Buckingham Palace Shares Sweet Video of King Charles Reading Get Well Cards After Cancer Diagnosis
King Charles III
King Charles III appears to be enjoying the thousands of get well cards and letters he has received since announcing his battle with cancer.
In a new video Buckingham Palace posted on Instagram on Friday, Feb. 23, the 75-year-old monarch sifts through some of the messages Buckingham Palace’s Correspondence Team set aside for him to read. So far, well wishers have sent the king more than 7,000 cards and letters detailing their own experiences battling cancer and sharing “advice for a speedy recovery,” the palace said.
“To everyone who took the time to write,” the palace said in the video, “THANK YOU! As His Majesty has said, ’Such kind thoughts are…the greatest comfort and encouragement.’”
Some of the messages sent to the king were visible in the video. The 63-second clip begins with a close-up of the king reading a humorous card featuring a dog with a cone around its neck. “At least you don’t have to wear a cone,” says a speech bubble that appears over the dog’s head.
Others shared tips on navigating a serious health battle like the one he is facing.
“Chin up, chest out, remain positive and don’t let it get you down,” one letter said. “Trust me, it works, but the main thing is family.”
Many who wrote in said they are hoping the king will recover quickly.
“Sorry to hear you are not feeling well at the moment,” another letter said. “I am wishing you a speedy recovery. Get well soon!”
The king announced his cancer diagnosis on Feb. 5. The cancer was discovered while he was in the hospital for an unrelated enlarged prostate surgery, according to the palace. The specific type of cancer that the monarch is battling has not been publicly disclosed.
Related: King Charles Has Cancer: What to Know About the Monarch's Health
The king is already undergoing treatment and is said to be continuing “State business and official paperwork as usual,” though the palace said he will postpone his public-facing responsibilities for the time being.
Just days after making his diagnosis public, the king released a statement thanking the many people who have wished him well.
“I would like to express my most heartfelt thanks for the many messages of support and good wishes I have received in recent days,” the king’s Feb. 10 statement said. “As all those who have been affected by cancer will know, such kind thoughts are the greatest comfort and encouragement.”
He reiterated his appreciation for the well wishes during a meeting with U.K. Prime Minister Rishi Sunak earlier this week. He told Sunak that the “wonderful messages and cards” he has received since his diagnosis have “reduced me to tears,” according to the BBC.
