The King has shared his thoughts on the “frightening experience” of being among the thousands of people diagnosed with cancer every year.
The 76-year-old monarch praised the organisations that mean that “the darkest moments of illness can be illuminated by the greatest compassion”.
Writing ahead of a Buckingham Palace reception to recognise and celebrate “the remarkable organisations and individuals” who do so much for cancer patients and their families, the King said: “Each diagnosis, each new case, will be a daunting and at times frightening experience for those individuals and their loved ones.
“But as one among those statistics myself, I can vouch for the fact that it can also be an experience that brings into sharp focus the very best of humanity”.
Reflecting on his own cancer journey, he added: “It has certainly given me an even deeper appreciation of the extraordinary work undertaken by the remarkable organisations and individuals gathered here this evening, many of whom I have known, visited and supported over the years.
“And it has reinforced what I have long observed during these visits – that the darkest moments of illness can be illuminated by the greatest compassion”.
Ending his message, the King paid tribute to Dame Deborah James, by “echoing her final words” – “Find a life worth enjoying; take risks; love deeply; have no regrets; and always, always have rebellious hope.”
The podcaster and campaigner, whose frank accounts of life with bowel cancer sparked an extraordinary deluge of charity donations, died at the age of 40 in June 2022.
The message is written in a booklet that has been given to all those attending the Cancer Support reception.
It is an event that both the King and Queen were keen to host, both as patrons of many cancer-related organisations, but also as part of their ongoing work to highlight the impact of cancer on people across the UK.
The added emphasis on this side of the King’s work has undoubtedly been spurred on by his own experience.
Read more from Sky News:
Trial shown footage of ‘moment Sycamore Gap tree felled’
Body found in Thames identified as missing 11-year-old girl
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
In his annual Christmas message, the King specifically thanked the medical staff who supported him and the Princess of Wales last year.
‘The most difficult of times’
In his written message on Wednesday, he added to those sentiments, saying: “What strikes us repeatedly is the profound impact of human connection – whether in the careful explanation from a specialist nurse, the hand held by a hospice volunteer, or the shared experience in a support group.
“These moments of kinship create what I might call a ‘community of care’, one that sustains patients through the most difficult of times.”
Over 1,000 new cancer cases each day
To highlight the scale of the need for help, the King also refers to the “390,000 people who, sadly, receive a new cancer diagnosis across the UK each year. That is over 1,000 new cases every single day”.
Since he was diagnosed last year, he has deliberately wanted to be open about his cancer journey, and we know that his treatment is still ongoing.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
However, he has avoided saying what kind of cancer he has, palace sources partly putting that down to the fact that he doesn’t want one type of cancer to appear more significant or attract more attention than others.
He has hoped to show that everyone’s experiences can be different but no less challenging than others.
Follow our channel and never miss an update.
Should King be even more open?
Some have argued that as head of state, he should be even more open about his condition.
Among the guests at the reception are the actor Richard E Grant, a friend of the King, who has spoken of the monarch’s kindness towards his wife shortly before she died of cancer.
Be the first to get Breaking News
Install the Sky News app for free
Former footballer Ashley Cain, whose eight-month-old daughter lost her life to leukaemia, has also been invited along with the parents of Dame Deborah James.
