King Charles III's cancer diagnosis puts monarch's health under cloud just 18 months into reign
ABCIt was just a week ago that King Charles III walked out of a private hospital in London following treatment for a benign prostate condition. Given how much his mother's legacy means to him, any absence from these public duties will be noted and lead to speculation about the king's health and his treatment. Buckingham Palace insists the king will be able to fulfil his constitutional role — including giving royal assent to parliamentary bills, opening new sessions of parliament and appointing new prime ministers and ministers — something that has been a frequent duty for the monarch in the UK in recent years. If the king can't step up to fulfil those duties due to ill health, Queen Camilla, Prince William, Anne, the Princess Royal, and Prince Edward all have the legal power to step in.