of Wales had undergone a “planned abdominal surgery” at The London Clinic the previous day.
The statement said she was “unlikely to return to public duties until after Easter” and expressed “her wish that her personal medical information remains private.”
At the time, a royal source told CNN that Kate Middleton’s condition was noncancerous. But as the princess explained in a video posted March 22, 2024 that diagnosis changed.
“The surgery was successful. However, tests after the operation found cancer had been present,” she said. “My medical team therefore advised that I should undergo a course of preventative chemotherapy and I am now in the early stages of that treatment.”
A message from Catherine, The Princess of Wales pic.twitter.com/5LQT1qGarK
— The Prince and Princess of Wales (@KensingtonRoyal) March 22, 2024
Kate has three children with Prince William. At the time of her diagnosis, George was 10, Charlotte was 8, and Louis was 5.
The princess said that the news came as “huge shock,” but, “I am well and getting stronger every day by focusing on the things that will help me heal, in my mind, body and spirits.”
What treatment is Kate Middleton recieving?
Beyond the princess saying she’s undergoing “preventative chemotherapy” we don’t know anything about her treatment.
In June rumors surfaced online that Kate Middleton was spotted at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston, Texas, which is one of the best cancer hospitals in the world. On June 10, 2024 the Houston Chronicle reported that the rumor “is false, according to a Kensington Palace representative.”
What’s the latest news on Kate Middleton’s health?
For three months following her March 22, 2024 cancer announcement, Kate Middleton did not appear on royal social media accounts and was not spotted in public. During this time Kensington Palace released only one official health update. On May 22, 2024 a palace spokesman told the BBC, “The princess is not expected to return to work until it’s cleared by her medical team.”
The princess shared a written health update on Kensington Palace social media feeds on June 14, 2024.
“I am making good progress, but as anyone going through chemotherapy will know, there are good days and bad days,” she wrote. “On those bad days you feel weak, tired and you have to give in to your body resting. But on the good days, when you feel stronger, you want to make the most of feeling well.”
Catherine attended Trooping the Colour on June 15, 2024. The annual event honoring King Charles III’s birthday was her first official public appearance since Christmas 2023.
Catherine announced that she has completed chemotherapy in a video posted to her official social media accounts on September 9, 2024. She resumed regular in-person royal duties later that month.
The Princess returned to work in-person for the first time since starting her cancer treatment on September 17, 2024. She attended a private meeting at Windsor Castle for her Royal Foundation Centre for Early Childhood organization.
Catherine confirmed that she is in remission and thanked the Royal Marsden Hospital in London “for looking after me so well during the past year” in a January 14, 2025 social media post:
How did Prince William respond to his wife and his father’s cancer diagnoses?
Hours before Charles’s cancer diagnosis was made public, it was announced that Prince William would return to public duties on February 7, 2024. He had taken time off to support his wife after her surgery.
Prince William thanked the public for their “kind messages of support for Catherine and for my father” at a gala dinner for London’s Air Ambulance Charity on February 8, 2024. (At this point his wife’s cancer diagnosis had not been announced.)
“It’s fair to say the past few weeks have had a rather medical focus, so I thought I’d come to an air ambulance function to get away from it all,” he joked.
Prince William thanked the nation for its ‘kind messages of support’ for his wife and father tonight
He said the heartfelt words of comfort received by his family following Kate’s hospitalisation and King Charles’ shock cancer diagnosis ‘means a great deal to us all’. pic.twitter.com/UmP8vTMT70— Rebecca English (@RE_DailyMail) February 7, 2024
After taking several weeks off to support his wife during her cancer treatment, Prince William returned to public duties on April 18, 2024.
Prince William briefly discussed Princess Catherine’s health before the Earthshot Prize awards were announced on November 6, 2024.
“She’s doing really well thanks. And hopefully, she is watching tonight. So cheering me on,” he said, adding, “She’s been amazing this whole this whole year. I know she will be really keen to see tonight be a success.”
How did Prince Harry respond to his father’s diagnosis?
Though Prince Harry’s relationship with his father has been rocky since he stepped back from royal duties in 2020 and released a tell-all memoir in 2023, Charles called Harry to break the news before it was made public, according to a spokesperson for the prince and his wife Meghan Markle.
Harry immediately took an 11-hour flight from Los Angeles to London to be with the king. Markle and their two young children, Archie and Lilibet, did not accompany Harry to the U.K.
On February 6, 2024 the prince was spotted arriving at Clarence House, the king and queen’s London residence, where Charles was resting following outpatient treatment, per The Guardian. A short time after reuniting with Harry, Charles, and Camilla were driven to Buckingham Palace. About ten minutes later, a helicopter took off from the palace grounds and later landed at the king’s Sandringham estate.
