The skies above Cheltenham may not yet be showing any signs of sunshine, but that didn’t appear to dampen the spirits of those entering the racecourse on the final day of the Gloucestershire meet.

Alongside classic spectator attire – including neutral macs, knee-high riding boots and wide-brimmed fedoras galore, there were plenty of racegoers determined to get themselves noticed in the style stakes. 

The last day of the four-day race meet, which originated in 1860, saw a pair of male spectators in dazzling gold suits, clearing a nod to the famous Gold Cup that will be handed out later today. 

Princess Anne led the royals on Friday; the 73-year-old, who also attended on Thursday, cut an elegant figure in a bright red coat, teamed with black suede boots and a brown fur hat.  The Princess Royal was accompanied by her husband Sir Tim Laurence.

Also in attendance was Mike and Zara Tindall, again back for more racing after attending the event on Thursday too. 

The royal couple exuded rural chic in a coordinated outfit, with Mike opting for a full tweed suit, and Zara in a grey belted coat with over-sized collar and black suede knee-high boots. 

There was a good smattering of famous faces spotted early on too, including actor Thomas Brodie-Sangster and fiancee Talulah Riley, and Nick Knowles and his partner Katie Dadzie. 

Ex Emmerdale and Strictly star Kelvin Fletcher and his wife Liz Marsland rocked full country chic with Kelvin donning a flat cap, while Liz sported a feathered fedora. 

Gossip Girl actor Ed Westwick was also pictured, arriving with his Bollywood actress fiancee Amy Jackson. The star donned black leather trousers and a brown overcoat, while his girlfriend looked on trend in a co-ordinated checked trousersuit and waistcoat. 

Elsewhere, it was all about the fashion. There were ladies wearing coats in shades of fuschia pink and the brightest of yellows and even some Texas Hold’em vibes; one lady donned a cowskin jacket and red bandana.

Some erred on the side of caution when it came to cooler temperatures, with plenty of faux fur Russian style hats also amongst the crowds. 

On hand with the entertainment was DJ and singer Craig David, who was belting out tunes as the final day’s action got underway  

Fashion wise, it’s been a similar story all week; yesterday guests kicked off St Patrick’s Thursday in style, with an array of check coats, vibrant hats and colour coordinated ensembles.

And they were in royal company as Princess Beatrice, 35, and Zara Tindall, 42, enjoyed a cousins’ day out, joined by their husbands Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, 40, and former rugby ace Mike Tindall, 45. 

The third day of the festival is known as St Patrick’s Thursday and dozens of revellers dressed accordingly, showing off their shamrocks, green frocks and emerald accessories. 

The Royal Family were also out in force on Thursday, Princess Beatrice and husband Edo joining Zara and Mike at the races.

Beatrice, looking chic in a brown coat, pill box hat and Kate Spade bag wrapped her arms around cousin Zara, who opted for a grey coat and green fascinator. 

A smattering of famous faces were spotted in the crowds, including actor James Nesbitt and presenter Nick Knowles who arrived hand-in-hand with his girlfriend Katie Dadzie.

Made In Chelsea star Georgia Toffolo looked chic in a retro style brown suede coat, teamed with a red headband, after missing the earlier days of the festival. 

This week she took to Instagram to tell fans she was disappointed not to attend every day of the event, but has been spending quality time with her boyfriend – BrewDog James Watt – after moving in together. 

Guests at this year’s meet have hiked up their hemlines, chugged beer and Red Bull and ditched Jimmy Choos for thigh high boots and trainers in a move that has lead to comparisons with Aintree, the Merseyside meet famed for it’s rowdy crowds and street style.

Last year, the Jockey Club scrapped its strict dress code at its racecourses in the hopes of encouraging a younger crowd to racing events, with jeans and trainers no longer looked down upon, and ‘come dressed to feel your best’ guidance in place. 

The formal dress codes – which often included a jacket and tie – were dropped in an effort to make horseracing more ‘accessible and inclusive’, the Jockey Club said in an announcement.

The only exceptions to the new policy at any of the 342 fixtures staged by The Jockey Club is offensive fancy dress or offensive clothing of any kind and replica sports shirts. 

This means trainers, tracksuits and ripped jeans are now allowed and punters so far have seemed to take advantage of this.

While Cheltenham is owned by the Jockey Club, the course never had a formal dress code. 

However, in previous years men would wear suits and women would wear smart dresses and heels, while jeans and trainers were usually avoided. 

But this year, stilettos have been traded in for chunky boots, and traditional long dresses have been hiked up. Noughties fashion seemed to be in vogue, with people opting for rara skirts and blazers. 

This means trainers, tracksuits and ripped jeans are now allowed and punters so far have seemed to take advantage of this.

While Cheltenham is owned by the Jockey Club, the course never had a formal dress code. 

However, in previous years men would wear suits and women would wear smart dresses and heels, while jeans and trainers were usually avoided. 

But this year, stilettos have been traded in for chunky boots, and traditional long dresses have been hiked up. Noughties fashion seemed to be in vogue, with people opting for rara skirts and blazers. 

For today’s race meeting, The Paddy Power Stayer’s Hurdle is the headline act at 15:30 where Teahupoo is hoping to go a couple of places better than last season when denied by stablemate Sire Du Berlais who also lines up again.

It is the most open of the Festival’s feature races with winners tough to predict.

Three previous Stayers’ Hurdle winners line up — Paisley Park, Flooring Porter, who has twice been successful, and last year’s scorer Sire Du Berlais.

Gordon Elliott’s Teahupoo finished third last year and returns a more mature and complete athlete at the age of seven, the age of five of the past seven winners. 

The Royal Family turned out in force for the service of thanksgiving at Windsor Castle for the late King Constantine of Greece on Tuesday.

Queen Camilla, 76, led members of the Firm after King Charles III missed the sombre occasion as his treatment for cancer continues, while Prince William had been due to give a reading but pulled out for ‘personal reasons’.

No further detail was given on William’s absence, and it is not known if this relates to his wife, the Princess of Wales’ ongoing recovery after her abdominal surgery last month. 

The Prince of Wales is understood to have called the Greek Royal family to apologise, while Kensington Palace confirmed Kate was ‘doing well’ as she recovers at home. 

Camilla was joined by Prince Andrew, his ex-wife Sarah, Duchess of York, their daughter Princess Beatrice, King Charles’ sister Princess Anne, and her daughter Zara Tindall, as well as the late King Constantine’s widow Queen Anne-Marie, their eldest son, Crown Prince Pavlos and other members of the Greek royal family.

Here, FEMAIL takes a closer look at the guests who attended the service… 

1. Princess Alexandra, the Hon. Lady Ogilvy

Princess Alexandra, 87, is the daughter of the late Queen’s uncle Prince George, Duke of Kent, and Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark. She is patron or president of over 100 organisations which reflect her wide-ranging interests, from the arts to health care. Although she is officially still a working royal, Princess Alexandra drastically reduced her workload last year.

2. Marina Ogilvy

Marina, 57, is a goddaughter of King Charles. She was married for seven years to photographer Paul Mowatt with whom she had two children. Famously pregnant before marrying Mowatt – in black – in 1990, she once posed for a magazine in a rubber jumpsuit and crown surrounded by corgis. It led to a fall out with her parents, Princess Alexandra and Sir Angus Ogilvy. They were reconciled and after her marriage ended she reverted to her maiden name. Today she is a teacher and musician.

3. Prince Andrew

Prince Andrew smiled and rubbed his hands together today as he walked the Royal Family into Windsor Castle for the service of thanksgiving in a move that proves he is ‘back in the fold’.

In an extraordinary turnaround after he was banned from royal duties and stripped of his HRH and military titles by his mother the late Queen just two years ago, the Duke of York led The Firm into church to celebrate the life of the last King of Greece.

One royal watcher told MailOnline: ‘Prince Andrew and the Yorks are firmly back in the fold’. 

It is the first time the Duke of York has attended a public event since the Christmas Day service at Sandringham. And it came almost two years to the day from when he settled the sexual assault case filed against him by Virginia Giuffre, a sex slave victim of Andrew’s friend Jeffrey Epstein. 

The settlement was never disclosed but was estimated to be worth around £12million ($16.3million). It spared him having to give evidence under oath at any trial in the US and there were claims that the Queen helped him pay for it. Andrew has vehemently and repeatedly denied all allegations against him.

4. The Duchess of Gloucester 

Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester, 77, is a full-time working member of the Royal Family. The Duchess of Gloucester travels extensively across the UK to undertake hundreds of engagements every year. Many are related to the more than 60 organisations with which she is connected, across the arts, the military, sport, health, welfare and education.

5. The Duke of Gloucester 

The late Queen Elizabeth II’s cousin Prince Richard, the Duke of Gloucester, 79, is the son of the late Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester. He carries out royal engagements on behalf of the Queen and has links to 150 organisations. Many of The Duke’s Patronages are related to architecture and conservation, both areas in which The Duke remains deeply interested. He joined the Royal Family on the balcony of Buckingham Palace yesterday.

6. Vice Admiral Tim Lawrence

Princess Anne’s husband Vice Admiral Sir Timothy Laurence, 68, was seated next to his wife at the high profile occasion.  Despite not being a working member of the Royal Family, Sir Timothy often attends events to support his wife.

7. Princess Anne

Princess, 72, was seated on the front row between her husband and the Queen. The Princess Royal looked elegant in a black ensemble with matching hat. She is often dubbed the hardest working royal and, like many of the British royals, was close to the Greek royal family. 

8. Queen Camilla

Queen Camilla took the reins as head of the Royal family on the world stage for the first time as she lead a memorial service for King Constantine of Greece.

She appeared calm and confident in an elegant pinstripe outfit as she stepped up as the most senior figure representing the British monarchy in Charles’ absence.

King Charles III missed the service as his treatment for cancer continues, while Prince William had been due to give a reading but pulled out for ‘personal reasons’.

9. Queen Anne-Marie of Greece

Queen Anne-Marie of Greece, 77, looks dignified as she mourned her husband.

The royal opted for a striped suit and pill box hat as she was joined by her family.

While Anne-Marie married into the Greek royal family, she is a Danish princess. Her father was Frederik IX of Denmark and her sister is Margrethe II, who abdicated at the beginning of this year.

She is connected to many royal families, including the Swedish royals, as her mother was Princess Ingrid of Sweden. Sweden’s current king, Carl XVI Gustaf, is her first cousin. Her sister-in-law is Queen Sofía of Spain. 

 10. Crown Prince Pavlos of Greece

As the eldest son of the Constantine, Prince Pavlos is now the head of the Greek royal family, he was crown prince and heir apparent to the throne from birth until the monarchy’s abolition.

Pavlos and his family split their time between the UK and US, as well as, of course, Greece. It’s thought the couple are unlikely to move to Athens.

Pavlos and Chantal have lived between New York and London since 2004, with Marie Chantal running a children’s clothing line out of the UK.

Together the family enjoy a life befitting of the world’s mega wealthy, splitting their time between their stunning Upper East Side New York home and holidays around the world.

As well as the New York home, the Greek royals have four other properties around the world including a house in London, a Cotswolds estate, a holiday home in the Bahamas, as well as a country retreat in Yorkshire.

However it now appears they will be spending more time in Greece to support Anne-Marie, following the death of King Constantine.

11. Crown Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece

Marie-Chantal, 55,  today put on a dignified silence as she supported her husband mourning his father.

The British-born beauty has lived a modern-day fairytale, from growing up with billionaire father Robert Miller to falling ‘in love at first sight’ with Prince Pavlos, heir to the Greek crown.

She combines work as a clothes designer with a life as mother-of-five whose children are already forging their own successful paths.

She also has a huge online following, with nearly a quarter of a million fans on one social media channel alone.

Born in London on September 17, 1968, to parents Robert W Miller, 88, and his Ecuador-born wife Maria Clara Pesantas, 83, she was brought up in Hong Kong until the age of nine, where she then went to boarding school in Switzerland. 

12. Princess Alexia of Greece

Princess Alexia stood between her sister-in-law and younger brother as she mourned her father’s death.

The 58-year-old is the oldest child of Anne-Marie and King Constantine but due to Greece’s male primogeniture rules, her brother was the heir assumptive to the throne.

The mother-of-four, who married Spanish architect Carlos Morales Quintana,  mostly keeps out of the public eye.

13. Prince Nikolaus of Greece

Another of Constantine’s children, Nikolaos, 54, looked sombre at the service.

Nikolaus, is one of King Charles’ godchildren and has lived a life in the limelight.

He followed his older brother Prince Pavlos into the Royal Scots Dragoon Guards and studied International Relations at Brown University, Rhode Island, before working for Fox News in New York. 

He dated supermodel Elle Macpherson and actress Gwyneth Paltrow before marrying an event planner in a wedding described as ‘Mamma Mia with aristocrats’.  He now works as a landscape photographer in Athens.

14. Princess Theodora of Greece

The youngest daughter of the Greek royals is Princess Theodora, 40.

Like her younger brother Philippos, Theodora was born in London and now has a career in acting.  

15. Prince Philippos of Greece

The youngest child of Anne-Marie and Costantine is Prince Philippos, 37.

He was flanked by his sister and aunt today as he paid tribute to his father. 

Born in the UK, he is prominent in British and Greek society circles, and has been spotted at the weddings of Princess Eugenie, Edward Spencer-Churchill and Prince Napolean.

16. Queen Sofia of Spain

Queen Sofía of Spain is the sister of the late King Constantine and was the Queen of Spain until her husband Juan Carlos’ abdication in 2014.

Her son Felipe is the current King of Spain.

Today she looked sombre as she put her head down and wrapped up in a blue coat. 

17. Princess Irene of Greece

Princess Irene, 81, is the other sister of Constantine. She live in Madrid with her sister and brother-in-law, King Juan Carlos.

18. Princess Michael of Kent

The wife of Prince Michael, Princess Michael of Kent, 79, is of German, Austrian, and Hungarian descent. She is actively involved in a number of different charities and organisations, including animal and wildlife trusts and health and welfare charities. She is, however, not a working member of the Royal Family.  

