Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond says Charles will, in Winston Churchill‘s words, ‘just keep buggering on’ as he bids to recover from a setback in his cancer battle
The King’s country estate will prove to be “the perfect tonic” and help him return to work as soon as possible, a royal expert believes. Charles is staying at Highgrove after spending a few hours in hospital due to side effects from his cancer treatment. The monarch was taken in for observation on Thursday, forcing him to cancel four planned engagements in Birmingham on Friday.
After leaving the private London Clinic, the King travelled to his Gloucestershire retreat. Former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond, who has spent time there with the King, last night told how “a quiet weekend in the peaceful surroundings… will be the perfect tonic” for him.
She said: “It is a beautiful place to sit and reflect. He can truly relax with the love of his life, his Queen, Camilla, no doubt fussing over him. The King will, I know, be more than happy pottering around the stunning gardens he has carefully cultivated at Highgrove, or reading some of the many books in his library.”
Royal sources have stressed that public engagements have been of great benefit to His Majesty’s overall wellbeing since he was first diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer in February last year.
He is expected to return to royal duties this week, ahead of a trip to Italy with Queen Camilla next Monday.
The foreign trip had originally been scheduled for two days, but it is understood it may now be extended to three days. Charles has been having weekly cancer treatment since returning to public duties in April.
Charles was seen waving to passers-by while being driven from Clarence House London, to Highgrove, Glocs, on Friday, following public concern about his hospital visit.
Despite this week’s “minor bump in the road”, royal sources say his recovery is continuing in a “very positive direction”. And Jennie believes he will take his setback in his stride.
She said: “I think we should accept the Palace’s reassurance that these side-effects to cancer treatment are quite common and normally temporary. And as the King himself said during a visit to Northern Ireland last week, he plans, in Winston Churchill‘s words: to ‘just keep buggering on’.”
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Meanwhile, on Saturday morning, Charles sent a message of support to victims of the devastating earthquake in Myanmar.
He wrote: “To the people of Myanmar. My wife and I were most dreadfully shocked and saddened to learn of the devastating earthquake in Myanmar, with its tragic loss of life and appalling damage to homes, buildings and livelihoods, not to mention the destruction of sacred pagodas, monasteries and other places of worship.
“I know that the people of Myanmar continue to endure so much hardship and tragedy in your lives, and I have long admired your extraordinary resilience and spirit.
“At this most difficult and heartbreaking of times, my wife and I send our deepest possible sympathy to all those who have suffered the profound tragedy of losing their loved ones, their homes and their precious livelihoods.”