We're going to begin this hour with something that's not
so nice,
a closer look at King Charles cancer diagnosis.
Buckingham Palace announced yesterday that the king is having treatment
was put off any public appearances at this time.
The announcement did not say what type of cancer that
he has.
He did say that doctors discovered it during his recent
hospitalization for a benign enlarged prostate.
Joining us now from outside the palace is CBS News
Royal contributor.
That's Julian Payne on your screen.
He used to be the communications director for then Prince
Charles.
Good morning to you, Julian.
It's good to have you here to discuss this because
you worked with the king for many years and you
know him well.
Can you tell us? Listen,
we don't have a lot of information at this time,
but what we do know is very unsettling.
How does he normally handle this kind of information?
Well, I think the first thing to say is the
king is someone who is usually in very robust health,
huge amount of physical activity all the time.
When I worked with him,
it was terrifically hard to keep up with him,
especially when we were traveling overseas.
So this will be something he's not used to.
I think he will be stoic about it.
I think he will do what the doctors are asking
him to do,
and I think his eye will be firmly focused on
getting back to the job and getting back to full
fitness.
Why do you think they're not telling us exactly what
type of cancer?
I realize it's a personal issue.
I get that. But the fact that they're not telling
us more information is leading to all sorts of speculation,
and it makes you think,
whatever it is, the news
may not be good. Especially knowing that Harry is traveling
to the UK to see his dad.
What do you make of that?
Well, I think those are two slightly separate things.
I think you have to remember even in Queen
Elizabeth's reign, they simply never talked about health issues at
all.
The King has taken quite a bold step by first
of all talking about the issue with his prostate recently.
And when he did that,
they saw inquiries to the National Health Service go up
by
1000%. So he will see that there is a positive
impact when you talk about health matters.
Now, he's now dealing with a cancer situation.
I think he, he is thinking what I should do
is talk about this because it may encourage other people
to get themselves checked to make those doctor's appointment.
But I also think it's important that he has just
a little bit of space,
a little bit of privacy,
so that he can deal with the issue that's affecting
him directly.
But he is mindful of doing everything he possibly can
to make sure he uses this situation for the betterment
of everybody else.
Now his his son coming to see him,
of course that any of us,
GAIL, would would want to go and see our loved
ones if they're unwell.
And I think in this case the Duke of Sussex
is absolutely no different.
But I don't, I don't attribute his visit to the
gravity of the situation.
I think it's simply more families coming together at a
difficult time.
I hope so. Yeah. Yeah.
We hear you, Julian. And and we we definitely want
the king to have you know his head in the
game here.
It's a fight. Cancer is always a fight and it's
a it's a family fight as well.
So it would make sense for family to gather.
But the this phrase, a form of cancer,
it does leave the public in a state of
unsure of how concerned and worried to be.
And one of the theories out there,
which I'd love to have you respond to,
is that this is a kind of preparing the public,
this delicate, this subtle phrase,
preparing the public for the worst news that will be
coming shortly.
Does that make sense to you?
I understand the question. I I would actually steer you
the other way.
These Buckingham Palace statements, I I know because I used
to write them.
They are very carefully written and the words are very
carefully chosen
when they talk about the fact that the king will
continue to carry out his constitutional duties,
his red boxes, his meetings with the Prime Minister,
what they are actually telling you is that he is
in good shape and that that that role as head
of state is not being impeded in any way.
If it was the case,
as you were saying, that actually something more serious was
just around the corner,
they absolutely would not be giving you that level of
operational detail.
Very good to know. I really appreciate that.
Julian Payne, thank you very much.