19. Prince Michael of Kent

Prince Michael of Kent, 81, is a son of Prince George, Duke of Kent, and Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark. Prince Michael is involved in around 100 charities and organisations, however he is not a working royal and does not carry out engagements on behalf of the King.

20. Princess Beatrice

Princess Beatrice, 35, looked elegant in a navy dress for the service, teamed with a matching headband. She was supported by her husband Edo, as well as her mother, the Duchess of York.

21. Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi

Princess Beatrice’s husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi, 40, stayed by his wife’s side as he supported her at the Service of Thanksgiving. The father-of-two shares daughter Sienna with the royal and has a son, Wolfie, from a previous relationship.

22. Sarah Ferguson

Sarah Ferguson was all smiles this morning as she joined Prince Andrew at the memorial service for the late King Constantine of Greece at Windsor Castle.

The Duchess of York, 64, still affectionately known to most as Fergie, was pictured arriving alongside her ex-husband, who she lives with at Royal Lodge in Windsor Great Park in Berkshire.

Sporting a black fascinator and grey outfit, the mother-of-two donned a pair of elegant earrings and opted for a smattering of glamorous makeup.

The service marks the Duchess’ most high profile royal event in decades – with the mother of Princesses Beatrice and Eugenie rarely invited to Royal Family occasions following her high profile divorce from Andrew in 1996.

23. Lady Helen Taylor

A peripheral royal happy to lead a life largely under the radar, Lady Helen is the daughter of the Duke and Duchess of Kent. She was a fashion ambassador and muse to Giorgio Armani for 17 years. 

24. Prince Edward, Duke of Kent

Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, 88, is the son of Queen’s uncle Prince George, Duke of Kent, and Princess Marina of Greece and Denmark. Although he is officially still a working royal, the Duke of Kent has scaled back his responsibilities due to mobility issues.

25. Princess Olympia of Greece

Princess Olympia of Greece and Denmark is the goddaughter of King Charles and a highly sought-after model, gracing the runway for the likes of Dolce & Gabbana. She was born in New York City and is the oldest child and only daughter of Pavlos, Crown Prince of Greece, and Marie-Chantal Miller.

26. Prince Achilleas of Greece

Prince Achileas-Andreas of Greece is the son of Marie-Chantal and Pavlos, the Crown Prince and Princess of Greece.

He attended New York University after his family moved to America when he was a teenager. He has largely grown up away from the spotlight but is now a fledgling actor – appearing in US soap opera The Bold and the Beautiful alongside his aunt Princess Theodora. 

He offers his Instagram followers a glimpse into his jet-setting, lavish life, posting snaps from his trips around the world with his group of friends – which includes Princess Beatrice. 

27. Carlos Morales

Carlos Morales is a Spanish architect married to Princess Alexia of Greece, the oldest child of Queen Anne-Marie and King Constantine. The couple mostly keeps out of the public eye. 

28. Princess Tatiana of Greece

Princess Tatiana of Greece, 43, is married to the late King Constantine’s son Prince Nikolaos. Venezuelan-born Tatiana gave up her job as an events’ organiser for designer Diana Von Furstenberg soon after she married in 2010. 

29. Mr Matthew Kumar

LA-based lawyer Matthew Kumar started dating Princess Theodora of Greece in 2016, before getting engaged to one another in 2018. He was born and raised in Southern California to Sam and Lonnie Kumar.

30. Princess Nina of Greece

Princess Nina of Greece is the wife of Prince Philippos of Greece. She is the daughter of Swiss businessman Thomas Flohr, who founded private jet charter company VistaJet, where she also works as a creative director.

Nina, who was a guest at Princess Eugenie’s wedding to Jack Brooksbank in October 2018, founded the nonprofit marine research facility, the Bazaruto Center for Scientific Studies (BCSS), in 2017.

31. Prince Aristides of Greece

Prince Aristidis-Stavros, 15, is the the youngest child of Pavlos and Marie-Chantal. He was born on June 28, 2008, in Los Angeles. 

32. Prince Odysseas of Greece

Prince Odysseas-Kimon of Greece and Denmark is the second youngest child of Crown Prince Pavlos and Crown Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece. The 18-year-old is studying at New York University, in Manhattan. 

33. María Clara Pesantes Becerra

María Clara Pesantes Becerra is the mother of Crown Princess Marie-Chantal of Greece. She is an Ecuadorian of humble origins, who moved to New York in 1959, when she changed her name to Marie Chantal, according to Spanish magazine Vanidades. 

34 & 35. Mr. and Mrs. James Ogilvy

Landscape architect James Ogilvy, 59, is the elder child and only son of Princess Alexandra, the Hon. Lady Ogilvy and the late Angus Ogilvy. He is also an accomplished photographer. Meanwhile, author Julia Ogilvy, 59, is the wife of James Ogilvy. The couple share two children. 

36 & 37. Earl and Countess of St. Andrews

The Earl of St Andrews, a former diplomat, is the elder son of Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, and his wife, Katharine, Duchess of Kent. The father-of-four attended with his wife Sylvana Tomaselli. 

38. Daniel Chatto

Former actor Daniel Chatto, 66, is the husband of Sarah Chatto and stays largely out of the spotlight. The couple married in 1994 and share two sons, Samuel and Arthur. 

39. Lady Sarah Chatto

Princess Margaret’s daughter Lady Sarah Chatto looked elegant in a navy coat and black dress as she arrived at Windsor Castle today alongside other members of the Royal Family. She was close to her late aunt, Queen Elizabeth II, and once referred to her as a second mother. 

40. Mike Tindall 

Ex-England rugby player Mike Tindall, 45, is the husband of Zara Tindall. The couple share three children and live on Princess Anne’s Gatcombe estate, in Gloucestershire. Mike has a close relationship with Zara’s family, particularly her brother and cousins.

Zara Tindall, 42, is Princess Anne’s younger child and only daughter. The accomplished equestrian walked alongside her husband, mother and stepfather, Vice Admiral Sir Tim Laurence, as they attended the memorial service for the cousin of King Charles. She opted for a navy coat dress and hat for the service.

42. King Felipe of Spain

King Felipe VI of Spain, 56, is the nephew of the King Constantine, through his mother, Queen Sofia.

Felipe, is also close to the British royal, he ascended the throne in 2014 upon the abdication of his father King Juan Carlos, and referred to the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh as ‘dear aunt Lilibet’ and ‘dear uncle Philip’.

The familiarity between the British and Spanish royal households is due to centuries-old family ties. Felipe’s maternal great-grandfather, King Constantine I of Greece (1868 – 1923), was the older brother of Prince Philip’s father, Prince Andrew of Greece and Denmark. 

43. Queen Letizia of Spain

Queen Letizia of Spain is the wife of King Felipe.

She met Felipe, in 2002, Letizia was working for popular TV channel 24 Horas, where along with anchoring the popular Telediario 2 evening news bulletin she reported on a wide range of breaking news event. 

The queen comes from humble beginnings. Born on September 15, 1972, in Oviedo, northern Spain, Letizia grew up in a middle-class family and attended a public school. 

While her mother, Maria Rodriguez, was a nurse, Letizia took after her father, Jesús José Ortiz Álvarez, and stepmother Ana Togores, who are both journalists, and studied communications at university in Madrid.

44. King Juan Carlos of Spain

King Juan Carlos is the former King of Spain and brother-in-law of King Constantine.

No longer the monarch, styling himself as Rey Emerito or King Emeritus instead, the 85-year-old lives not in Madrid’s Zarzuela Palace but in exile in the United Arab Emirates.

Effectively forced to abdicate in 2014, Juan Carlos finds himself surrounded by allegations of financial impropriety – although nothing has been proved against him – and still faces a multi-million pound lawsuit from a former mistress.

Such is the controversy surrounding the former king that when, in October, his granddaughter Leonor, heir the the throne, reached her 18th birthday and swore fealty to the Spanish constitution, Juan Carlos was not invited to the public ceremony, only the family gathering afterwards. 

45. Princess Benedikte of Denmark

Princess Benedikte of Denmark represented the Danish royals at the memorial today.

The sister of Queen Margrethe of Denmark, Benedikte, 79, is a working royal and the sister-in-law of King Constantine, through her sister Queen Anne-Marie.

She was married to Richard, 6th Prince of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg until her death in 2017. Her children joined her at the service. 

46. Princess Alexandra of Greece

Princess Alexandra of Greece is a second-cousin of King Constantine. 

She is the daughter, Prince Michael of Greece and Denmark who was Prince Philip’s first cousin.

47. Prince Alexander of Serbia

Prince Alexander of Serbia, was joined by his wife, Crown Princess Katherine, at the service today.

His mother, Alexandra of Yugoslavia, who died in 1993, was a first cousin of King Constantine and a relative of the Prince Philip.

The pretender to the throne was born and raised in the UK and has a close relationship with his British cousins.

He recently revealed he ‘only recently defeated prostate cancer’ after admitting he was encouraged to speak up by King Charles’ ‘openness’.

In a shock statement, the 78-year-old, who is cousin to the British monarch, 75, disclosed that he was diagnosed with prostate cancer in December last year.

He previously kept his battle with the illness under wraps, but Charles’ ‘openness’ about his own cancer diagnosis inspired him to speak out.

The 78-year-old said he was ‘terrified’ at the time of diagnosis, but the support of family and friends helped him through the struggle. Alexander has since received the ‘all clear’ from doctors.

He concluded the message by sending well wishes to his ‘dear friend and cousin’ Charles and expressed his ‘high hopes’ that the monarch will also be ‘triumphant’ in recovery.

48. Crown Princess Katherine of Serbia

Katherine Karađorđević, 80, is the wife of Prince Alexander.

She was born in Athens and grew up between Greece and Switzerland.

King Constantine was the best man at their wedding. 

49 & 50.  Infanta Cristina of Spain and Infanta Elena of Spain

King Felipe’s sisters, Infanta Cristina and Infanta Elena came to mourn their uncle today.

Sat side-by-side, they supported their cousins.

Cristina finalised her divorce. The 58-year-old parted ways with Iñaki Urdangarin 56, after he was caught on camera holding hands with another woman in January 2022.

The mystery woman was revealed as one of Iñaki’s co-workers at Imaz & Asociados law firm, Ainhoa Armenia, and a week later Cristina and her husband released a joint statement to say they were separating. 

Elena recently celebrated her 60th birthday with her family.  

51. Lord Cavendish of Furness

Hugh Cavendish, Baron Cavendish of Furness is a member of the House of Lords and owner of the 17,000 acre Holker Hall in Cumbria. 

The Tory Peer is head of the Cavendish family a long-running noble family.

52. John Kerry

US climate envoy John Kerry represented the US at the event.

The Democratic party heavyweight chatted to  Dame Norma Major and Lady Susan Hussey.

53 & 54. Dame Norma Major & Sir John Major

Former British Prime Minster Sir John Major, 80,  who held the premiership from 1990 to 1997, was joined by his wife Norma.

55 & 56. Thomas Hooper & Alexandra Knatchbull

Alexandra Knatchbull, a close family friend of the royals, was joined by 

Alexandra, 41 , is the daughter of Lord and Lady Brabourne and the great granddaughter of the late Lord Mountbatten,with whom King Charles had an exceptionally close bond while growing up.

Alexandra is the second goddaughter of Diana, Princess of Wales, and was left a legacy in the Princess’s will when she died in 1997.

The Queen and Prince Philip attended her marriage to Thomas in 2016 at Romsey Abbey in Hampshire – dubbed the society wedding of the year – along with Princess Anne and Prince Charles.

57. Penelope Knatchbull

Penelope (Penny) Knatchbull, also known as Countess Mountbatten of Burma, who befriended Prince Philip at a polo match in 1975 when she was 20, became one of his closest confidantes despite being 32 years his junior and was pictured on walks with the Duke over the years. 

Also known as Lady Romsey and Lady Brabourne, Penny bonded with the late Philip over their shared love for the equestrian sport of carriage-driving. 

When she met the Duke, Penny was in a relationship with Earl Mountbatten’s grandson Norton Knatchbull, whom she eventually married.

58. Queen Noor Al-Hussein of Jordan

Queen Noor was married from King Hussein from 1978 until his death in 1999. Together the couple had four children: two daughters and a son. Princess Raiyah is the youngest of the four children. All of her siblings have children.

Queen Noor, 60, is now the Queen Dowager of Jordan. An accomplished and highly educated businesswoman and advocate, Queen Noor now splits her times between homes in Jordan, Washington D.C. and the UK.

She is thought to have two British properties in London and her country residence, Buckhurst Park, near Winkfield in Berkshire.

59 & 60. Prince Gustav zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg & Princess Carina zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg

Prince Gustav of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg is the nephew of Denmark’s Queen Margrethe and Greece’s Queen Anne-Marie.

He married his partner of 19 years, Carina Axelsson, in Germany 2022 and they announced they’d welcomed a baby son using a US surrogate in June 2023.

Gustav and Carina spent years fighting a strict inheritance rule set by the Prince’s Nazi grandfather in the 1930s, which prevented them from tying the knot.

Princess Benedikte’s son Gustav and Carina were banned from marrying as a result of a legal clause set by the royal’s grandfather Prince Gustav Albrecht.

In the 1930s, he set up his will to prevent relations from inheriting family property if they marry someone not of Protestant, noble and Aryan descent.

By 1944, he went missing while serving as an officer in the German Army, during a mission near Orsha, Belarus. The soldier was declared MIA and no one sought an official declaration of death until Gustav was born in 1969.

Gustav’s father Prince Richard was able to inherit property because his wife – Princess Benedikte of Denmark – met the strict and controlling criteria.

However, Carina Axelsson, 54 – who is an American author best known for the teen fashion detective series Model Under Cover – has Swedish and Mexican heritage, and hence didn’t satisfy the will’s agenda.

