King Charles takes helicopter to Sandringham after heartbreaking cancer diagnosis

As is so often the case with the Royal Family, details surrounding Charles’ health issues are scarce. What we do know is that Prince Harry returned to the UK on Tuesday to meet face-to-face in a private meeting with his father for the first time since Queen Elizabeth died, while the King is said to have informed his closest loved ones about his diagnosis personally.

Earlier this week, Charles and Queen Camilla were sighted for the first time since the cancer announcement as they left Clarence House in London to catch a helicopter to Norfolk.

Reports state that the helicopter landed at the royal Sandringham estate – where the Royal Family are known to spend their Christmases – at around 4.20pm on Tuesday, hours after Charles had spoken to Harry.

LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 6: King Charles III and Queen Camilla leave Clarence House on February 6, 2024 in London, England. Buckingham Palace announced yesterday that the King would step back from official duties whilst being treated for cancer. (Photo by Carl Court/Getty Images)

The King is said to have already started treatment for his cancer, with the Daily Mail citing sources as having said that he is ‘on good form’.

Nevertheless, it’s speculated that Charles may take a prolonged absence from his official duties and royal appearances as his treatment gets underway.

Robert Hardman, author of Charles III: New King. New Court. The Inside Story, told BBC Radio 4’s Today program: “I would imagine we probably won’t see him at Westminster Abbey now.

“I’m sure there will be a statement, a message – he’ll want to engage with that. It’s moments like that when an absence is noted, but the day-to-day running of the monarchy will not really change.”

SANDRINGHAM, UNITED KINGDOM – FEBRUARY 04: (EMBARGOED FOR PUBLICATION IN UK NEWSPAPERS UNTIL 24 HOURS AFTER CREATE DATE AND TIME) King Charles III and Queen Camilla attend the Sunday service at the Church of St Mary Magdalene on the Sandringham estate on February 4, 2024 in Sandringham, England. The King was discharged from hospital last Monday after spending three nights in The London Clinic following a corrective procedure for an enlarged prostate. (Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)

Indeed, the overarching message from Buckingham Palace is that in spite of the King’s ill health, it will be business as usual moving forward.

Alarming reports over the past few days, however, paint a different picture.

Citing medical experts, Radar Online speculate that Charles’ cancer is likely to be near his prostate, and could be in his liver, stomach, or lung.

New York Internist Dr. Stuart Fischer told Radar: “You die with prostate cancer, not of it, according to most current studies. There are medicines and they have been around for at least 30 years. They are anti-testosterones, and, in most cases, they prevent the growth of the metastasis.”

“Once a metastasis spreads to the lung and liver, for example, it is quite difficult to treat,” Dr. Fischer added. “If the cancer was found in the lung and liver for example his life expectancy will be a couple of years – if he’s lucky.”