King Charles has written privately to Joe Biden after the former US president was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer, Buckingham Palace said.
The 82-year-old former president received the diagnosis on Friday after reporting urinary symptoms which led doctors to find a small nodule on his prostate.
The cancer has spread to Biden's bones and is classified as "a more aggressive form of the disease", according to a statement from his office.
Despite this, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive, "which allows for effective management".
King Charles has written privately to Joe Biden after the former US president was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer, Buckingham Palace said.
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Biden and his family are now reviewing treatment options following the diagnosis.
The diagnosis revealed Biden's cancer has a Gleason score of 9, which places it in Grade Group 5.
According to Cancer Research UK, this score means his illness is classified as "high-grade" and the cancer cells could spread quickly.
The discovery was made after the former president experienced increasing urinary symptoms last week, leading to the finding of a prostate nodule.
Biden and his family are now reviewing treatment options following the diagnosis.
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Further tests confirmed the cancer had already metastasised to the bone.
Biden left office in January as the oldest serving US president in history, with questions about his health having been a persistent issue throughout his term.
Following the diagnosis, Biden has received support from across the political spectrum.
President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social that he and First Lady Melania were "saddened to hear about Joe Biden's recent medical diagnosis", extending "warmest and best wishes to Jill and the family".
Following the diagnosis, Biden has received support from across the political spectrum.
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Former Vice-President Kamala Harris said Biden would "face this challenge with the same strength, resilience, and optimism that have always defined his life and leadership".
Barack Obama praised Biden's work on cancer research, noting that "nobody has done more to find breakthrough treatments for cancer".
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer expressed his sympathy, saying: "I am very sorry to hear President Biden has prostate cancer.
“All the very best to Joe, his wife Jill and their family."
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The news comes nearly a year after Biden was forced to withdraw from the 2024 US presidential election amid growing concerns about his health and age.
His decision followed widespread criticism of his performance during a televised debate with Donald Trump in June last year.
Biden, who was the Democratic nominee seeking re-election, faced mounting pressure from within his own party following the debate.
He ultimately stepped aside and was replaced as the Democratic candidate by his vice-president, Kamala Harris.