But in 2020, German courts decided Gustav met the conditions of the will – and could inherit Berleburg Castle, where he and his wife married in front of 80 guests, including King Frederik and Queen Mary of Denmark.

61 & 62. Princess Alexandra zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg

Princess Alexandra zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg & Count Michael Ahlefeldt-Laurvig-Bille

Princess Alexandra zu Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg is the first daughter and second of three children of Prince Richard of Sayn-Wittgenstein-Berleburg and Princess Benedikte of Denmark. On 18 May 2019, Alexandra married Count Michael of Ahlefeldt-Laurvig-Bille.

63. Prince Kyril of Preslav

Born in 1964, Kyril is the second son of King Simeon II, also known as Simeon Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, who had served as the last reigning Tsar of Bulgaria from 1943 to 1946, before later serving as Prime Minister of Bulgaria from 2001 to 2005.

Simeon is a fourth cousin of the late Queen’s father, George VI, and attended the 2011 wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

In September 1989, Kyril married María del Rosario Nadal y Fuster de Puigdorfila, also known as Rosario Nadal, the daughter of Miguel Nadal y Pestard, a Balearic Islands industrialist. They separated in 2009.

Kyril is now dating British businesswoman and art historian Katharine Butler, a former University of Edinburgh professor and daughter of British diplomat Sir Michael Butler.  

64 & 65. Prince Hassan Bin Talal of Jordan & Princess Sarvath El Hassan of Jordan

Old Harrovian Prince Hassan of Jordan, the uncle of the reigning King Abdullah II, and his wife Princess Sarvath, were friends of the late Queen Elizabeth II. The Princess has been a guest of the Royal Family at Ascot and was given the honour of riding in a carriage with Princess Anne.

66. Prince Constantijn of the Netherlands

Prince Constantijn of the Netherlands, 54, is the younger brother of the reigning King Willem-Alexander. He studied law at university and has gone on to work for think-tanks and charities in Brussels and London. 

In 2017, he and his wife Princess Laurentien set up the Number 5 Foundation, a charity which is currently developing various innovatory initiatives to address a range of social issues.

He rarely attends public events in his capacity as a member of the Dutch Royal House, but makes a yearly appearance at Prinsjesdag – or Prince’s Day – each September.

By Matt Strudwick And Tom Cotterill And Martin Robinson Chief Reporter And Paul Thompson

Published: 04:36 EST, 7 February 2024 | Updated: 04:40 EST, 7 February 2024

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King Charles is said to be ‘coping magnificently’ with his cancer diagnosis and is now recovering from a procedure in Sandringham Palace with Queen Camilla after a short meeting with Prince Harry in Clarence House yesterday. 

Harry flew more than 5,000 miles on Monday from his home in California to London for what ended up being a 45-minute meeting with his cancer-stricken father before ‘spending the night in a London hotel.’ 

Following the King’s meeting with Harry, the upbeat monarch flew via helicopter to Sandringham with sources close to Charles insisting that: ‘If you didn’t know what was the matter, you wouldn’t have any idea that he had any condition at all.’

It’s been reported that Harry ‘would have gladly accepted’ a reunion with his brother William, who is returning to Royal duty today in Charles’ stead, hosting an investiture at Windsor Castle and a charity dinner for the air ambulance, but there are no plans for a meeting. 

It is understood mutual friend Mark Dyer – who was a mentor to the princes after the death of Diana – could act as bridge between the siblings, according to a source. 

It’s believed William, 41, is remaining focused on tending to his wife Kate, who is recovering from her abdominal surgery and is taking extended leave from public duties until after Easter.

Harry did not spend the night in any royal residence, with him being effectively homeless on UK soil since his eviction from Frogmore Cottage last year, and it is thought he may have instead stayed in a luxury hotel. 

He is not expected to stay in London for long and is set to return to his Montecito home in Los Angeles that he shares with his wife Meghan Markle and two children, Archie, four, and Lilibet, two, following his whistle-stop visit.

The Duke is expected to join Meghan in Canada next week for an event to commemorate a year until the Invictus Games in Vancouver and Whistler. 

A source told The Times former Welsh Guards officer Mr Dyer, who recently recovered from stomach cancer, has been offering Harry support in recent years.

‘Mark can always be relied upon to talk sense into Harry and will be a stoic under-the-radar support for Harry in what has the propensity to be a stress-inducing time for him, the source said. 

Those close to Harry, 39, said he would welcome the chance to meet with his brother, with an insider adding: ‘The Duke’s primary reason to travel to the UK is to visit his father. If the opportunity were to arise to see the Prince of Wales then the Duke would have gladly accepted it.’ 

Harry, who boarded the 11-hour flight hours after his father revealed he was ill, flew from America to London alone, leaving Meghan, Archie and Lilibet back at their California home. 

The Duke of Sussex’s transatlantic dash had raised hopes his return to Britain will be used to heal wounds with King Charles and a chance to reach out to his brother Prince William amid their on-going feud.

Harry has barely spoken with his father since the death of Queen Elizabeth and it is reported there was no contact when he celebrated his 39th birthday.  

Palace sources have said there are no plans for a meeting between Harry and William while the Duke of Sussex is in London, scuppering hopes of a potential olive branch between the royal brothers.

William is due to return to public work today, carrying out an investiture at Windsor Castle in the morning before later attending a gala for the London Air Ambulance Service in the evening. 

Prince Harry arrived at Clarence House at 2.45pm where he had a ‘brief meeting’ with his father hours after touching down at Heathrow.

Harry was spotted in the back of a Range Rover that drove in a large convoy through the gates of Clarence House, where Charles, 75, is resting following treatment earlier today for an unspecified cancer.

Experts have said that they hope that Harry’s trip to Britain is the ‘sign of a truce’ and that ‘good news’ of a heal in the rift in the Royal Family could come from the ‘bad news’ about the King’s health.

Harry left LAX for London to be with his father. Charles had called him personally to tell him the devastating news and the Duke of Sussex has immediately jumped on a plane so he could be in the UK later today.

A luxury Range Rover believed to be carrying the British royal was seen arriving at LAX’s VIP terminal last night and he boarded the earliest flight so he could be in London by lunchtime on Tuesday.

Harry was accompanied by police security despite his ongoing row with the Home Office. 

In Spare, Harry had revealed that Charles had urged his warring sons: ‘Please boys, don’t make my final years a misery.’ 

zAnd his trip could be motivated by that plea.

Daily Mail Diary editor Richard Eden tweeted today: ‘After his 5,000-mile flight from Los Angeles, #PrinceHarry is understood to have had a brief meeting with #KingCharles before His Majesty departed for his Norfolk retreat, Sandringham. It will be interesting to see how long Harry stays in this country.’ 

Earlier, royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said: ‘I’m sure Harry will put aside the past right now for this serious issue. The Royal family – including the Sussexes – it’s so important that everyone is pulling in the right direction’.

Kristina Kyriacou, the King’s former press secretary, said today: ‘Charles adores Harry. He didn’t want any of this estrangement. If out of bad news, some good news comes and Harry and the King and the Queen and his brother are reunited – how wonderful.’

The King spent Monday night at home in London after beginning out-patient cancer treatment – as family and friends revealed that the monarch remains ‘hugely positive’ following his bombshell diagnosis. But he may miss public duties for a number of months, it has been claimed.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said yesterday that he was ‘shocked and sad’ to hear about the King’s cancer diagnosis but revealed: ‘Thankfully this has been caught early’. 

Harry landed in the UK at lunchtime but it is not known if he will see his brother Prince William or the Princess of Wales, who is recovering from serious abdominal surgery at their home in the grounds of Winsor Castle.  But experts have said they hope that the Duke of Sussex’s last-minute trip could finally bring Harry, Charles and William closer together. 

Last time the Prince flew to the UK was in September, for the Well Child Awards, where he stayed in a hotel. Meghan missed the UK altogether, meeting him in Germany for the Invictus Games.

It is understood the Duke asked if he could stay at Windsor Castle to allow him to visit his grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth II’s place of rest, but permission was denied. 

Harry usually travels with his own private security team, after being stripped of his right to automatic police protection when he left the Royal family in 2020. 

The King contacted both the Duke of Sussex and the Prince of Wales personally to tell them of his cancer diagnosis before it was announced by Buckingham Palace.

A source close to Harry said that he had immediately decided to come to the UK to be by his father’s side. Experts have claimed that Harry’s dash to Britain ‘indicates the seriousness’ of the King’s condition.

Announcing that Prince Harry will come and see his father, the Office of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex said: ‘The duke did speak with his father about his diagnosis. He will be traveling to UK to see His Majesty in the coming days.’ 

Richard Fitzwilliams told The Sun: ‘I’m sure Harry will put aside the past right now for this serious issue. The Royal family – including the Sussexes – it’s so important that everyone is pulling in the right direction’. 

Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond said she hoped that King Charles III’s cancer diagnosis ‘will bring a reconciliation’ with Prince Harry. 

Harry estranged brother William is also in close contact with his father but neither brother has made a public statement yet. The heir to the throne, who returns to public duties this week after helping to settle his wife, the Princess of Wales, at home as she recovers from abdominal surgery.

He may also undertake some duties on behalf of his father, in addition to his own diary of engagements, while the King undergoes treatment.

As the King’s cancer shocked Britain, the Commonwealth and the world, it also emerged:  

Buckingham Palace announced on Monday that doctors discovered the cancer during a medical procedure for an enlarged prostate. Sources have suggested that the cancer is in a different part of the King’s body but was discovered during the surgery last week. 

Prince Harry was last in the UK over the summer, when he attended an event for a children’s charity. However, he did not meet with the Royal family during that visit before heading to Germany for his Invictus Games where he met up with Meghan. 

The Duke of Sussex attended his father’s coronation last May, but left London just hours after the ceremony to return to Montecito.

Harry is believed to be in contact with his father but sources have claimed that there has been no rapprochement with William, who is said to have been left upset by the Sussexes’ attacks on the Royal Family since Megxit.

Harry’s visit will raise hopes that there could be some thawing in the relations, which have been rocky since he and Meghan emigrated in 2020.

King Charles’ cancer diagnosis has shocked the world.

The 75-year-old monarch has returned to London from Sandringham to begin treatment immediately.

It is not connected with his recent surgery and is not prostate cancer, but medics spotted it when he underwent his medical procedure for an enlarged prostate.

Buckingham Palace said in a statement: ‘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.’

The palace said the King ‘looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible’, but it is not yet known whether it will affect his attendance at events such as those marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day in June.

It is understood he will continue to receive red boxes and process state documents during treatment and there are no plans to appoint Counsellors of State.

A palace spokesman said: ‘Regrettably, a number of the King’s forthcoming public engagements will have to be rearranged or postponed.

‘His Majesty would like to apologise to all those who may be disappointed or inconvenienced as a consequence.’

It is understood details of the King’s diary are still being worked on and it is not yet known when a full programme of engagements will begin.

Reacting to the news, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak tweeted: ‘Wishing His Majesty a full and speedy recovery. 

‘I have no doubt he’ll be back to full strength in no time and I know the whole country will be wishing him well.’

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer tweeted: ‘On behalf of the Labour Party, I wish His Majesty all the very best for his recovery.

‘We look forward to seeing him back to swift full health.’

Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle told MPs: ‘I know the whole House will wish to join me in expressing our sympathies with His Majesty the King following the news announcement this evening. 

‘Our thoughts are, of course, with His Majesty and his family, and we’d all wish to send him our very best wishes for the successful treatment and a speedy recovery.’

The diagnosis is also likely to be professionally devastating for Charles, who was the longest-serving heir to the throne in British history before he became King on the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth, on September 8 2022.

Since then he has hit the ground running with three state visits overseas, hosting two incoming state visits to the UK and undertaking hundreds of public engagements each year, taking on a punishing official workload well into his 70s.

Aides have said he has relished the challenge and is hugely enjoying his royal role.

The King’s diagnosis will pose serious questions for the working of the monarchy, with fewer working members of the royal family and the Princess of Wales out of action due to what has only been described as ‘abdominal surgery’ until after Easter.

The Prince of Wales, who is heir to the throne, had cleared his diary to be by his wife’s side and keep life as normal as possible for their three children.

Kensington Palace announced earlier today, however, that he would resume public duties this week by conducting an investiture on Wednesday at Windsor Castle, followed by a gala fundraising event for the London Air Ambulance in the evening.

While Queen Elizabeth suffered episodic periods of ill-health over the years and underwent surgery on a number of occasions, including on her knee and cataracts, there was no major health crisis of this magnitude until the very last months of her historic 70-year reign.

That, however, would have a serious knock-on effect on the family life of the Prince and Princess of Wales.

They moved to Windsor 18-months ago in order to allow their children to enjoy a more carefree childhood, outside of the royal bubble, until absolutely necessary.

Prince George, ten, who is second in line to the throne, Princess Charlotte, eight, and five-year-old Prince Louis all attend a local school. Lambrook, and have settled in well at their new home, Adelaide Cottage.

William and Kate’s team are still based at Kensington Palace in London, their official residence, and travel up to Windsor for meetings.

Questions will inevitably be asked how practicable it will be for them to do so now.

The King has largely enjoyed very good health throughout his life, apart from suffering from a cripplingly bad back.

The first sign that anything was amiss with his health came on January 17 when Buckingham Palace made a surprise announcement that the King had ‘sought treatment’ for an enlarged prostate.

The palace added that His Majesty’s condition was ‘benign’ and that he would attend hospital the following week for a corrective procedure.

They said he was personally keen to share details of his diagnosis to encourage other men who may be experiencing symptoms to get themselves check.

The NHS subsequently reported an encouraging spike in people seeking more information on their website.

His Majesty, who was in Scotland at the time, travelled back down to Sandringham afterwards and then on to London the night before his surgery.

He was admitted to The London Clinic in Marylebone, central London, on January 26 with his wife, Queen Camilla, by his side.

Buckingham Palace said he wanted to thank everyone for their good wishes and was delighted to learn that his diagnosis was having a positive impact on public health awareness.

