Queen Camilla speaks for the first time on King Charles III’s cancer diagnosis

Berlin: Queen Camilla has spoken for the first time about her husband King Charles III’s cancer diagnosis, saying he is doing “extremely well under the circumstances” and has been cheered by the messages of support.

Charles has stepped back from all public duties while he undergoes treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer, Buckingham Palace announced this week. Senior royals, including the Queen and the King’s eldest son, William, the Prince of Wales, will take on his duties at some events.

Asked how her husband was doing at an event at Salisbury Cathedral on Thursday evening (Friday AEDT), Camilla told Ben Abbott, 40, from Wiltshire Air Ambulance: “He is doing extremely well under the circumstances. He is very touched by all of the letters and messages the public has been sending from everywhere. That’s very cheering.”

Camilla, 76, had made a six-hour car journey to attend a charitable musical evening after bad weather grounded her planned helicopter flight. She had been staying in Sandringham, where Charles is recuperating after this week’s cancer treatment.

The palace on Monday said the King’s shock diagnosis was detected while he was undergoing treatment for an enlarged prostate last month. Little is known about the treatment or type of cancer, but it has been confirmed it is not prostate cancer.

Although he will pause his public events, Charles will continue with his constitutional role as head of state, including paperwork and private meetings.

William, 41, returned to royal duties this week after nearly a month while his wife, Catherine, the Princess of Wales, recovers from abdominal surgery.

He gave a speech at London’s Air Ambulance Charity Gala Dinner on Wednesday evening, quipping: “It’s fair to say the past few weeks have had a rather ‘medical’ focus. So I thought I’d come to an air ambulance function to get away from it all!”