The health of King Charles III continues to cause concern, even as he prepares for his first trip abroad after being diagnosed with cancer.
The 75-year-old monarch is scheduled to travel to Australia with Queen Camilla and has taken the surprising decision to suspend his treatment for the disease for the duration of this tour.
This trip represents his first visit to Commonwealth countries since assuming the throne and becomes his furthest working trip since February, when the palace notified the public about his cancer diagnosis and the start of the corresponding treatment.
Despite the limited information revealed about the exact type of cancer the king is suffering from and its evolution, sources close to Buckingham Palace have issued an urgent statement to several British media, announcing the monarch’s non-attendance at an important event, which has generated great concern.
King Charles at COP29 Climate Conference
The event in question is the COP29 climate summit, to be held in Azerbaijan on November 11.
In a brief statement, it was reported that the king will not be attending the meeting after receiving advice from the government.
Although the monarch, known for being a fervent defender of the environment, had been present at this event in previous years, this year he will not attend due to the recommendations of the ministers.
As reported by the Mirror, government officials stressed that “great caution” was necessary in view of the sovereign’s busy schedule.
“The King will not be going to COP. He has not been asked by the government to attend the event and he is also mindful of his own commitments following the upcoming autumn tour,” a source said, according to the Mirror.
COP29 will take place a few weeks after the king finishes his extensive royal tour of Australia and Samoa with Queen Camilla.
Notably, the monarch did attend last year’s United Nations Climate Change Conference in Dubai, making his absence this time around all the more notable.
This is not the first time that King Charles III’s schedule has been modified in recent months; these unforeseen changes have raised great concern among the British public regarding the monarch’s health.
The situation reflects the stress faced by a leader in the midst of personal challenges and the duty of representing his nation in the international arena.