He was finally released on Monday last week after three nights in hospital and said to be ‘doing well’.

He initially resided at Clarence House, his London residence, in order to be close to his doctors, before returning to Sandringham with his wife.

Queen Camilla has continued to undertake public engagements, telling members of the l public that her husband was ‘doing fine’ and looking forwards to getting back to work.

Last Tuesday she told well-wishers he was ‘getting on’ and ‘doing his best’, adding: ‘Thank goodness!’

One in every three men over the age of 50 will have symptoms of an enlarged prostate, which include needing to visit the toilet more frequently, with more urgency, and difficulty emptying the bladder.

An enlarged prostate, known as benign prostatic hyperplasia, does not usually pose a serious threat to health, and it is not cancer.

But patients may need to have several tests for the condition to rule out the possibility they have another illness with similar symptoms, such as prostate cancer.

Surgery is usually only recommended for moderate to severe symptoms that have not responded to medicine.

Mark Drakeford , the First Minister of Wales, wished the King a ‘full and swift recovery’ following his cancer diagnosis.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, he said: ‘I’m saddened to hear the news that HM King Charles III is facing further health challenges.

‘My thoughts and those of people across Wales will be with him and his family this evening.

‘I send my very best wishes as he starts treatment for a full and swift recovery.

‘Gwellhad buan.’

Northern Ireland’s new First Minister Michelle O’Neill, who as leader of Sinn Fein is a republican, wished the King a full and speedy recovery. 

‘I am very sorry to hear of King Charles’ illness and I want to wish him well for his treatment, and a full and speedy recovery,’ she posted on X.

Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis said after the shocking news today: ‘I am saddened to have heard about His Majesty The King’s diagnosis. 

‘I know that the Jewish communities of Great Britain and the Commonwealth will join me in wishing him a Refuah Sheleima – a complete and swift recovery.’

Health and Social Care Secretary Victoria Atkins wrote on X: ‘My thoughts are with King Charles and the whole Royal Family.

‘His decision to share his diagnosis to assist public understanding for all those affected by cancer is commendable.

‘Wishing His Majesty the very best and look forward to seeing him resume his public duties.’

Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting, who received treatment for kidney cancer in 2021, said: ‘One in two of us will develop cancer during our lives, but millions more are affected when someone they love is diagnosed with cancer.

‘Sending best wishes to His Majesty for his treatment and to his family as they support him throughout.’

Prince Harry ‘would have gladly accepted’ a reunion with his brother William but instead has ‘spent a night in a London hotel’, it has been claimed. 

Although Harry and the Prince of Wales have no plans to meet during the Duke’s stay, it is understood mutual friend Mark Dyer – who was a mentor to the princes after the death of Diana – could act as bridge between the siblings, according to a source. 

It’s believed William, 41, is remaining focused on tending to his wife Kate, who is recovering from her abdominal surgery and is taking extended leave from public duties until after Easter.

The Duke of Sussex flew more than 5,000 miles yesterday from his home in California to London for what ended up being a 45-minute meeting with his cancer-stricken father King Charles.

Harry did not spend the night in any royal residence, with him being effectively homeless on UK soil since his eviction from Frogmore Cottage last year, and it is thought he may have instead stayed in a luxury hotel. 

He is not expected to stay in London for long and is set to return to his Montecito home in Los Angeles that he shares with his wife Meghan Markle and two children, Archie, four, and Lilibet, two, following his whistle-stop visit.

The Duke is expected to join Meghan in Canada next week for an event to commemorate a year until the Invictus Games in Vancouver and Whistler. 

A source told The Times former Welsh Guards officer Mr Dyer, who recently recovered from stomach cancer, has been offering Harry support in recent years.

‘Mark can always be relied upon to talk sense into Harry and will be a stoic under-the-radar support for Harry in what has the propensity to be a stress-inducing time for him, the source said. 

Sources close to Harry, 39, said he would welcome the chance to meet with his brother, with an insider adding: ‘The Duke’s primary reason to travel to the UK is to visit his father. If the opportunity were to arise to see the Prince of Wales then the Duke would have gladly accepted it.’ 

Harry, who boarded the 11-hour flight hours after his father revealed he was ill, flew from America to London alone, leaving Meghan, Archie and Lilibet back at their California home. 

The Duke of Sussex’s transatlantic dash had raised hopes his return to Britain will be used to heal wounds with King Charles and a chance to reach out to his brother Prince William amid their on-going feud.

Harry has barely spoken with his father since the death of Queen Elizabeth and it is reported there was no contacted when he celebrated his 39th birthday.  

Palace sources have said there are no plans for a meeting between Harry and William while the Duke of Sussex is in London, scuppering hopes of a potential olive branch between the royal brothers.

William is due to return to public work today, carrying out an investiture at Windsor Castle in the morning before later attending a gala for the London Air Ambulance Service in the evening. 

Prince Harry arrived at Clarence House at 2.45pm where he had a ‘brief meeting’ with his father hours after touching down at Heathrow.

Harry was spotted in the back of a Range Rover that drove in a large convoy through the gates of Clarence House, where Charles, 75, is resting following treatment earlier today for an unspecified cancer.

Experts have said that they hope that Harry’s trip to Britain is the ‘sign of a truce’ and that ‘good news’ of a heal in the rift in the Royal Family could come from the ‘bad news’ about the King’s health.

Harry left LAX for London to be with his father. Charles had called him personally to tell him the devastating news and the Duke of Sussex has immediately jumped on a plane so he could be in the UK later today.

A luxury Range Rover believed to be carrying the British royal was seen arriving at LAX’s VIP terminal last night and he boarded the earliest flight so he could be in London by lunchtime on Tuesday.

Harry was accompanied by police security despite his ongoing row with the Home Office. 

In Spare, Harry had revealed that Charles had urged his warring sons: ‘Please boys, don’t make my final years a misery.’ 

zAnd his trip could be motivated by that plea.

Daily Mail Diary editor Richard Eden tweeted today: ‘After his 5,000-mile flight from Los Angeles, #PrinceHarry is understood to have had a brief meeting with #KingCharles before His Majesty departed for his Norfolk retreat, Sandringham. It will be interesting to see how long Harry stays in this country.’ 

Earlier, royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said: ‘I’m sure Harry will put aside the past right now for this serious issue. The Royal family – including the Sussexes – it’s so important that everyone is pulling in the right direction’.

Kristina Kyriacou, the King’s former press secretary, said today: ‘Charles adores Harry. He didn’t want any of this estrangement. If out of bad news, some good news comes and Harry and the King and the Queen and his brother are reunited – how wonderful.’

The King spent Monday night at home in London after beginning out-patient cancer treatment – as family and friends revealed that the monarch remains ‘hugely positive’ following his bombshell diagnosis. But he may miss public duties for a number of months, it has been claimed.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said yesterday that he was ‘shocked and sad’ to hear about the King’s cancer diagnosis but revealed: ‘Thankfully this has been caught early’. 

Harry landed in the UK at lunchtime but it is not known if he will see his brother Prince William or the Princess of Wales, who is recovering from serious abdominal surgery at their home in the grounds of Winsor Castle.  But experts have said they hope that the Duke of Sussex’s last-minute trip could finally bring Harry, Charles and William closer together. 

Last time the Prince flew to the UK was in September, for the Well Child Awards, where he stayed in a hotel. Meghan missed the UK altogether, meeting him in Germany for the Invictus Games.

It is understood the Duke asked if he could stay at Windsor Castle to allow him to visit his grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth II’s place of rest, but permission was denied. 

Harry usually travels with his own private security team, after being stripped of his right to automatic police protection when he left the Royal family in 2020. 

The King contacted both the Duke of Sussex and the Prince of Wales personally to tell them of his cancer diagnosis before it was announced by Buckingham Palace.

A source close to Harry said that he had immediately decided to come to the UK to be by his father’s side. Experts have claimed that Harry’s dash to Britain ‘indicates the seriousness’ of the King’s condition.

Announcing that Prince Harry will come and see his father, the Office of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex said: ‘The duke did speak with his father about his diagnosis. He will be traveling to UK to see His Majesty in the coming days.’ 

Richard Fitzwilliams told The Sun: ‘I’m sure Harry will put aside the past right now for this serious issue. The Royal family – including the Sussexes – it’s so important that everyone is pulling in the right direction’. 

Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond said she hoped that King Charles III’s cancer diagnosis ‘will bring a reconciliation’ with Prince Harry. 

Harry estranged brother William is also in close contact with his father but neither brother has made a public statement yet. The heir to the throne, who returns to public duties this week after helping to settle his wife, the Princess of Wales, at home as she recovers from abdominal surgery.

He may also undertake some duties on behalf of his father, in addition to his own diary of engagements, while the King undergoes treatment.

As the King’s cancer shocked Britain, the Commonwealth and the world, it also emerged:  

Buckingham Palace announced on Monday that doctors discovered the cancer during a medical procedure for an enlarged prostate. Sources have suggested that the cancer is in a different part of the King’s body but was discovered during the surgery last week. 

Prince Harry was last in the UK over the summer, when he attended an event for a children’s charity. However, he did not meet with the Royal family during that visit before heading to Germany for his Invictus Games where he met up with Meghan. 

The Duke of Sussex attended his father’s coronation last May, but left London just hours after the ceremony to return to Montecito.

Harry is believed to be in contact with his father but sources have claimed that there has been no rapprochement with William, who is said to have been left upset by the Sussexes’ attacks on the Royal Family since Megxit.

Harry’s visit will raise hopes that there could be some thawing in the relations, which have been rocky since he and Meghan emigrated in 2020.

King Charles’ cancer diagnosis has shocked the world.

The 75-year-old monarch has returned to London from Sandringham to begin treatment immediately.

It is not connected with his recent surgery and is not prostate cancer, but medics spotted it when he underwent his medical procedure for an enlarged prostate.

Buckingham Palace said in a statement: ‘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.’

The palace said the King ‘looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible’, but it is not yet known whether it will affect his attendance at events such as those marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day in June.

It is understood he will continue to receive red boxes and process state documents during treatment and there are no plans to appoint Counsellors of State.

A palace spokesman said: ‘Regrettably, a number of the King’s forthcoming public engagements will have to be rearranged or postponed.

‘His Majesty would like to apologise to all those who may be disappointed or inconvenienced as a consequence.’

It is understood details of the King’s diary are still being worked on and it is not yet known when a full programme of engagements will begin.

Reacting to the news, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak tweeted: ‘Wishing His Majesty a full and speedy recovery. 

‘I have no doubt he’ll be back to full strength in no time and I know the whole country will be wishing him well.’

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer tweeted: ‘On behalf of the Labour Party, I wish His Majesty all the very best for his recovery.

‘We look forward to seeing him back to swift full health.’

Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle told MPs: ‘I know the whole House will wish to join me in expressing our sympathies with His Majesty the King following the news announcement this evening. 

‘Our thoughts are, of course, with His Majesty and his family, and we’d all wish to send him our very best wishes for the successful treatment and a speedy recovery.’

The diagnosis is also likely to be professionally devastating for Charles, who was the longest-serving heir to the throne in British history before he became King on the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth, on September 8 2022.

Since then he has hit the ground running with three state visits overseas, hosting two incoming state visits to the UK and undertaking hundreds of public engagements each year, taking on a punishing official workload well into his 70s.

Aides have said he has relished the challenge and is hugely enjoying his royal role.

The King’s diagnosis will pose serious questions for the working of the monarchy, with fewer working members of the royal family and the Princess of Wales out of action due to what has only been described as ‘abdominal surgery’ until after Easter.

The Prince of Wales, who is heir to the throne, had cleared his diary to be by his wife’s side and keep life as normal as possible for their three children.

Kensington Palace announced earlier today, however, that he would resume public duties this week by conducting an investiture on Wednesday at Windsor Castle, followed by a gala fundraising event for the London Air Ambulance in the evening.

While Queen Elizabeth suffered episodic periods of ill-health over the years and underwent surgery on a number of occasions, including on her knee and cataracts, there was no major health crisis of this magnitude until the very last months of her historic 70-year reign.

That, however, would have a serious knock-on effect on the family life of the Prince and Princess of Wales.

They moved to Windsor 18-months ago in order to allow their children to enjoy a more carefree childhood, outside of the royal bubble, until absolutely necessary.

Prince George, ten, who is second in line to the throne, Princess Charlotte, eight, and five-year-old Prince Louis all attend a local school. Lambrook, and have settled in well at their new home, Adelaide Cottage.

William and Kate’s team are still based at Kensington Palace in London, their official residence, and travel up to Windsor for meetings.

Questions will inevitably be asked how practicable it will be for them to do so now.

The King has largely enjoyed very good health throughout his life, apart from suffering from a cripplingly bad back.

The first sign that anything was amiss with his health came on January 17 when Buckingham Palace made a surprise announcement that the King had ‘sought treatment’ for an enlarged prostate.

The palace added that His Majesty’s condition was ‘benign’ and that he would attend hospital the following week for a corrective procedure.

They said he was personally keen to share details of his diagnosis to encourage other men who may be experiencing symptoms to get themselves check.

The NHS subsequently reported an encouraging spike in people seeking more information on their website.

His Majesty, who was in Scotland at the time, travelled back down to Sandringham afterwards and then on to London the night before his surgery.

He was admitted to The London Clinic in Marylebone, central London, on January 26 with his wife, Queen Camilla, by his side.

Buckingham Palace said he wanted to thank everyone for their good wishes and was delighted to learn that his diagnosis was having a positive impact on public health awareness.

He was finally released on Monday last week after three nights in hospital and said to be ‘doing well’.

He initially resided at Clarence House, his London residence, in order to be close to his doctors, before returning to Sandringham with his wife.

Queen Camilla has continued to undertake public engagements, telling members of the l public that her husband was ‘doing fine’ and looking forwards to getting back to work.

Last Tuesday she told well-wishers he was ‘getting on’ and ‘doing his best’, adding: ‘Thank goodness!’

