King Charles's treasurer provides rare health update after 'challenges faced by members of the family'
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His Majesty returned to public royal duties in April 2024
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King Charles has shown "remarkable resilience" in maintaining his royal duties whilst undergoing cancer treatment, according to James Chalmers, the monarch's new Keeper of the Privy Purse.
Speaking at the annual Sovereign Grant briefing on Monday, Chalmers praised the King's approach as illustrating his "personal commitment to duty".
The senior royal aide made these rare public comments about the monarch's health during the presentation of royal finances for the year ending March 31.
"The King demonstrated remarkable resilience by undertaking a wide programme of public and state duties at home and overseas while continuing to receive treatment," Chalmers told reporters.
King Charles's treasurer has shared an insight into the monarch's health, praising him for his 'remarkable resilience'
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His Majesty returned to public-facing duties in April last year, a period that coincided with the financial year covered by the Sovereign Grant Report.
During this time, Charles undertook 178 audiences related to his constitutional role, Chalmers revealed.
These included 46 audiences with UK Government and Devolved Administration ministers, 27 audiences with outgoing UK diplomats and 35 audiences with incoming dignitaries.
The 76-year-old monarch has not disclosed what type of cancer he has or what treatment he is receiving.
The King has kept a packed schedule of audiences and visits since returning to public duties in April 2024
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Palace aides have generally only addressed his health publicly when it affects his working schedule, with the last update coming in March when engagements were postponed following brief hospitalisation due to treatment side effects.
Chalmers described the past financial year as "something of a return to normal business after the health challenges faced by members of the family in the previous fiscal year".
"Indeed, by happenstance, the period to which this Sovereign Grant Report relates correlates almost exactly with His Majesty's return to public-facing duties, in April of 2024," he said.
The financial year covered the months following both the King and Princess of Wales's cancer diagnoses, spanning most of 2024 - a year Prince William described as "brutal" and probably the hardest of his life.
King Charles's return to public royal duties coincided with the period of the recently released the Royal Household's Sovereign Grant Report
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Chalmers noted that the King's approach demonstrated "not only His Majesty's personal commitment to duty but also the adaptability and resilience of the Royal Household in ensuring continuity of service, no matter the personal circumstances."
The King and Princess of Wales's return to public duties has been met with widespread public support, Chalmers said.
He noted this response reflected "the profound connection the royal family maintains with people across the country and indeed the world".
Whilst acknowledging that "no metric can fully capture the scale of this connection," Chalmers highlighted record digital engagement figures.
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Kate and William's new powers to award Royal Warrants were some of the new changes announced in the Sovereign Grant report
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The royal websites attracted a record 4.2 million new visitors during the period.
Their various accounts achieved almost 400 million views of video content across digital communications platforms and generated 1.3 billion impressions from social media content.
Elsewhere, the Royal Household's Sovereign Grant Report revealed that funding for the monarchy remained at £86.3million for the fourth consecutive year.
Also announced was the cost of various royal trips, the decision to scrap the Royal Train and honouring Prince William and Princess Kate with the power to award Royal Warrants.