William to Assume Duties as King Commences Cancer Treatment
Prince William is to resume his royal duties on Thursday, after taking time off for his wife, the Princess of Wales, to recover from surgery
While King Charles steps back from public duties as he receives cancer treatment, the Prince of Wales, along with other senior royals, will take on some of his engagements.
Charles will, however, continue state duties and meet the prime minister weekly. The 75-year-old has returned to the Sandringham estate in Norfolk after beginning treatment on Monday.
The cancer was found during the King's recent treatment for a benign enlarged prostate.
On Tuesday, the King met with his younger son, Prince Harry, who flew to London from California to visit his father.
Prince William will carry out an investiture at Windsor Castle, and attend a charity dinner in London in the evening.
Prince William is confused and hasn't spoken publicly yet about the King's cancer diagnosis, but he must have been thinking long and hard about it since his father gave him the news.
For anyone, this is shocking news, something difficult to digest. It's a situation in which both parent and child want to protect the other. But it seems Prince William's are closer than ever.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak went beyond what Buckingham Palace had revealed with the reassurance that the King's cancer had been caught at an early stage.
So, there will be every expectation of a good recovery, with the King "wholly positive" and getting on with his meetings and paperwork that are part of his role as head of state.
Nonetheless, it must be a reminder to Prince William how his own role will change, not least in the short term, as he takes on more engagements while the King recuperates.
This is also a window to see how differently Prince William might handle things in future.
He will perform an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle later this morning.
Among those receiving an honour is Ellen White, the England women's football team's record goalscorer who was key to the Lionesses' victory at the Euros in 2022.
William will then attend a fundraiser for London's Air Ambulance Charity in central London later this evening.
