King Charles Meets with Cancer Researchers During Royal Tour of Australia amid His Own Treatment

Mar. 15, 2025

King Charles has a chuckle while co-medical director Professor Georgina Long (left) looks on at the Melanoma Institute of Australia on Oct. 22, 2024.Photo:David Gray-Pool/Getty

David Gray-Pool/Getty

King Charleshad a poignant meeting during hisroyal tour of Australia and Samoaamid histreatment for cancer.

During the Australian leg of his tour withQueen Camilla, the King, 75, met with renowned cancer researchers Professor Georgina Long and Professor Richard Scolyer on Oct. 22 to learn more about their work in melanoma treatment. Melanoma is one of Australia’s most common cancers, and the King met with the professors to hear about how they are helping those affected.

Long and Scolyer are professors at the University of Sydney and co-medical directors of the Melanoma Institute Australia. Earlier this year, they jointly won theAustralian of the Year Awardfor their pioneering work to save lives from skin cancer.

One year later, in May 2024, theBBCreported that he remains cancer-free.

Charles' own diagnosis and cancer wasn’t discussed during the meeting,Reutersreported from Australia on Oct. 22.

Reuters reported that Scolyer said afterwards, “That was an amazing opportunity for us to tell the King about what we’re doing here trying to deal with Australia’s national cancer, and to talk about how we’re trying to get to zero deaths from melanoma.”

During the visit, the King also met and congratulated a melanoma survivor Adam Brown. Brown, who was with his wife Kristy and their two children, had been given given 12 months to live in 2015 when he got his diagnosis.

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King Chalres greets some of the public outside the Melanoma Institute of Australia on Oct. 22, 2024.David Gray-Pool/Getty

King Charles and Queen Camilla’s trip to Australia and Samoa was announced in July, and a Septemberstatementfrom Buckingham Palace said that he would meet with the pioneering researchers. The King and Queen’s royal tour is significant as both their first to Commonwealth realms since his accession in September 2022 and also their longest-haul trip since the King’scancer diagnosisin February.

On Feb. 5, Buckingham Palace announced that the monarch was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer following his treatment for abenign enlarged prostatein January. A spokesmanclarifiedhe does not have prostate cancer.

King Charles meets members of the public at the Premier of New South Wales' barbecue on Oct. 22.Brook Mitchell/Getty

Brook Mitchell/Getty

The King postponed public-facing duties for three months on the advice of his doctors. He resumedforward-facing workon April 30 and has been busy ever since.

When hisreturn to workwas announced in late April, the palace described the King’s treatment as ongoing along with a positive sentiment from his doctors.

“His Majesty’s treatment program will continue, but doctors are sufficiently pleased with the progress made so far that The King is now able to resume a number of public-facing duties. Forthcoming engagements will be adapted where necessary to minimize any risks to His Majesty’s continued recovery,” a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said at the time.

Queen Camilla and King Charles at Sydney Opera House on Oct. 22, 2024.Chris Jackson/Getty

Chris Jackson/Getty

The King has briefly referenced his health on occasion in the months since. While visiting theMacmillan Cancer Centre at the University College Hospital Londonon April 30 (which is not directly involved in his treatment and marked his return to public-facing work), he told a fellow cancer patient as he held her hand, “It’s alwaysa bit of shockwhen they tell you,” according toRebecca English of theDaily Mail.

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Weeks later, while meeting British Army veteran Aaron Mapplebeck at the Army Flying Museum, the sovereign spoke about experiencing a “loss of taste” during his treatment, according toThe Sun.

It was reported before the tour that the King would"pause" his ongoing treatmentwhile visiting Australia and Samoa. He’s also said to be traveling withtwo doctors, and won’t be stopping in New Zealand, another Commonwealth realm, during the tour due to medical advice.

A spokesperson previously said that “the King’s doctors have advised that such an extended program should be avoided at this time, to prioritize His Majesty’s continued recovery.”

source: people.com