The King apparently “didn’t listen to any” of the advice he received about limiting his time and “shaking hands less” at the first garden party of the year, a royal expert has revealed.
Charles, 75, who had taken a break from public duties amid his cancer treatment, seemed in good spirits when he spoke to guests earlier this month and was “very excited” to return to the action.
Rebecca English, royal editor of the Daily Mail, told this week’s newspaper confidential palace that the monarch was “happy to receive as many people as he could.”
“He was clearly a man who was undergoing treatment,” he explained. “He doesn’t look as good as he did, say, 18 months ago.”
But he was in a very good mood. They told me beforehand that maybe they would try to tweak it a little, I could do 45 minutes… with the audience or shake less hands.
Charles, 75, who had taken a break from public duties amid his cancer treatment, seemed in good spirits when he spoke to guests earlier this month and was “very excited” to return to the action.
“But of course he didn’t hear any of that and wanted to meet and greet as many people as possible.”
And it looks like Charles isn’t looking to hit the brakes. The Queen revealed on Thursday that the King is “getting better” before joking: “Well, he would be if he behaved.”
Camilla, 76, was chatting to guests at a garden party at Lamb House in Rye, East Sussex, where she was treated to a performance by actors Timothy West and Hayley Mills.
Charles is said to be delighted that his doctors have given him permission to return to further public engagements.
He took part in five major events in 48 hours earlier this week alone, with his wife revealing that he was “quite upset that he couldn’t be there” but had been “dragged into more menial tasks”.
I was visiting Lamb House, home of author EF Benson, on a day of literary-themed engagements in Sussex.
The King had been tirelessly carrying out state business and royal duties behind the scenes since his diagnosis, and has now been given the green light to attend more events in public.
He will also lead the Royal Family at the RHS Chelsea Flower Show next week.
Rebecca English, royal editor of the Daily Mail, told this week’s Palace Confidential that the monarch was “happy to welcome as many people as he could”.
Speaking to Palace Confidential this week, Richard Kay also claimed that “Camilla, the Queen, the King’s closest staff, doesn’t want him to burn out because of a conversation that goes wrong with Harry.”
Earlier this month, Charles was in his element alongside Camilla when the royal couple hosted a garden party at Buckingham Palace in London on May 8.
Attendees are keen for the monarch to be as protected as possible from anything that could lead to infection, but the meeting was allowed to continue because it was held outdoors.
Charles joined other royals for the first royal party of the summer season, including the duke and duchess of Edinburghhe Real princess and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.
At the same time, just two miles away, at St Paul’s Cathedral, Charles’s son Prince Harry attended a thanksgiving service to celebrate the 10th anniversary of his Invictus Games.
Charles wore a gray suit, light blue vest and top hat, while Camilla stood by his side in a white dress earlier this month.
Just two miles away, Prince Harry arrives at St Paul’s Cathedral for a service to celebrate the 10th anniversary of his Invictus Games later that day.
A spokesperson for the Duke of Sussex previously confirmed that the monarch’s “full schedule” meant a meeting between Harry and his cancer-stricken father would not take place.
And talking to this week confidential palaceRichard Kay stated that “Camilla, the Queen, the King’s closest staff, doesn’t want him to be exhausted because of a conversation that goes wrong with Harry.”
‘Did Harry want to see his father? I’m sure so,” commented the general editor of the Daily Mail.
‘Did Charles want to see his son? I’m sure he did it. But it was convenient that he had a very busy week and didn’t have time.’
“I think what many of our viewers and readers have asked is how can a father not find five or ten minutes – even a man as busy as the King – to sit down and greet his son who has flown 6,000 miles “Richard added.
“But that’s often the royal way and I think what people don’t remember in all of this is that the King is still receiving cancer treatment.
“He still gets tired and meetings with his son are tense. And there is no doubt that they have continued that way for some time.’
