Seven royals to report for duty as Charles III starts cancer treatment
10-year-old Prince George is second in line to the British throne after William – but while King Charles receives cancer treatment the chain of command differs from the order of succession
READING LEVEL: GREEN
Buckingham Palace has confirmed that King Charles III has started treatment for “a form of cancer*”.
In a statement, the Palace said a “separate issue of concern was noted” after the 75-year-old monarch* underwent a prostate* operation last month.
The King has begun a schedule of regular treatments and postponed* royal duties on doctors’ orders.
“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,” Buckingham Palace said in the statement.
The news was announced after British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was informed, and the King had a chance to inform close family members Prince William, Prince Harry, Princess Anne, Prince Andrew and Prince Edward.
“The King is in a positive frame of mind and has spoken to all his children and siblings personally about his diagnosis,” royal author and journalist Robert Jobson said. “He is expected to make a full recovery and we wish him well.”
WHAT HAPPENS WITHOUT CHARLES IN CHARGE?
Second in the line of succession*, Prince George is currently 10, turning 11 in July. Ten happens to be the same age Richard II was when he succeeded the throne upon his grandfather’s death in 1377.
But times have changed.
In biographer* Robert Hardman’s soon to be released new book New King, New Court: Charles III, the Inside Story, Hardman writes: “Prince George will not be expected to undertake any royal duties until he is well into his 20s.”
While George’s roster of royal outings will grow in due course, for now his parents will continue to carefully manage his responsibilities and public duties.
In fact, like most households, the grown ups remain in charge.
There are currently seven Counsellors of State* – all adult members of the royal family – who can deputise* for the monarch if he is abroad or unwell.
The royals who can technically stand in for King Charles following his cancer diagnosis are wife Queen Camilla and the four most senior adults in the line of succession – Prince William, the Prince of Wales; Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex; the disgraced* Prince Andrew, Duke of York; and Princess Beatrice, the eldest of Prince Andrew’s two daughters.
But only “working members” of the royal family will be called upon to act as Counsellors of State – ruling out both Prince Andrew and Prince Harry.
The King’s siblings Princess Anne and Prince Edward, the Duke of Edinburgh, could be called upon to replace the two princes. Both Anne and Edward were previously Counsellors of State before they were overtaken in the order of succession.
Top of the list as well as the line is Prince William, who has sped up his return to work and will resume duties on Wednesday after looking after Kate, who herself underwent abdominal* surgery just two weeks ago.
Prince Harry currently lives with his family in the United States but is expected to fly to the UK to see his father in the coming days.
TREATMENT FIT FOR A KING
King Charles will now receive regular treatment at a London hospital.
Prominent* British oncologist* Professor Angus Dalgleish said while he would not speculate on the type of cancer the King has, he believed it sounded like “a very early cancer”.
“At the end of the day, cancer is just a word – not a sentence*,” he told GB News.
“In my experience, if it is something they saw while they were doing this (prostate procedure), then it is eminently* treatable and that’s a very good thing.
“I don’t really want to speculate on all the different types but in the pelvis* there are many things that you can come across very early and it’s curable … Obviously it’s very worrying for him as an individual but … all I can say it is very, very common.”
Additional reporting by Daniela Elser
VIDEO: BRITISH MEDIA DISCUSS THE KING’S PLANNED VISIT TO AUSTRALIA
POLL
GLOSSARY
- cancer: covers a large group of diseases that can start in almost any organ or tissue of the body when abnormal cells grow uncontrollably, go beyond their usual boundaries to invade adjoining parts of the body and/or spread to other organs
- monarch: person who reigns over a kingdom or empire, usually a king, queen or emperor
- prostate: gland in the male reproductive system just below the bladder
- postponed: put off, delayed, deferred until a later time than previously scheduled
- diagnosis: medical process of identifying a disease, condition or injury from its signs and symptoms
- speculation: guesswork, taking a position on something without knowledge or evidence
- line of succession: order or conditions that decide how person after another takes over a property, dignity, title or throne
- biographer: author who writes accounts of other people’s lives
- Counsellors of State: by law, Counsellors of State include the Sovereign’s spouse and the next four people in the line of succession who are over the age of 21
- disgraced: discredited, has lost reputation, respect, favour, power and/or position
- deputise: temporarily act, speak or appear on behalf of someone else
- abdominal: relating to the abdomen, the part of the human body between the chest and pelvis
- prominent: leading, important, well known, distinguished
- oncologist: doctor who has special training in diagnosing and treating cancer
- sentence: in this context, a prison term or death sentence
- eminently: notably, greatly the case, particularly and extremely
- pelvis: the pelvic region connects the trunk and the legs in humans and contains the intestines, bladder and internal reproductive organs
EXTRA READING
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King Charles III crowned at Coronation
QUICK QUIZ
- How did King Charles’ “separate area of concern” come to the attention of doctors?
- Why did Charles III decide to share his cancer diagnosis publicly?
- What is the name and nature of the group who can deputise while the King is unwell or abroad?
- Is Prince George, 10, second in line to the throne, a member of this group?
- Richard II succeeded the throne in what year and at what age?
LISTEN TO THIS STORY
CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES
1. Duties of a king
As it states in the Kids News article, King Richard II was only 10-years-old when he became king back in 1377. The recently deceased Queen Elizabeth II was 25 when she became queen.
If you happened to be in a royal family, and second in the line of succession, what would that mean to you as a young person?
If your turn arose, it means that something has happened to your parents; how would you deal with that event as well as the huge responsibility on your shoulders?
How is the British Royal Family protecting Prince George from this responsibility until he is well into his 20s?
Do you think Prince William would be ready to take on the duties of King of England if it is required in the near future? What would that mean for his wife and young family?
Time: allow 20 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, History, Personal and Social, Critical and Creative Thinking
2. Extension
Design and make and Get Well card for King Charles as he faces his latest health battle.
Time: allow 15 minutes to complete this activity
Curriculum Links: English, Personal and Social, Critical and Creative Thinking
VCOP ACTIVITY
Proper noun police
A proper noun is a noun that names a particular person, place or thing. It always has a capital letter.
How many proper nouns can you find within this article? Find them all and sort them into the category of name, place, time (date/month).
Can you find any proper nouns included in your writing?
What are they?
Can you sort them into their categories?