One in every three men over the age of 50 will have symptoms of an enlarged prostate, which include needing to visit the toilet more frequently, with more urgency, and difficulty emptying the bladder.

An enlarged prostate, known as benign prostatic hyperplasia, does not usually pose a serious threat to health, and it is not cancer.

But patients may need to have several tests for the condition to rule out the possibility they have another illness with similar symptoms, such as prostate cancer.

Surgery is usually only recommended for moderate to severe symptoms that have not responded to medicine.

Mark Drakeford , the First Minister of Wales, wished the King a ‘full and swift recovery’ following his cancer diagnosis.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, he said: ‘I’m saddened to hear the news that HM King Charles III is facing further health challenges.

‘My thoughts and those of people across Wales will be with him and his family this evening.

‘I send my very best wishes as he starts treatment for a full and swift recovery.

‘Gwellhad buan.’

Northern Ireland’s new First Minister Michelle O’Neill, who as leader of Sinn Fein is a republican, wished the King a full and speedy recovery. 

‘I am very sorry to hear of King Charles’ illness and I want to wish him well for his treatment, and a full and speedy recovery,’ she posted on X.

Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis said after the shocking news today: ‘I am saddened to have heard about His Majesty The King’s diagnosis. 

‘I know that the Jewish communities of Great Britain and the Commonwealth will join me in wishing him a Refuah Sheleima – a complete and swift recovery.’

Health and Social Care Secretary Victoria Atkins wrote on X: ‘My thoughts are with King Charles and the whole Royal Family.

‘His decision to share his diagnosis to assist public understanding for all those affected by cancer is commendable.

‘Wishing His Majesty the very best and look forward to seeing him resume his public duties.’

Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting, who received treatment for kidney cancer in 2021, said: ‘One in two of us will develop cancer during our lives, but millions more are affected when someone they love is diagnosed with cancer.

‘Sending best wishes to His Majesty for his treatment and to his family as they support him throughout.’

Prince Albert of Monaco has praised King Charles’ ‘determination, courage and openness’ as ‘a source of inspiration’ after the British monarch shared his cancer diagnosis with the world.

In a statement shared to Instagram this evening, the 65-year-old Monegasque royal sent his ‘warmest thoughts and prayers’ to Charles, 75, who is said to be ‘on good form’ following treatment earlier today for an unspecified cancer.

‘Your Majesty, In these difficult times, my family would like to express to you our full support,’ read the message.

It continued: ‘Your determination, courage and openness have always been a source of inspiration. I am convinced that you will show the same bravery throughout this challenge.

‘My family and the people of Monaco join me in sending you, the Royal Family and your loved ones our warmest thoughts and prayers.’

Albert was the first European royal to confirm their attendance at King Charles’ Coronation, and attended the late Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral. 

Ahead of the Coronation, he spoke fondly of the British King, calling him ‘a very educated man and someone with a great sense of humour’.

Speaking to PEOPLE, Albert confirmed he and his wife Princess Charlene would attend, adding: ‘I’m certain that it’s going to be an incredible ceremony and a very moving one.’

A smiling King Charles today arrived back at Sandringham after meeting his son Prince Harry for less than an hour in their first face-to-face encounter for nine months. 

Charles and Queen Camilla were seen waving to crowds as they left Clarence House in London in an official car at 3.35pm before catching a helicopter to Norfolk.

The monarch’s Sikorsky S-76C chopper landed at around 4.30pm after a flight of less than an hour.

Harry was seen driving through the gates of Clarence House at 2.45pm after rushing to Britain following an 11-hour flight from California – where his wife, Meghan Markle, and children, Archie and Lilibet, are staying behind. 

Charles, 75, is said to be ‘on good form’ following treatment earlier today for an unspecified cancer. The royal helicopter was seen arriving in Sandringham just before 5pm. 

It is not known if Harry will remain in central London or stay at Windsor, most likely at Frogmore Cottage – which he and his wife had to move out of last June. 

Experts have said they hope that Harry’s trip is the ‘sign of a truce’ with Charles, but there remains little sign of a rapprochement with his brother William – with a source close to the Prince of Wales saying there were ‘no plans’ for a meeting. 

The source told The Mirror: ‘The prince’s main focus is for his wife, who is recovering from surgery, his three children and now his father. There are no plans for Harry’s visit to act as some kind of vehicle for reconciliation.’ 

Charles, meanwhile, is said to be ‘on good form’ and in regular contact with the Prince of Wales. 

‘He’s on his usual good form in every way, just a little frustrated that his condition has affected not just his own plans but impacted on others,’ a palace source told the Telegraph.  

Harry left LAX for London last night after Charles called him personally to tell him the devastating news.

A luxury Range Rover believed to be carrying the royal was seen arriving at LAX’s VIP terminal last night and he boarded the earliest flight so he could be in London by lunchtime.

Harry was accompanied by police security despite his ongoing row with the Home Office.  

Daily Mail diary editor Richard Eden tweeted today: ‘After his 5,000-mile flight from Los Angeles, #PrinceHarry is understood to have had a brief meeting with #KingCharles before His Majesty departed for his Norfolk retreat, Sandringham. It will be interesting to see how long Harry stays in this country.’

Earlier, royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said it was crucial for the duke to show solidarity with his father. 

‘I’m sure Harry will put aside the past right now for this serious issue,’ he said.  ‘It’s so important that everyone is pulling in the right direction’.

Kristina Kyriacou, the King’s former press secretary, said: ‘Charles adores Harry. He didn’t want any of this estrangement.

‘If out of bad news, some good news comes and Harry and the King and the Queen and his brother are reunited – how wonderful.’

In Spare, Harry had revealed that Charles had urged his warring sons: ‘Please boys, don’t make my final years a misery.’ 

Harry’s trip could be motivated by that plea.

The Prince flew into London’s Heathrow on a scheduled British Airways flight from Los Angeles, before being picked up by a black Range Rover.

His father the King could be absent from public duties until at least March following yesterday’s dramatic announcement about his health. 

The Daily Mail’s Robert Hardman said this morning that the King’s ‘first pronounced absence’ could come on Commonwealth Day, which is traditionally held at Westminster Abbey on the second Monday of March.

Mr Hardman, the author of ‘Charles III: New King. New Court. The Inside Story’, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: ‘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.’

Former royal’s communications secretary Julian Payne said the King would be ‘chomping at the bit’ to return to public engagements and will be ‘deeply frustrated’ by having to step back.

It comes after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said this morning that he was ‘shocked and sad’ to hear about the King’s cancer diagnosis but was ‘thankful’ it had been caught early.

Family and friends were said to be amazed by the King’s determination to carry on with ‘business as usual’. It is understood his condition has been caught very early and the prognosis is good. A family friend said: ‘He and his doctors are very, very positive.’

Charles has been making frequent Sunday night trips in recent months to Windsor Castle to spend time with Prince William, The Sun reported, with the father and son becoming closer.

While cancelling all his public engagements, Charles is insisting on carrying on with his ‘red boxes’ of paperwork and he may even conduct a small number of face-to-face private meetings.

The Mail has learnt that the King has known about his diagnosis since early last week, insisting on going to church in Norfolk on Sunday and waving warmly to well-wishers.

Camilla also stoically insisted on opening a new Maggie’s cancer care unit in London on Wednesday in the knowledge that her husband was about to have treatment.

She carefully told well-wishers at the Royal Free Hospital that he was ‘getting on, doing his best’. A source said: ‘Full credit to her. She has been marvellous.’

In a statement Buckingham Palace said last night: ‘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 affected by cancer.’

Former royal communications secretary Julian Payne told Newsnight last night that the King will be ‘deeply frustrated’ by having to step back from work.

He added: ‘His work schedule is punishing and he really enjoys being out and meeting people and having the chance to speak up on causes that he cares about on representing the nation.

‘He will find that difficult. The reality of course is the machinery of state continues, the red boxes will come, the meetings with the PM will happen and the Privy Counsellors.

‘That side of things will continue but he will be itching to get back to things as quickly as he can.

‘The good thing of course is that although he is 75 he is a very fit and healthy 75-year-old.’

‘So I think he’s in as good a position as anyone can be to get through this next chapter. And he’ll be absolutely chomping at the bit to get back out as quickly as he can.’

Sunday Times royal editor Roya Nikkhah added: ‘He won’t want to step back. If he can continue with his duties… he’s not going to want to step back if he doesn’t have to.

‘It’ll be about other members of the Royal Family picking up the slack while he can’t be on public duties. The Queen is 76, she is very energetic 76 but 76 nonetheless.

‘So there’s a lot of pressure on her not only doing more duties, worrying about her husband too.

‘I think we will see her step a lot to fill that void and I’m sure we will see Prince William more doing public facing things.

‘We know the King will be frustrated but he will know he has members of the family who he trusts to the roles if needs be.’

Royal biographer Matthew Dennison told BBC News that the country is ‘going to see something that’s a little like what we saw in the last months of the reign of the late Queen.’

He explained: ‘The Queen maintained all of the functions associated with her role as head of state, the red boxes, the prime ministerial encounters, where possible Privy Counsellor meetings – but she didn’t do as many public engagements which are that head of the nation side of being the sovereign.

‘What we’re going to see is something remarkably similar that the King will continue as head of state but some of that head of the nation meeting and greeting that being a figurehead a focus of royalty, affection, unity he won’t be doing that in the short term.

‘Members of his immediate family who of course stepped up when the late queen died scaled back her public engagements will do the same in this case I think.’

He added: ‘The challenge for the Royal Family is fitting in engagements to what are often really very busy diaries which have been planned long in advance.

‘I would imagine we would see increased numbers of engagements for the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh and possibly the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, who are of course trusted members of the Royal Family too.’ 

And Dame Julia Cleverdon told BBC Radio 4: ‘I am absolutely sure that this reign will continue and that the determination of the King, who is a very determined man, knows a lot about cancer. I always remember when organising programmes within the last engagement of the day was always the visit to hospitals because he didn’t want any time taken – if he was going to use longer time it would be his time.

‘He will be really really a) knowledgeable b) determined and c) absolutely clear that the show will go on.’

Following last night’s devastating health update, Princess Anne got back to business as usual by handing out honours at Windsor Castle before she travels up to the Midlands for a busy day of royal engagements.

Princess Beatrice of York, the King’s niece, was seen driving to Clarence House this morning.

Royal aides said they were carefully balancing the King’s right to privacy at a difficult and sensitive time with his role as head of state. But he hopes that by sharing the news that it will enable accurate reporting of his condition and prevent speculation on an issue that affects so many other families.

No further details of which cancer he has been diagnosed with are being shared, aside from emphasising it is not prostate cancer, which is the biggest cancer killer of men in the UK each year. It is being stressed it was found only when the king had treatment for a benign enlarged prostate.

He was admitted for surgery on January 26 and remained in the private London Clinic in central London for three days.

It was during this intervention that a ‘separate cause for concern’ was noted and subsequently diagnosed as a form of cancer.

Details of his treatment are not being disclosed. 

A royal aide said: ‘No further details are being shared at this stage, but His Majesty is receiving expert care and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible.’ 

Prince Harry and William have no plans to meet while the Duke of Sussex is in the UK visiting King Charles following the monarch’s shock cancer diagnosis. 

Harry, who boarded the 11-hour flight hours after his father revealed he was ill, flew from America to London alone, leaving Meghan, Archie and Lilibet back at their California home. 

The Duke of Sussex’s transatlantic dash had raised hopes his return to Britain will be used to heal wounds with King Charles and a chance to reach out to his brother Prince William amid their on-going feud.

But Palace sources have said there are no plans for a meeting between Harry and William while the Duke of Sussex is in London, scuppering hopes of a potential olive branch between the royal brothers.

It’s believed the Prince of Wales, 41, is remaining focused on tending to his wife Kate, who is recovering from her abdominal surgery and is taking extended leave from public duties until after Easter.

William is due to return to public work tomorrow, carrying out an investiture at Windsor Castle in the morning before later attending a gala for the London Air Ambulance Service in the evening. 

Sources close to Harry, 39, said he would welcome the chance to meet with his brother, with an insider adding: ‘The Duke’s primary reason to travel to the UK is to visit his father. If the opportunity were to arise to see the Prince of Wales then the Duke would have gladly accepted it.’ 

Prince Harry arrived at Clarence House earlier this afternoon where he had a ‘brief meeting’ with his father hours after touching down at Heathrow.

Harry was spotted in the back of a Range Rover that drove in a large convoy through the gates of Clarence House, where Charles, 75, is resting following treatment earlier today for an unspecified cancer.

It is not known if Harry will remain in central London or stay at Windsor, most likely at Frogmore Cottage – which he and Meghan vacated last June.

King Charles is resting at Clarence House ahead of treatment, with Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi seen leaving after a visit this morning.

Experts have said that they hope that Harry’s trip to Britain is the ‘sign of a truce’ and that ‘good news’ of a heal in the rift in the Royal Family could come from the ‘bad news’ about the King’s health.

Harry left LAX for London last night to be with his father. Charles had called him personally to tell him the devastating news and the Duke of Sussex has immediately jumped on a plane so he could be in the UK later today.

A luxury Range Rover believed to be carrying the British royal was seen arriving at LAX’s VIP terminal last night and he boarded the earliest flight so he could be in London by lunchtime on Tuesday.

Harry was accompanied by police security despite his ongoing row with the Home Office. 

Daily Mail Diary editor Richard Eden tweeted today: ‘After his 5,000-mile flight from Los Angeles, #PrinceHarry is understood to have had a brief meeting with #KingCharles before His Majesty departed for his Norfolk retreat, Sandringham. It will be interesting to see how long Harry stays in this country.’ 

Earlier, royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said: ‘I’m sure Harry will put aside the past right now for this serious issue. The Royal family – including the Sussexes – it’s so important that everyone is pulling in the right direction’.

