Shock, some relief and suspicion: the first hours in the United Kingdom after the announcement of Charles III's cancer

With the minimum dose of information that Buckingham Palace has provided about the cancer suffered by Charles III of England, the reaction of the media and the British public has been a cocktail of shock, suspicion, relief and doubts. The Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, confirmed this Tuesday to the BBC that the monarch's illness was “detected early”, thus increasing the general expectation that recovery will be possible. Doctors, however, have recommended the monarch completely avoid public exposure and in-person activity at official events for the duration of the treatment, which began this Monday at the London Clinic in the British capital. If Charles III wanted to multiply his appearances and events as soon as he acceded to the throne, less than two years ago, to consolidate the image and popularity of a new monarchy, his condition from now on may be that of a “virtual king” who lets himself see little

At first, Buckingham Palace insisted that no constitutional readjustment was necessary. Charles III will continue to handle state affairs in the usual manner; He will attend meetings with the Privy Council and hold his weekly meetings with Prime Minister Sunak. It has not been clarified, however, whether the latter would be in person or electronically.

In view of the information, however, the decision announced early this Monday – before the news of the cancer became known – that Prince William, heir to the crown, would join public activity before what was planned. The Prince of Wales had decided to suspend his official commitments for a time to care for his children and his wife. Kate Middleton underwent abdominal surgery in mid-January that kept her hospitalized for 15 days, and she is not expected to resume public activities at least until Easter.

Enrique's journey

British media have shown photos of Henry of England, the youngest son of Charles III, arriving at Clarence House in London from Los Angeles, where he took a private flight to the United Kingdom. The monarch personally communicated the news to his two sons before it became public. Enrique, estranged from his father and his brother following the publication of his memoirs, in which he harshly attacked the king, immediately announced his intention to travel to British territory to visit him. The tabloids are already playing with the idea that an illness could end up causing the family reconciliation that has been speculated about for so long.

The United Kingdom contemplates the constitutional mechanism of the so-called state councilors, given the possibility that the king is abroad, suffers a serious illness or becomes incapacitated. Within the list are the queen consort, Camila; the Prince of Wales, William; Princess Anna, the king's sister, and his brother, Prince Edward.

Both Henry of England and the king's brother, Prince Andrew, were removed from the list in a parliamentary act. In the case of the first, due to his decision to renounce his public activity as a member of the royal family and move to the United States with his wife, Meghan Markle. Regarding Andrew of England, it was his legal problems due to his relationship with the American pedophile millionaire Jeffrey Epstein that removed him from public service.

Buckingham Palace has insisted on the “positive attitude” with which Charles III faces his diagnosis, and various British public health institutions, as well as their representatives, have praised the way in which the monarch faces an illness that affects a high percentage of men his age, 75 years old, in the United Kingdom.

Transparency questioned

The newspaper The Timeshowever, has been one of the most discordant voices in the face of general congratulations for the supposed transparency with which Buckingham Palace is handling the matter. “By not specifying the type of cancer he suffers from, it could be argued that the king thus embraces those who suffer from any type of this life-threatening disease,” wrote the newspaper's deputy editor, Kate Mansey. “However, it runs the risk of many people believing the monarch's illness is more sinister than the palace suggests. Or worse, that by revealing some of the information, but not all, they are hiding something.”

The announcement, on January 17, that Charles III was going to undergo surgery for prostate hypertrophy from which he was suffering, was enthusiastically celebrated as the sign that Buckingham Palace was inaugurating a new era of transparency. It was then explained that the tumor was benign, and that the king wanted to encourage men of his generation to undergo analysis by his example.

The way in which the cancer has now been announced, with half-hearted information, goes back to the reports that were released regarding Isabel II, in which her state of health was barely detailed, and euphemisms such as “problems” were used. of mobility.”

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