King Charles III is confronting what sources describe as a "tough, losing battle" with cancer, even as Buckingham Palace insists the monarch is responding positively to treatment. Reports from royal insiders and palace statements paint a picture of a sovereign determined to maintain his duties and composure while grappling with visible health challenges.
During a recent visit to his Sandringham estate in Norfolk, the 76-year-old monarch was photographed walking with a cane, a detail aides say has shifted from a traditional accessory to a necessity. "His health has deteriorated significantly in recent months. The walking stick is more than a traditional accessory for a royal portrait - it's become a necessity," one insider told RadarOnline.com.
Privately, sources claim the King has been using whisky to dull the pain and has cultivated a small crop of cannabis at Highgrove House in Gloucestershire to explore its medicinal benefits. "Charles has always been open-minded about natural remedies," said a courtier. "He's tending a small crop of cannabis, hoping its medicinal properties will ease his pain without causing scandal."
The palace, however, has maintained a measured approach to public disclosures. In a statement this week, officials confirmed the King "continues to receive treatment for cancer and is responding positively," without revealing the type of cancer, citing medical privacy. The diagnosis, disclosed in February 2024, followed a hospital procedure for a benign prostate enlargement, and palace officials confirmed it was not prostate cancer.
While his public schedule has been scaled back, the King remains engaged in state business and paperwork. In July 2025, during a walkabout in Newmarket, he told well-wisher Lee Harman he was "feeling a lot better now" and that the illness was "just one of those things," according to Hello Magazine.
The King's treatment has not been without setbacks. In March 2025, he was briefly hospitalized due to side effects from therapy, but resumed light duties shortly afterward. Palace sources describe his condition as "being successfully managed but ultimately incurable," indicating that ongoing treatment will be necessary.
Lifestyle changes have been implemented to support his recovery, including adopting a daily lunch of half an avocado, replacing his habit of skipping midday meals. Queen Camilla and medical advisers are said to have encouraged the shift, which aligns with the King's long-standing commitment to organic farming and sustainable food practices.
Despite the physical toll, Charles's public appearances continue to highlight his passion for horticulture and the arts. The recent Sandringham portraits show him in the Topiary Garden, inspired by the Cosmati pavement at Westminster Abbey, presenting a composed image that belies his health struggles.