Kristina Kyriacou, the King’s former press secretary, said today: ‘Charles adores Harry. He didn’t want any of this estrangement. If out of bad news, some good news comes and Harry and the King and the Queen and his brother are reunited – how wonderful.’

In Spare, Harry had revealed that Charles had urged his warring sons: ‘Please boys, don’t make my final years a misery.’ 

And his trip could be motivated by that plea.

He flew into London’s Heathrow Airport on a scheduled British Airways flight from Los Angeles. 

The Prince -who travelled on the overnight 11 hour flight without his wife Meghan – was met off the plane.

A black Range Rover parked at the VIP. Windsor Suite left to drive to another part of the airport to collect Harry.

The Range Rover escorted by two police cars,

Harry’s car had arrived at the VIP suite adjacent to Terminal Five two hours ahead of his arrival at 12.35pm on BA280.

Despite his in going row with the Home Office over police protection during visits to the UK with his family a police car followed him out.

Harry is expected to travel to Clarence House to meet with King

The King spent last night at home in London after beginning out-patient cancer treatment – as family and friends revealed that the monarch remains ‘hugely positive’ following his bombshell diagnosis. But he may miss public duties for a number of months, it has been claimed.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said today that he was ‘shocked and sad’ to hear about the King’s cancer diagnosis but revealed: ‘Thankfully this has been caught early’. 

Harry landed in the UK at lunchtime but it is not known if he will see his brother Prince William or the Princess of Wales, who is recovering from serious abdominal surgery at their home in the grounds of Winsor Castle.  But experts have said they hope that the Duke of Sussex’s last-minute trip could finally bring Harry, Charles and William closer together. 

Last time the Prince flew to the UK was in September, for the Well Child Awards, where he stayed in a hotel. Meghan missed the UK altogether, meeting him in Germany for the Invictus Games.

It is understood the Duke asked if he could stay at Windsor Castle to allow him to visit his grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth II’s place of rest, but permission was denied. 

Harry usually travels with his own private security team, after being stripped of his right to automatic police protection when he left the Royal family in 2020. 

The King contacted both the Duke of Sussex and the Prince of Wales personally to tell them of his cancer diagnosis before it was announced by Buckingham Palace.

A source close to Harry said that he had immediately decided to come to the UK to be by his father’s side. Experts have claimed that Harry’s dash to Britain ‘indicates the seriousness’ of the King’s condition.

Announcing that Prince Harry will come and see his father, the Office of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex said: ‘The duke did speak with his father about his diagnosis. He will be traveling to UK to see His Majesty in the coming days.’ 

Richard Fitzwilliams told The Sun: ‘I’m sure Harry will put aside the past right now for this serious issue. The Royal family – including the Sussexes – it’s so important that everyone is pulling in the right direction’. 

Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond said she hoped that King Charles III’s cancer diagnosis ‘will bring a reconciliation’ with Prince Harry. 

Harry estranged brother William is also in close contact with his father but neither brother has made a public statement yet. The heir to the throne, who returns to public duties this week after helping to settle his wife, the Princess of Wales, at home as she recovers from abdominal surgery.

He may also undertake some duties on behalf of his father, in addition to his own diary of engagements, while the King undergoes treatment.

As the King’s cancer shocked Britain, the Commonwealth and the world, it also emerged:  

Buckingham Palace announced on Monday that doctors discovered the cancer during a medical procedure for an enlarged prostate. Sources have suggested that the cancer is in a different part of the King’s body but was discovered during the surgery last week. 

Prince Harry was last in the UK over the summer, when he attended an event for a children’s charity. However, he did not meet with the Royal family during that visit before heading to Germany for his Invictus Games where he met up with Meghan. 

The Duke of Sussex attended his father’s coronation last May, but left London just hours after the ceremony to return to Montecito.

Harry is believed to be in contact with his father but sources have claimed that there has been no rapprochement with William, who is said to have been left upset by the Sussexes’ attacks on the Royal Family since Megxit.

Harry’s visit will raise hopes that there could be some thawing in the relations, which have been rocky since he and Meghan emigrated in 2020.

King Charles’ cancer diagnosis has shocked the world.

The 75-year-old monarch has returned to London from Sandringham to begin treatment immediately.

It is not connected with his recent surgery and is not prostate cancer, but medics spotted it when he underwent his medical procedure for an enlarged prostate.

Buckingham Palace said in a statement: ‘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.’

The palace said the King ‘looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible’, but it is not yet known whether it will affect his attendance at events such as those marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day in June.

It is understood he will continue to receive red boxes and process state documents during treatment and there are no plans to appoint Counsellors of State.

A palace spokesman said: ‘Regrettably, a number of the King’s forthcoming public engagements will have to be rearranged or postponed.

‘His Majesty would like to apologise to all those who may be disappointed or inconvenienced as a consequence.’

It is understood details of the King’s diary are still being worked on and it is not yet known when a full programme of engagements will begin.

Reacting to the news, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak tweeted: ‘Wishing His Majesty a full and speedy recovery. 

‘I have no doubt he’ll be back to full strength in no time and I know the whole country will be wishing him well.’

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer tweeted: ‘On behalf of the Labour Party, I wish His Majesty all the very best for his recovery.

‘We look forward to seeing him back to swift full health.’

Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle told MPs: ‘I know the whole House will wish to join me in expressing our sympathies with His Majesty the King following the news announcement this evening. 

‘Our thoughts are, of course, with His Majesty and his family, and we’d all wish to send him our very best wishes for the successful treatment and a speedy recovery.’

The diagnosis is also likely to be professionally devastating for Charles, who was the longest-serving heir to the throne in British history before he became King on the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth, on September 8 2022.

Since then he has hit the ground running with three state visits overseas, hosting two incoming state visits to the UK and undertaking hundreds of public engagements each year, taking on a punishing official workload well into his 70s.

Aides have said he has relished the challenge and is hugely enjoying his royal role.

The King’s diagnosis will pose serious questions for the working of the monarchy, with fewer working members of the royal family and the Princess of Wales out of action due to what has only been described as ‘abdominal surgery’ until after Easter.

The Prince of Wales, who is heir to the throne, had cleared his diary to be by his wife’s side and keep life as normal as possible for their three children.

Kensington Palace announced earlier today, however, that he would resume public duties this week by conducting an investiture on Wednesday at Windsor Castle, followed by a gala fundraising event for the London Air Ambulance in the evening.

While Queen Elizabeth suffered episodic periods of ill-health over the years and underwent surgery on a number of occasions, including on her knee and cataracts, there was no major health crisis of this magnitude until the very last months of her historic 70-year reign.

That, however, would have a serious knock-on effect on the family life of the Prince and Princess of Wales.

They moved to Windsor 18-months ago in order to allow their children to enjoy a more carefree childhood, outside of the royal bubble, until absolutely necessary.

Prince George, ten, who is second in line to the throne, Princess Charlotte, eight, and five-year-old Prince Louis all attend a local school. Lambrook, and have settled in well at their new home, Adelaide Cottage.

William and Kate’s team are still based at Kensington Palace in London, their official residence, and travel up to Windsor for meetings.

Questions will inevitably be asked how practicable it will be for them to do so now.

The King has largely enjoyed very good health throughout his life, apart from suffering from a cripplingly bad back.

The first sign that anything was amiss with his health came on January 17 when Buckingham Palace made a surprise announcement that the King had ‘sought treatment’ for an enlarged prostate.

The palace added that His Majesty’s condition was ‘benign’ and that he would attend hospital the following week for a corrective procedure.

They said he was personally keen to share details of his diagnosis to encourage other men who may be experiencing symptoms to get themselves check.

The NHS subsequently reported an encouraging spike in people seeking more information on their website.

His Majesty, who was in Scotland at the time, travelled back down to Sandringham afterwards and then on to London the night before his surgery.

He was admitted to The London Clinic in Marylebone, central London, on January 26 with his wife, Queen Camilla, by his side.

Buckingham Palace said he wanted to thank everyone for their good wishes and was delighted to learn that his diagnosis was having a positive impact on public health awareness.

He was finally released on Monday last week after three nights in hospital and said to be ‘doing well’.

He initially resided at Clarence House, his London residence, in order to be close to his doctors, before returning to Sandringham with his wife.

Queen Camilla has continued to undertake public engagements, telling members of the l public that her husband was ‘doing fine’ and looking forwards to getting back to work.

Last Tuesday she told well-wishers he was ‘getting on’ and ‘doing his best’, adding: ‘Thank goodness!’

One in every three men over the age of 50 will have symptoms of an enlarged prostate, which include needing to visit the toilet more frequently, with more urgency, and difficulty emptying the bladder.

An enlarged prostate, known as benign prostatic hyperplasia, does not usually pose a serious threat to health, and it is not cancer.

But patients may need to have several tests for the condition to rule out the possibility they have another illness with similar symptoms, such as prostate cancer.

Surgery is usually only recommended for moderate to severe symptoms that have not responded to medicine.

Mark Drakeford , the First Minister of Wales, wished the King a ‘full and swift recovery’ following his cancer diagnosis.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, he said: ‘I’m saddened to hear the news that HM King Charles III is facing further health challenges.

‘My thoughts and those of people across Wales will be with him and his family this evening.

‘I send my very best wishes as he starts treatment for a full and swift recovery.

‘Gwellhad buan.’

Northern Ireland’s new First Minister Michelle O’Neill, who as leader of Sinn Fein is a republican, wished the King a full and speedy recovery. 

‘I am very sorry to hear of King Charles’ illness and I want to wish him well for his treatment, and a full and speedy recovery,’ she posted on X.

Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis said after the shocking news today: ‘I am saddened to have heard about His Majesty The King’s diagnosis. 

‘I know that the Jewish communities of Great Britain and the Commonwealth will join me in wishing him a Refuah Sheleima – a complete and swift recovery.’

Health and Social Care Secretary Victoria Atkins wrote on X: ‘My thoughts are with King Charles and the whole Royal Family.

‘His decision to share his diagnosis to assist public understanding for all those affected by cancer is commendable.

‘Wishing His Majesty the very best and look forward to seeing him resume his public duties.’

Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting, who received treatment for kidney cancer in 2021, said: ‘One in two of us will develop cancer during our lives, but millions more are affected when someone they love is diagnosed with cancer.

‘Sending best wishes to His Majesty for his treatment and to his family as they support him throughout.’

A smiling King Charles has left Clarence House after a ‘brief’ meeting with Prince Harry – with the monarch now preparing to return to Sandringham following his first treatment for cancer. 

Charles and Queen Camilla were seen waving to crowds as they left the royal residence in the back of an official car. They are believed to be going to Norfolk by helicopter. 

It followed a short meeting between the King and his son, the Duke of Sussex, who rushed to Britain following an 11-hour British Airways flight from California – where his wife, Meghan Markle, and children, Archie and Lilibet, are staying behind.  

The Duke of Sussex was spotted in the back of a Range Rover that drove in a large convoy through the gates of Clarence House, where Charles, 75, is said to be ‘on good form’ following treatment earlier today for an unspecified cancer. 

It is not known if Harry will remain in central London or stay at Windsor, most likely at Frogmore Cottage – which he and Meghan had to move out of last June. 

Experts have said they hope that Harry’s trip is the ‘sign of a truce’ with Charles, but there remains little sign of a rapprochement with his brother William – with a source close to the Prince of Wales saying there were ‘no plans’ for a meeting. 

The source told The Mirror: ‘The prince’s main focus is for his wife, who is recovering from surgery, his three children and now his father. 

‘There are no plans for Harry’s visit to act as some kind of vehicle for reconciliation.’ 

Charles, meanwhile, is said to be ‘on good form’ and in regular contact with members of his family.  

“He’s on his usual good form in every way, just a little frustrated that his condition has affected not just his own plans but impacted on others,’ a palace source told the Telegraph.  

Harry left LAX for London last night after Charles called him personally to tell him the devastating news.

A luxury Range Rover believed to be carrying the British royal was seen arriving at LAX’s VIP terminal last night and he boarded the earliest flight so he could be in London by lunchtime.

Harry was accompanied by police security despite his ongoing row with the Home Office.  

Daily Mail Diary editor Richard Eden tweeted today: ‘After his 5,000-mile flight from Los Angeles, #PrinceHarry is understood to have had a brief meeting with #KingCharles before His Majesty departed for his Norfolk retreat, Sandringham. It will be interesting to see how long Harry stays in this country.’

Earlier, royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said it was important for the Duke to show solidarity with his father. 

‘I’m sure Harry will put aside the past right now for this serious issue,’ he said. 

‘It’s so important that everyone is pulling in the right direction’.

Kristina Kyriacou, the King’s former press secretary, said: ‘Charles adores Harry. He didn’t want any of this estrangement.

‘If out of bad news, some good news comes and Harry and the King and the Queen and his brother are reunited – how wonderful.’

In Spare, Harry had revealed that Charles had urged his warring sons: ‘Please boys, don’t make my final years a misery.’ 

Harry’s trip could be motivated by that plea.

The Prince flew into London’s Heathrow Airport on a scheduled British Airways flight from Los Angeles, before being picked up by a black Range Rover.

The King could be absent from public duties until at least March following yesterday’s dramatic announcement about his health. 

The Daily Mail’s Robert Hardman said this morning that the King’s ‘first pronounced absence’ could come on Commonwealth Day, which is traditionally held at Westminster Abbey on the second Monday of March.

Mr Hardman, the author of ‘Charles III: New King. New Court. The Inside Story.’, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: ‘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.’

Former royal’s communications secretary Julian Payne said the King would be ‘chomping at the bit’ to return to public engagements and will be ‘deeply frustrated’ by having to step back.

It comes after Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said this morning that he was ‘shocked and sad’ to hear about the King’s cancer diagnosis but was ‘thankful’ it had been caught early.

Family and friends were said to be amazed by the King’s determination to carry on with ‘business as usual’. It is understood his condition has been caught very early and the prognosis is good. A family friend said: ‘He and his doctors are very, very positive.’

