Why King Charles, Prince William canceled royal engagements



Change of plans.

King Charles and Prince William have canceled their royal engagements for the rest of the week, Buckingham Palace confirmed in a statement to the BBC on Wednesday.

The decision was made after UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak announced a surprise general election set for July 4.

King Charles and Prince William in Hampshire, England on May 13. Getty Images

Buckingham Palace said that the royals cancelled visits “which may appear to divert attention or distract from the election campaign.”

“Their Majesties send their sincere apologies to any of those who may be affected as a result,” the statement read.

The Post reached out to Buckingham Palace for comment.

Prime Minister and Conservative Party leader Rishi Sunak. Getty Images
King Charles and Prime Minister Rishi Sunak at Buckingham Palace on November 4, 2022. AP

The king, 75, had outings planned for Thursday, May 23, and Friday, May 24, including visits to Bentley Factory Crewe and St Paul’s Community Centre in Cheshire.

William, 41, had planned engagements for Thursday that also had to be called off.

Due to the July 4 election, it’s unclear if the royals will still take participate in events in June like Trooping the Colour and Order of the Garter Day.

King Charles III at the Army Aviation Centre in Stockbridge, England on May 13, 2024. Getty Images

Charles and William are still set to travel to France next month to commemorate the 80th anniversary of D-Day. They will be joined by Charles’ wife, Queen Camilla, 76.

That trip will mark Charles’ first time overseas since he learned of his cancer diagnosis in February.

Prince William at The Sovereign’s Garden Party at Buckingham Palace on May 21, 2024. POOL/AFP via Getty Images

The monarch underwent a procedure for an enlarged prostate when doctors discovered “a separate issue of concern” that requires treatment.

Buckingham Palace has not clarified what kind of cancer Charles has.

After sharing his diagnosis with the world, Charles returned to official public duties in late April. He visited a cancer treatment center at University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre in central London with Camilla.

William has also been busy with his royal duties as his wife, Kate Middleton, 42, deals with her own cancer battle.

Prince William at the Army Aviation Centre in Stockbridge on May 13, 2024. Getty Images

In January, The Princess of Wales announced she would be taking a break from her royal duties until after Easter as she was undergoing a planned surgery.

But after Kate sparked worldwide concern when she was MIA for a while post-surgery, she announced her cancer diagnosis to the world in a prerecorded clip shared on March 22.

The mom of three said doctors discovered her cancer during the planned abdominal surgery and noted that she is now in the early stages of “a course of preventative chemotherapy.”

 She has remained largely out of the public eye since revealing her diagnosis.



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