King Charles cancer latest: William thanks public and Charles apologises in first comments since diagnosis

The Prince of Wales said the royal family appreciate the “kind messages” they have received following the King’s cancer diagnosis.

Arriving at a gala dinner for London’s Air Ambulance on Wednesday evening, William waved to people gathered outside the venue in central London.

He said: “We really appreciate everyone’s kind messages, thank you.”

Prince Harry flew back home to California on Wednesday, completing a 26-hour turnaround having arrived in the UK after his father revealed his cancer diagnosis to his youngest son over the phone.

There were hopes that the 39-year-old prince’s visit would help repair damaged relationships between himself, his father, and his brother the Prince of Wales. But any hopes of a reconciliation were dashed when Harry was spotted at Heathrow Airport on Wednesday afternoon.

My colleague Athena Starvou has more:

In the decades spent waiting to ascend to the throne, King Charles has always ensured he maintained a strict diet and rigid daily exercise routine.

Weekly audiences between the King and Rishi Sunak are expected to resume in person in two weeks following Charles’ cancer diagnosis, it is understood.

Downing Street and Buckingham Palace took the unusual step of confirming details of a call between the two on Wednesday, in an attempt to show the King was carrying on with his duties.

The prime minister was due to wish Charles well in the brief phone conversation before formal face-to-face audiences are set to start again on 21 February.

The Prince of Wales has spoken about the King’s cancer diagnosis for the first time as he expressed his gratitude to the public for their “kind messages of support”.

William’s words of praise, delivered during a fundraising gala dinner, also recognised those who wished the Princess of Wales well, as she recovers from planned abdominal surgery.

He told the guests: “It means a great deal to us all.”

In British history, the secrecy of the monarch’s health has always reigned supreme. The palace’s disclosure that King Charles III has been diagnosed with cancer shattered that longstanding tradition.

On the heels of the shock and well-wishing that followed the official statement Monday came the surprise that the palace had announced anything at all. Indeed, the unprecedented missive was sparse on details: Charles, 75, had begun treatment for a cancer it did not name after being diagnosed during a recent corrective procedure for an enlarged prostate. The king is stepping back from public duties but carrying on state business during his treatment, which he’ll receive as an outpatient, the palace said.

The rift between the Prince of Wales and Duke of Sussex was thrown into sharp relief when it emerged even their father’s cancer diagnosis could not bring them together.

Harry flew thousands of miles from his Californian home to be at the King’s side, a move that showed both men were willing to put their strained relationship on hold.

Prince Edward will be returning to royal duties this week, as his brother Charles battles cancer.

The Prince of Wales, the Queen and other working royals are expected to step up their royal duties while the King undergoes treatment, following the shock announcement of his illness on Monday.