Charles has been making frequent Sunday night trips in recent months to Windsor Castle to spend time with Prince William, The Sun reported, with the father and son becoming closer.

While cancelling all his public engagements, Charles is insisting on carrying on with his ‘red boxes’ of paperwork and he may even conduct a small number of face-to-face private meetings.

The Mail has learnt that the King has known about his diagnosis since early last week, insisting on going to church in Norfolk on Sunday and waving warmly to well-wishers.

Camilla also stoically insisted on opening a new Maggie’s cancer care unit in London on Wednesday in the knowledge that her husband was about to have treatment.

She carefully told well-wishers at the Royal Free Hospital that he was ‘getting on, doing his best’. A source said: ‘Full credit to her. She has been marvellous.’

In a statement Buckingham Palace said last night: ‘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 affected by cancer.’

Former Royal’s Communications Secretary Julian Payne told Newsnight last night that the King will be ‘deeply frustrated’ by having to step back from work.

He added: ‘His work schedule is punishing and he really enjoys being out and meeting people and having the chance to speak up on causes that he cares about on representing the nation.

‘He will find that difficult. The reality of course is the machinery of state continues, the red boxes will come, the meetings with the PM will happen and the Privy Counsellors.

‘That side of things will continue but he will be itching to get back to things as quickly as he can.

‘The good thing of course is that although he is 75 he is a very fit and healthy 75-year-old.’

‘So I think he’s in as good a position as anyone can be to get through this next chapter. And he’ll be absolutely chomping at the bit to get back out as quickly as he can.’

The Sunday Times’ Royal Editor Roya Nikkhah added: ‘He won’t want to step back. If he can continue with his duties… he’s not going to want to step back if he doesn’t have to.

‘It’ll be about other members of the Royal Family picking up the slack while he can’t be on public duties. The Queen is 76, she is very energetic 76 but 76 nonetheless.

‘So there’s a lot of pressure on her not only doing more duties, worrying about her husband too.

‘I think we will see her step a lot to fill that void and I’m sure we will see Prince William more doing public facing things.

‘We know the King will be frustrated but he will know he has members of the family who he trusts to the roles if needs be.’

Royal Biographer Matthew Dennison told BBC News that the country is ‘going to see something that’s a little like what we saw in the last months of the reign of the late Queen.’

He explained: ‘The Queen maintained all of the functions associated with her role as head of state, the red boxes, the prime ministerial encounters, where possible Privy Counsellor meetings – but she didn’t do as many public engagements which are that head of the nation side of being the sovereign.

‘What we’re going to see is something remarkably similar that the King will continue as head of state but some of that head of the nation meeting and greeting that being a figurehead a focus of royalty, affection, unity he won’t be doing that in the short term.

‘Members of his immediate family who of course stepped up when the late queen died scaled back her public engagements will do the same in this case I think.’

He added: ‘The challenge for the Royal Family is fitting in engagements to what are often really very busy diaries which have been planned long in advance.

‘I would imagine we would see increased numbers of engagements from Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh, possibly Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, who are of course trusted members of the Royal Family too.’

And Dame Julia Cleverdon told BBC Radio 4: ‘I am absolutely sure that this reign will continue and that the determination of the King, who is a very determined man, knows a lot about cancer. I always remember when organising programmes within the last engagement of the day was always the visit to hospitals because he didn’t want any time taken – if he was going to use longer time it would be his time.

‘He will be really really a) knowledgeable b) determined and c) absolutely clear that the show will go on.’

Following last night’s devastating health update, Princess Anne got back to business as usual by handing out honours at Windsor Castle before she travels up to the Midlands for a busy day of royal engagements.

Princess Beatrice of York, the King’s niece, was seen driving to Clarence House this morning.

Royal aides said they were carefully balancing the King’s right to privacy at a difficult and sensitive time with his role as head of state. But he hopes that by sharing the news that it will enable accurate reporting of his condition and prevent speculation on an issue that affects so many other families.

No further details of which cancer he has been diagnosed with are being shared, aside from emphasising it is not prostate cancer, which is the biggest cancer killer of men in the UK each year. It is being stressed it was found only when the king had treatment for a benign enlarged prostate.

He was admitted for surgery on January 26 and remained in the private London Clinic in central London for three days.

It was during this intervention that a ‘separate cause for concern’ was noted and subsequently diagnosed as a form of cancer.

Details of his treatment are not being disclosed. 

A royal aide said: ‘No further details are being shared at this stage, but His Majesty is receiving expert care and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible.’ 

Prince Harry has arrived at Clarence House to be at King Charles’ side following his shock cancer diagnosis. 

The Duke of Sussex had a ‘brief meeting’ with his father hours after touching down at Heathrow following an 11-hour British Airways flight from his home in California – where his wife Meghan Markle and children, Archie and Lilibet, are staying behind. 

Harry was spotted in the back of a Range Rover that drove in a large convoy through the gates of Clarence House, where Charles, 75, is resting following treatment earlier today for an unspecified cancer. 

It is not known if Harry will remain in central London or stay at Windsor, most likely at the empty Frogmore Cottage. 

But experts have said they hope that Harry’s trip is the ‘sign of a truce’ that could be ‘good news’ coming out of the ‘bad news’ about Charles’ health. 

Harry left LAX for London last night after Charles called him personally to tell him the devastating news.

A luxury Range Rover believed to be carrying the British royal was seen arriving at LAX’s VIP terminal last night and he boarded the earliest flight so he could be in London by lunchtime.

Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said: ‘I’m sure Harry will put aside the past right now for this serious issue. The Royal family – including the Sussexes – it’s so important that everyone is pulling in the right direction’.

Kristina Kyriacou, the King’s former press secretary, said today: ‘Charles adores Harry. He didn’t want any of this estrangement. If out of bad news, some good news comes and Harry and the King and the Queen and his brother are reunited – how wonderful.’

In Spare, Harry had revealed that Charles had urged his warring sons: ‘Please boys, don’t make my final years a misery.’ 

And his trip could be motivated by that plea.

He flew into London’s Heathrow Airport on a scheduled British Airways flight from Los Angeles. 

The Prince -who travelled on the overnight 11 hour flight without his wife Meghan – was met off the plane.

A black Range Rover parked at the VIP. Windsor Suite left to drive to another part of the airport to collect Harry.

The Range Rover escorted by two police cars,

Harry’s car had arrived at the VIP suite adjacent to Terminal Five two hours ahead of his arrival at 12.35pm on BA280.

Despite his in going row with the Home Office over police protection during visits to the UK with his family a police car followed him out.

Harry is expected to travel to Clarence House to meet with King

The King spent last night at home in London after beginning out-patient cancer treatment – as family and friends revealed that the monarch remains ‘hugely positive’ following his bombshell diagnosis. But he may miss public duties for a number of months, it has been claimed.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said today that he was ‘shocked and sad’ to hear about the King’s cancer diagnosis but revealed: ‘Thankfully this has been caught early’. 

Harry landed in the UK at lunchtime but it is not known if he will see his brother Prince William or the Princess of Wales, who is recovering from serious abdominal surgery at their home in the grounds of Winsor Castle.  But experts have said they hope that the Duke of Sussex’s last-minute trip could finally bring Harry, Charles and William closer together. 

Last time the Prince flew to the UK was in September, for the Well Child Awards, where he stayed in a hotel. Meghan missed the UK altogether, meeting him in Germany for the Invictus Games.

It is understood the Duke asked if he could stay at Windsor Castle to allow him to visit his grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth II’s place of rest, but permission was denied. 

Harry usually travels with his own private security team, after being stripped of his right to automatic police protection when he left the Royal family in 2020. 

The King contacted both the Duke of Sussex and the Prince of Wales personally to tell them of his cancer diagnosis before it was announced by Buckingham Palace.

A source close to Harry said that he had immediately decided to come to the UK to be by his father’s side. Experts have claimed that Harry’s dash to Britain ‘indicates the seriousness’ of the King’s condition.

Announcing that Prince Harry will come and see his father, the Office of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex said: ‘The duke did speak with his father about his diagnosis. He will be traveling to UK to see His Majesty in the coming days.’ 

Richard Fitzwilliams told The Sun: ‘I’m sure Harry will put aside the past right now for this serious issue. The Royal family – including the Sussexes – it’s so important that everyone is pulling in the right direction’. 

Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond said she hoped that King Charles III’s cancer diagnosis ‘will bring a reconciliation’ with Prince Harry. 

Harry estranged brother William is also in close contact with his father but neither brother has made a public statement yet. The heir to the throne, who returns to public duties this week after helping to settle his wife, the Princess of Wales, at home as she recovers from abdominal surgery.

He may also undertake some duties on behalf of his father, in addition to his own diary of engagements, while the King undergoes treatment.

As the King’s cancer shocked Britain, the Commonwealth and the world, it also emerged:  

Buckingham Palace announced on Monday that doctors discovered the cancer during a medical procedure for an enlarged prostate. Sources have suggested that the cancer is in a different part of the King’s body but was discovered during the surgery last week. 

Prince Harry was last in the UK over the summer, when he attended an event for a children’s charity. However, he did not meet with the Royal family during that visit before heading to Germany for his Invictus Games where he met up with Meghan. 

The Duke of Sussex attended his father’s coronation last May, but left London just hours after the ceremony to return to Montecito.

Harry is believed to be in contact with his father but sources have claimed that there has been no rapprochement with William, who is said to have been left upset by the Sussexes’ attacks on the Royal Family since Megxit.

Harry’s visit will raise hopes that there could be some thawing in the relations, which have been rocky since he and Meghan emigrated in 2020.

King Charles’ cancer diagnosis has shocked the world.

The 75-year-old monarch has returned to London from Sandringham to begin treatment immediately.

It is not connected with his recent surgery and is not prostate cancer, but medics spotted it when he underwent his medical procedure for an enlarged prostate.

Buckingham Palace said in a statement: ‘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.’

The palace said the King ‘looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible’, but it is not yet known whether it will affect his attendance at events such as those marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day in June.

It is understood he will continue to receive red boxes and process state documents during treatment and there are no plans to appoint Counsellors of State.

A palace spokesman said: ‘Regrettably, a number of the King’s forthcoming public engagements will have to be rearranged or postponed.

‘His Majesty would like to apologise to all those who may be disappointed or inconvenienced as a consequence.’

It is understood details of the King’s diary are still being worked on and it is not yet known when a full programme of engagements will begin.

Reacting to the news, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak tweeted: ‘Wishing His Majesty a full and speedy recovery. 

‘I have no doubt he’ll be back to full strength in no time and I know the whole country will be wishing him well.’

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer tweeted: ‘On behalf of the Labour Party, I wish His Majesty all the very best for his recovery.

‘We look forward to seeing him back to swift full health.’

Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle told MPs: ‘I know the whole House will wish to join me in expressing our sympathies with His Majesty the King following the news announcement this evening. 

‘Our thoughts are, of course, with His Majesty and his family, and we’d all wish to send him our very best wishes for the successful treatment and a speedy recovery.’

The diagnosis is also likely to be professionally devastating for Charles, who was the longest-serving heir to the throne in British history before he became King on the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth, on September 8 2022.

Since then he has hit the ground running with three state visits overseas, hosting two incoming state visits to the UK and undertaking hundreds of public engagements each year, taking on a punishing official workload well into his 70s.

Aides have said he has relished the challenge and is hugely enjoying his royal role.

The King’s diagnosis will pose serious questions for the working of the monarchy, with fewer working members of the royal family and the Princess of Wales out of action due to what has only been described as ‘abdominal surgery’ until after Easter.

The Prince of Wales, who is heir to the throne, had cleared his diary to be by his wife’s side and keep life as normal as possible for their three children.

Kensington Palace announced earlier today, however, that he would resume public duties this week by conducting an investiture on Wednesday at Windsor Castle, followed by a gala fundraising event for the London Air Ambulance in the evening.

While Queen Elizabeth suffered episodic periods of ill-health over the years and underwent surgery on a number of occasions, including on her knee and cataracts, there was no major health crisis of this magnitude until the very last months of her historic 70-year reign.

That, however, would have a serious knock-on effect on the family life of the Prince and Princess of Wales.

They moved to Windsor 18-months ago in order to allow their children to enjoy a more carefree childhood, outside of the royal bubble, until absolutely necessary.

Prince George, ten, who is second in line to the throne, Princess Charlotte, eight, and five-year-old Prince Louis all attend a local school. Lambrook, and have settled in well at their new home, Adelaide Cottage.

William and Kate’s team are still based at Kensington Palace in London, their official residence, and travel up to Windsor for meetings.

Questions will inevitably be asked how practicable it will be for them to do so now.

The King has largely enjoyed very good health throughout his life, apart from suffering from a cripplingly bad back.

The first sign that anything was amiss with his health came on January 17 when Buckingham Palace made a surprise announcement that the King had ‘sought treatment’ for an enlarged prostate.

The palace added that His Majesty’s condition was ‘benign’ and that he would attend hospital the following week for a corrective procedure.

They said he was personally keen to share details of his diagnosis to encourage other men who may be experiencing symptoms to get themselves check.

The NHS subsequently reported an encouraging spike in people seeking more information on their website.

His Majesty, who was in Scotland at the time, travelled back down to Sandringham afterwards and then on to London the night before his surgery.

He was admitted to The London Clinic in Marylebone, central London, on January 26 with his wife, Queen Camilla, by his side.

Buckingham Palace said he wanted to thank everyone for their good wishes and was delighted to learn that his diagnosis was having a positive impact on public health awareness.

He was finally released on Monday last week after three nights in hospital and said to be ‘doing well’.

He initially resided at Clarence House, his London residence, in order to be close to his doctors, before returning to Sandringham with his wife.

Queen Camilla has continued to undertake public engagements, telling members of the l public that her husband was ‘doing fine’ and looking forwards to getting back to work.

Last Tuesday she told well-wishers he was ‘getting on’ and ‘doing his best’, adding: ‘Thank goodness!’

