King Charles III held his first face-to-face meeting with the Prime Minister since it was revealed he was battling cancer, telling Rishi Sunak that the “wonderful messages and cards” he had received since his diagnosis had “brought me to tears”.
His Majesty, 75, appeared in good spirits as he met Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at Buckingham Palace today, having previously held remote audiences with him from Sandringham.
The Prime Minister told the King it was “very good to see you”, to which Charles replied: “A little gap… I'm afraid.”
Mr Sunak assured him that “we are all behind you, the country is behind you” and added that it was “wonderful to see you looking so good.” With typical good humor, the king jokingly replied: “Well, actually Everything is done by mirrors.”
Before the two's private conversation, the king also met personally with members of the Privy Council on Tuesday evening.
Charles's deep sense of duty and strong work ethic meant he continued to work privately during treatment, but this is the first time the King has been pictured carrying out royal duties.
King Charles met with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at Buckingham Palace today. The couple smiled during their first face-to-face meeting since the monarch's cancer diagnosis
Charles beamed as he shook hands with Mr Sunak during the face-to-face audience
The monarch and the prime minister joked a joke or two during the meeting
King Charles was seen leaving Sandringham just after 3pm on Wednesday afternoon as he returned to London
The monarch is pausing public appearances as he undergoes treatment for an unspecified form of cancer.
It was discovered by doctors when Charles was being treated for an enlarged prostate in late January.
His diagnosis was announced by Buckingham Palace just days later as it was confirmed that doctors had identified a “separate problem”.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak reassured the nation when he said earlier that King Charles' illness had been “detected early”.
The monarch now spends much of his time at his Norfolk retreat at Sandringham, although sources say he is well enough to continue a small number of face-to-face meetings. He will also complete some tasks remotely.
Among the work he will continue to do is daily review of his red boxes full of papers, which contain all of his government documents.
In a letter published just a week after the news broke, King Charles thanked the British public for their “many messages of support and good wishes.”
He continued: “As anyone affected by cancer will know, such kind thoughts are the greatest comfort and encouragement.”
“It is equally heartening to hear how sharing my own diagnosis has helped to promote public understanding and shine a light on the work of all those organizations supporting cancer patients and their families in the UK and around the world. “
“My lifelong admiration for her tireless care and dedication is made all the greater by my own personal experience.”
Members of the royal family have gathered around the king, and Prince William returns to his duties after caring for his wife Princess Kate.
In another health scandal, the Princess of Wales was admitted to the London clinic for planned abdominal surgery and will no longer be able to attend royal engagements until at least Easter.
His Majesty, 75, met Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in person at Buckingham Palace today
This is the first time that the king is depicted carrying out royal duties
King Charles and Queen Camilla smile and wave to well-wishers as they visited church in Sandringham on Sunday
King Charles pictured leaving the London Clinic with his wife after his prostate operation
In the picture, Prince Harry is seen arriving at Clarence House to meet his father after being diagnosed with cancer
Experts hope the diagnosis will lead to some sort of reconciliation between Harry and his father and brother
Sajid Javid was among those knighted by Prince William at Windsor Castle today
Game of Thrones star Emilia Clarke (centre) said William made her and her mother “feel so comfortable” as he presented them with their honours
The heir to the throne, 41, held an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle earlier this month before attending the Air Ambulance London charity gala dinner later that evening.
On Sunday he attended the BAFTA awards, meeting filmmakers and stars and congratulating the winners before handing out more awards at a second investiture today.
Former chancellor Sir Sajid Javid was among those knighted by the Prince of Wales for his services to politics and public life, while Game of Thrones actress Emilia Clarke and her mother received MBEs for setting up a charity for received brain injuries.
However, William's father is said to support him in putting his own family first and taking time out of his commitments to care for his wife and children.
It is understood he was visiting his father for a half-term holiday at Sandringham along with Kate and their three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis.
A source said: “The King adores Catherine and thinks she is doing a wonderful job. “He understands that family comes first.”
Meanwhile in London, the royal was visited by Prince Harry, who cleared his schedule to fly there from his California home in Montecito, leaving behind his wife Meghan Markle and their two children, Prince Archie and Princess Lillibet.
The 39-year-old Duke of Sussex flew to London on a commercial plane the day after the announcement and arrived at Clarence House in the afternoon.
He then reportedly spent around 45 minutes with his father and saw him for the first time since the funeral of the late Queen Elizabeth II.
Harry is not believed to have seen his brother and there is little sign that the rift between Charles' sons will ever improve.
The prince then stayed overnight in a hotel before flying home the next morning.
Meanwhile, King Charles and Queen Camilla were driven straight from their meeting with Harry to Buckingham Palace, where they flew by helicopter to their Sandringham estate.
Harry is due to return to the UK in May for a service at St Paul's Cathedral to mark the tenth anniversary of the Invictus Games.
In an interview with Good Morning America this week, Harry said he was delighted to have visited the UK to see his father.
The prince, who traveled to Vancouver, Canada, with his wife Meghan last week for the Invictus Games celebrations, said he would see him again as he had planned further trips to Britain and did not rule out the possibility that it a rift in the family could be healed from the crisis.
The king spent most of his time at the Norfolk residence and was seen braving the wind and rain as he headed to church with his wife on Sunday.
Kate, 42, is on the mend and last week enjoyed a half-term holiday at the Sandringham estate with her husband and three children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis
The heir to the throne took time off to support his family after the Princess of Wales underwent planned abdominal surgery
King Charles, who announced earlier this month that he was suffering from “a form of cancer”, and Queen Camilla, pictured in church
When he arrived at St. Mary Magdalene Church, he smiled and waved from under his umbrella and smiled at well-wishers.
Queen Camilla also spoke about her husband's diagnosis in her first public appearance since the announcement.
The 76-year-old made a five-hour drive from her husband's side of Sandringham to Salisbury's Cathedral in Wiltshire earlier this month after the local helipad was flooded.
Speaking at a charity music evening, the Queen said: “He is doing very well under the circumstances.”
“He is very touched by all the letters and messages that the public have sent from all over. “That is very gratifying.”
The palace has called for the royal's privacy to be respected, particularly during his treatment, but said it wanted to make his diagnosis public because of his long-standing support for cancer charities.
Numerous medical professionals from various groups have praised the king's openness about his health.