BREAK: King Charles & Queen Camilla have left Buckingham Palace for Sandringham via helicopter. #KingCharlesIII pic.twitter.com/lu98KfGLL5
— Oliver Whitfield-Miočić (@olivermiocic) February 6, 2024
Harry spent the night in a London hotel, not a royal residence, and did not see his brother William, according to the Daily Mail. The prince left the U.K. a day later.
Harry talked about his father’s diagnosis in an interview with Good Morning America that aired on February 16, 2024. The prince was in Whistler, British Columbia touring the site of the 2025 Invictus Games.
“I jumped on a plane and went to go see him as soon as I could,” Harry said. “Look, I love my family. The fact that I was able to get on a plane and go and see him and spend any time with him, I’m grateful for that.”
When asked if Charles’s illness might have a “reunifying effect” on the family, Harry replied, “Absolutely. Yeah, I’m sure.”
“Throughout all of these families, I see it on a day-to-day basis — again, the strength of the family unit coming together,” Harry said. “So, yeah, I think any illness, any sickness, brings families together. I see it time and time again, and that makes me very happy.”
EXCLUSIVE: Prince Harry to @ReeveWill on visiting King Charles after cancer diagnosis: “I love my family. The fact that I was able to get on a plane and go see and spend anytime with him, I’m grateful for that.” https://t.co/yDp82WU7Bk pic.twitter.com/lO0cebeO9i
— Good Morning America (@GMA) February 16, 2024
Harry met with his father in September 2025, while he was in the U.K. to attend charity events. Their private tea at Clarence House lasted about 50 minutes, according to the BBC. It was the first time Harry and Charles had seen each other in person since February 2024.
How did Queen Camilla respond to Charles’s diagnosis?
Queen Camilla, who broke royal protocol by accompanying her husband to the hospital for his prostate procedure, continued her usual schedule of public engagements during his cancer treatment and filled in for Charles at some official events.
What happens if Charles can’t perform his duties at all?
If King Charles is temporarily unable to conduct his constitutional duties, two “counselors of state” can be appointed to carry out official business. CNN has more details:
Two counselors can be appointed to act on the monarch’s behalf through what’s known as a letters patent and help keep the state ticking over. They would be authorized to sign documents, attend Privy Council meetings, and receive new ambassadors, but not perform some of the most important constitutional roles, such as appointing a Prime Minister. CNN understands there are no current plans to appoint any counselors.
Usually, the counsellor of state position can go to the monarch’s spouse and the first four people in the line of succession over the age of 21. After Prince Andrew and Prince Harry ceased being “working royals,” Charles added two of his siblings to the list in 2022. Since Harry no longer resides in the U.K., the following people are eligible to fill this role: Queen Camilla, Prince William, Prince Andrew, Princess Beatrice, Prince Edward, and Princess Anne.
Will King Charles abdicate?
That does not appear to be under consideration at the moment, and there is a step between appointing counsellors of state and Charles permanently giving up the throne.
If the monarch is completely unable to fulfill their duties, the person next in line to the throne, in this case Prince William, could fully assume those powers as regent. Per CNN:
For that to happen, there has to be medical evidence “that the Sovereign is by reason of infirmity of mind or body incapable for the time being of performing the royal functions” or “is for some definite cause not available for the performance of those functions.”
A panel of four needs to be satisfied with the evidence by a majority vote. That panel consists of the Lord Chancellor, the Speaker of the House of Commons, the Lord Chief Justice of England, the Master of the Rolls, and The Queen. They would need to declare their decision in writing and would also declare if or when the King is ready to resume his duties. In the meantime, Prince William would act in his name.
Once Charles recovers, William could relinquish the role of regent with the declaration of a “cessation of incapacity.”
Is Buckingham Palace making plans for the funeral of King Charles?
Following Charles’s cancer diagnosis his funeral plans are being “regularly updated,” according to the Daily Beast:
The Daily Beast has been told, for example, that not only are Charles’ funeral plans being regularly updated but that a document reviewing what went well after the queen’s funeral, and what could be done better next time a monarch dies—a kind of “lessons learned” crossed with a scorecard, the most esoteric of business reviews—is circulating in Whitehall.
The government department responsible for state funerals, the Cabinet Office, declined to comment on claims that the Operation Menai Bridge (as Charles’ funeral plan is codenamed) document is being regularly updated, but again emphasized that making no comment on such plans was routine.
But that isn’t necessarily a sign that his health is declining. The plans for Queen Elizabeth’s funeral dated back to the 1960s, The Guardian reported, and they were regularly refined over the years.
Who is next in the British line of succession?
The royal website features a list of the next 24 people in line to the throne. From the top, the order is Prince William; his children George, Charlotte, and Louis; then Prince Harry; his children Archie and Lilibet; and Prince Andrew.
This post has been updated throughout.