One in every three men over the age of 50 will have symptoms of an enlarged prostate, which include needing to visit the toilet more frequently, with more urgency, and difficulty emptying the bladder.

An enlarged prostate, known as benign prostatic hyperplasia, does not usually pose a serious threat to health, and it is not cancer.

But patients may need to have several tests for the condition to rule out the possibility they have another illness with similar symptoms, such as prostate cancer.

Surgery is usually only recommended for moderate to severe symptoms that have not responded to medicine.

Mark Drakeford , the First Minister of Wales, wished the King a ‘full and swift recovery’ following his cancer diagnosis.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, he said: ‘I’m saddened to hear the news that HM King Charles III is facing further health challenges.

‘My thoughts and those of people across Wales will be with him and his family this evening.

‘I send my very best wishes as he starts treatment for a full and swift recovery.

‘Gwellhad buan.’

Northern Ireland’s new First Minister Michelle O’Neill, who as leader of Sinn Fein is a republican, wished the King a full and speedy recovery. 

‘I am very sorry to hear of King Charles’ illness and I want to wish him well for his treatment, and a full and speedy recovery,’ she posted on X.

Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis said after the shocking news today: ‘I am saddened to have heard about His Majesty The King’s diagnosis. 

‘I know that the Jewish communities of Great Britain and the Commonwealth will join me in wishing him a Refuah Sheleima – a complete and swift recovery.’

Health and Social Care Secretary Victoria Atkins wrote on X: ‘My thoughts are with King Charles and the whole Royal Family.

‘His decision to share his diagnosis to assist public understanding for all those affected by cancer is commendable.

‘Wishing His Majesty the very best and look forward to seeing him resume his public duties.’

Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting, who received treatment for kidney cancer in 2021, said: ‘One in two of us will develop cancer during our lives, but millions more are affected when someone they love is diagnosed with cancer.

‘Sending best wishes to His Majesty for his treatment and to his family as they support him throughout.’

Prince Harry has landed in Britain alone to be at King Charles’ side after his father told him about his shock cancer diagnosis, raising hopes of a royal truce.

The Duke of Sussex is believed to have touched down on a British Airways flight to London Heathrow – but Meghan, Archie and Lilibet have stayed at home in California.

Harry boarded the 11-hour flight hours after Charles revealed he was ill.

But the Duchess of Sussex is believed to be at their Montecito mansion with their two children, Prince Archie , four, and Princess Lilibet, two, despite the threat of floods due to extreme weather in California this week.

Harry’s transatlantic dash has raised hopes that his return to Britain will be used to heal wounds with King Charles and a chance to reach out to his brother Prince William.

His father is believed to be resting at Clarence House today ahead of treatment, with Princess Beatrice and her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi seen leaving after a visit this morning. It is not known if Harry will stay in central London to be close to the King or stay at Windsor, most likely at the empty Frogmore Cottage .

Experts have said that they hope that Harry’s trip to Britain is the ‘sign of a truce’ and that ‘good news’ of a heal in the rift in the Royal Family could come from the ‘bad news’ about the King’s health.

Harry left LAX for London last night to be with his father. Charles had called him personally to tell him the devastating news and the Duke of Sussex has immediately jumped on a plane so he could be in the UK later today.

A luxury Range Rover believed to be carrying the British royal was seen arriving at LAX’s VIP terminal last night and he boarded the earliest flight so he could be in London by lunchtime on Tuesday.

Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said: ‘I’m sure Harry will put aside the past right now for this serious issue. The Royal family – including the Sussexes – it’s so important that everyone is pulling in the right direction’.

Kristina Kyriacou, the King’s former press secretary, said today: ‘Charles adores Harry. He didn’t want any of this estrangement. If out of bad news, some good news comes and Harry and the King and the Queen and his brother are reunited – how wonderful.’

In Spare, Harry had revealed that Charles had urged his warring sons: ‘Please boys, don’t make my final years a misery.’ 

And his trip could be motivated by that plea.

He flew into London’s Heathrow Airport on a scheduled British Airways flight from Los Angeles. 

The Prince -who travelled on the overnight 11 hour flight without his wife Meghan – was met off the plane.

A black Range Rover parked at the VIP. Windsor Suite left to drive to another part of the airport to collect Harry.

The Range Rover escorted by two police cars,

Harry’s car had arrived at the VIP suite adjacent to Terminal Five two hours ahead of his arrival at 12.35pm on BA280.

Despite his in going row with the Home Office over police protection during visits to the UK with his family a police car followed him out.

Harry is expected to travel to Clarence House to meet with King

The King spent last night at home in London after beginning out-patient cancer treatment – as family and friends revealed that the monarch remains ‘hugely positive’ following his bombshell diagnosis. But he may miss public duties for a number of months, it has been claimed.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said today that he was ‘shocked and sad’ to hear about the King’s cancer diagnosis but revealed: ‘Thankfully this has been caught early’. 

Harry landed in the UK at lunchtime but it is not known if he will see his brother Prince William or the Princess of Wales, who is recovering from serious abdominal surgery at their home in the grounds of Winsor Castle.  But experts have said they hope that the Duke of Sussex’s last-minute trip could finally bring Harry, Charles and William closer together. 

Last time the Prince flew to the UK was in September, for the Well Child Awards, where he stayed in a hotel. Meghan missed the UK altogether, meeting him in Germany for the Invictus Games.

It is understood the Duke asked if he could stay at Windsor Castle to allow him to visit his grandmother, the late Queen Elizabeth II’s place of rest, but permission was denied. 

Harry usually travels with his own private security team, after being stripped of his right to automatic police protection when he left the Royal family in 2020. 

The King contacted both the Duke of Sussex and the Prince of Wales personally to tell them of his cancer diagnosis before it was announced by Buckingham Palace.

A source close to Harry said that he had immediately decided to come to the UK to be by his father’s side. Experts have claimed that Harry’s dash to Britain ‘indicates the seriousness’ of the King’s condition.

Announcing that Prince Harry will come and see his father, the Office of The Duke and Duchess of Sussex said: ‘The duke did speak with his father about his diagnosis. He will be traveling to UK to see His Majesty in the coming days.’ 

Richard Fitzwilliams told The Sun: ‘I’m sure Harry will put aside the past right now for this serious issue. The Royal family – including the Sussexes – it’s so important that everyone is pulling in the right direction’. 

Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond said she hoped that King Charles III’s cancer diagnosis ‘will bring a reconciliation’ with Prince Harry. 

Harry estranged brother William is also in close contact with his father but neither brother has made a public statement yet. The heir to the throne, who returns to public duties this week after helping to settle his wife, the Princess of Wales, at home as she recovers from abdominal surgery.

He may also undertake some duties on behalf of his father, in addition to his own diary of engagements, while the King undergoes treatment.

As the King’s cancer shocked Britain, the Commonwealth and the world, it also emerged:  

Buckingham Palace announced on Monday that doctors discovered the cancer during a medical procedure for an enlarged prostate. Sources have suggested that the cancer is in a different part of the King’s body but was discovered during the surgery last week. 

Prince Harry was last in the UK over the summer, when he attended an event for a children’s charity. However, he did not meet with the Royal family during that visit before heading to Germany for his Invictus Games where he met up with Meghan. 

The Duke of Sussex attended his father’s coronation last May, but left London just hours after the ceremony to return to Montecito.

Harry is believed to be in contact with his father but sources have claimed that there has been no rapprochement with William, who is said to have been left upset by the Sussexes’ attacks on the Royal Family since Megxit.

Harry’s visit will raise hopes that there could be some thawing in the relations, which have been rocky since he and Meghan emigrated in 2020.

King Charles’ cancer diagnosis has shocked the world.

The 75-year-old monarch has returned to London from Sandringham to begin treatment immediately.

It is not connected with his recent surgery and is not prostate cancer, but medics spotted it when he underwent his medical procedure for an enlarged prostate.

Buckingham Palace said in a statement: ‘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.’

The palace said the King ‘looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible’, but it is not yet known whether it will affect his attendance at events such as those marking the 80th anniversary of D-Day in June.

It is understood he will continue to receive red boxes and process state documents during treatment and there are no plans to appoint Counsellors of State.

A palace spokesman said: ‘Regrettably, a number of the King’s forthcoming public engagements will have to be rearranged or postponed.

‘His Majesty would like to apologise to all those who may be disappointed or inconvenienced as a consequence.’

It is understood details of the King’s diary are still being worked on and it is not yet known when a full programme of engagements will begin.

Reacting to the news, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak tweeted: ‘Wishing His Majesty a full and speedy recovery. 

‘I have no doubt he’ll be back to full strength in no time and I know the whole country will be wishing him well.’

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer tweeted: ‘On behalf of the Labour Party, I wish His Majesty all the very best for his recovery.

‘We look forward to seeing him back to swift full health.’

Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle told MPs: ‘I know the whole House will wish to join me in expressing our sympathies with His Majesty the King following the news announcement this evening. 

‘Our thoughts are, of course, with His Majesty and his family, and we’d all wish to send him our very best wishes for the successful treatment and a speedy recovery.’

The diagnosis is also likely to be professionally devastating for Charles, who was the longest-serving heir to the throne in British history before he became King on the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth, on September 8 2022.

Since then he has hit the ground running with three state visits overseas, hosting two incoming state visits to the UK and undertaking hundreds of public engagements each year, taking on a punishing official workload well into his 70s.

Aides have said he has relished the challenge and is hugely enjoying his royal role.

The King’s diagnosis will pose serious questions for the working of the monarchy, with fewer working members of the royal family and the Princess of Wales out of action due to what has only been described as ‘abdominal surgery’ until after Easter.

The Prince of Wales, who is heir to the throne, had cleared his diary to be by his wife’s side and keep life as normal as possible for their three children.

Kensington Palace announced earlier today, however, that he would resume public duties this week by conducting an investiture on Wednesday at Windsor Castle, followed by a gala fundraising event for the London Air Ambulance in the evening.

While Queen Elizabeth suffered episodic periods of ill-health over the years and underwent surgery on a number of occasions, including on her knee and cataracts, there was no major health crisis of this magnitude until the very last months of her historic 70-year reign.

That, however, would have a serious knock-on effect on the family life of the Prince and Princess of Wales.

They moved to Windsor 18-months ago in order to allow their children to enjoy a more carefree childhood, outside of the royal bubble, until absolutely necessary.

Prince George, ten, who is second in line to the throne, Princess Charlotte, eight, and five-year-old Prince Louis all attend a local school. Lambrook, and have settled in well at their new home, Adelaide Cottage.

William and Kate’s team are still based at Kensington Palace in London, their official residence, and travel up to Windsor for meetings.

Questions will inevitably be asked how practicable it will be for them to do so now.

The King has largely enjoyed very good health throughout his life, apart from suffering from a cripplingly bad back.

The first sign that anything was amiss with his health came on January 17 when Buckingham Palace made a surprise announcement that the King had ‘sought treatment’ for an enlarged prostate.

The palace added that His Majesty’s condition was ‘benign’ and that he would attend hospital the following week for a corrective procedure.

They said he was personally keen to share details of his diagnosis to encourage other men who may be experiencing symptoms to get themselves check.

The NHS subsequently reported an encouraging spike in people seeking more information on their website.

His Majesty, who was in Scotland at the time, travelled back down to Sandringham afterwards and then on to London the night before his surgery.

He was admitted to The London Clinic in Marylebone, central London, on January 26 with his wife, Queen Camilla, by his side.

Buckingham Palace said he wanted to thank everyone for their good wishes and was delighted to learn that his diagnosis was having a positive impact on public health awareness.

He was finally released on Monday last week after three nights in hospital and said to be ‘doing well’.

He initially resided at Clarence House, his London residence, in order to be close to his doctors, before returning to Sandringham with his wife.

Queen Camilla has continued to undertake public engagements, telling members of the l public that her husband was ‘doing fine’ and looking forwards to getting back to work.

Last Tuesday she told well-wishers he was ‘getting on’ and ‘doing his best’, adding: ‘Thank goodness!’

One in every three men over the age of 50 will have symptoms of an enlarged prostate, which include needing to visit the toilet more frequently, with more urgency, and difficulty emptying the bladder.

An enlarged prostate, known as benign prostatic hyperplasia, does not usually pose a serious threat to health, and it is not cancer.

But patients may need to have several tests for the condition to rule out the possibility they have another illness with similar symptoms, such as prostate cancer.

Surgery is usually only recommended for moderate to severe symptoms that have not responded to medicine.

Mark Drakeford , the First Minister of Wales, wished the King a ‘full and swift recovery’ following his cancer diagnosis.

In a post on X, formerly Twitter, he said: ‘I’m saddened to hear the news that HM King Charles III is facing further health challenges.

‘My thoughts and those of people across Wales will be with him and his family this evening.

‘I send my very best wishes as he starts treatment for a full and swift recovery.

‘Gwellhad buan.’

Northern Ireland’s new First Minister Michelle O’Neill, who as leader of Sinn Fein is a republican, wished the King a full and speedy recovery. 

‘I am very sorry to hear of King Charles’ illness and I want to wish him well for his treatment, and a full and speedy recovery,’ she posted on X.

Chief Rabbi Sir Ephraim Mirvis said after the shocking news today: ‘I am saddened to have heard about His Majesty The King’s diagnosis. 

‘I know that the Jewish communities of Great Britain and the Commonwealth will join me in wishing him a Refuah Sheleima – a complete and swift recovery.’

Health and Social Care Secretary Victoria Atkins wrote on X: ‘My thoughts are with King Charles and the whole Royal Family.

‘His decision to share his diagnosis to assist public understanding for all those affected by cancer is commendable.

‘Wishing His Majesty the very best and look forward to seeing him resume his public duties.’

Shadow health secretary Wes Streeting, who received treatment for kidney cancer in 2021, said: ‘One in two of us will develop cancer during our lives, but millions more are affected when someone they love is diagnosed with cancer.

‘Sending best wishes to His Majesty for his treatment and to his family as they support him throughout.’