Complicating matters further, Charles has been dealing with difficult family developments. His brother Prince Andrew was stripped of his remaining royal roles following allegations tied to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
King Charles Shares a Glimpse Into His Health Struggles
During a September visit to a Birmingham hospital, the king provided rare insight into how treatment has been affecting him. He officially opened the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital and met with staff, volunteers, and cancer patients.
One of them was 85-year-old Jacqueline Page, who chatted with the monarch and exchanged lighthearted comments. Page remarked that she was “wearing out,” and Charles replied, “I know, this is the terrible thing, as I am discovering already. The bits don’t work so well when you get past 70.”

He also spoke with 73-year-old cancer patient Matthew Shinda, who asked him about his recovery. “I’m not too bad,” Charles said. When Matthew shared that he had prostate cancer, Charles answered, “Half the problem is detecting it, isn’t it, in time,” adding, “the great thing I think is they’re getting better and better at dealing with these things. The trouble is there’s always hope down the road. I am sorry about that; it’s so frustrating.”
Expert Suggests the King’s Cancer May Be Incurable
Although his exact condition is still unknown, Charles remains deeply committed to fulfilling his royal duties. However, one royal insider has cast a worrying light on the future. In June, journalist Camilla Tominey claimed that the king’s cancer is not curable.
“The talk now is that he may die ‘with’ cancer, but not ‘of’ cancer following a rigorous treatment program,” she wrote in The Telegraph, according to the Daily Beast. She noted that early plans for Charles’s 80th birthday celebrations in 2028 remain “tentative” because of his health.