He said this week that the many “wonderful” cards and messages of support he has received since his cancer diagnosis had moved him to tears.
What King Charles didn’t say is that sometimes they are laughable.
A new set of images released by Buckingham Palace shows Her Majesty laughing at a card showing a dog wearing a veterinary collar and the words “At least you don’t have to wear a cone!”
Attendees said the huge £6.29 card from British online firm Moonpig had “sparked a lot of real joy”.
Sender details have not been revealed, but the King has always had dogs and is currently the ‘stepfather’ of his wife, Queen Camilla, two rescues from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, Beth and Bluebell.
It is one of more than 7,000 letters and cards wishing the monarch well that Buckingham Palace has so far received since his diagnosis just over two weeks ago.
The Royal Family has released photographs and videos of King Charles reading cards sent to him by well-wishers following his cancer diagnosis. Pictured: Her Majesty reading a card at Buckingham Palace.
Some of the correspondence has moved Charles to tears. In the photo: The King holding a card sent by a well-wisher.
The King was so moved by the outpouring of good wishes that the royal household decided to publish a new series of images showing him looking at some of his correspondence.
A sweet video was also made of the King smiling and laughing to himself as he reads the cards.
social networks mail Royal.uk channels also show mailbags with correspondence being carried by staff and then opening some of the letters and cards.
Viewers can see a rare glimpse inside the King’s red box, lined in black, which is then filled with letters, as well as cuts to some of the most poignant messages.
They were filmed ahead of his audience with the Prime Minister on Wednesday this week.
Sitting in the 18th Century Room of the Belgian Suite at Buckingham Palace, part of his private suite of rooms, the King, 75, looked tired around his eyes, no doubt as a result of his treatment, but nonetheless glad for the sight.
Many of them come from children who sent intricately hand-drawn, brightly colored cards with sweet personal messages, which are said to have “moved Her Majesty very much.”
The King commented in a meeting with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak on Thursday that many of the letters had “brought me to tears”.
Among those shown on camera is a tender message from a child, who gave Her Majesty some advice on how to cope with the treatment.
‘Never give up. Be brave. Don’t exceed your limits. Get well soon,’ they wrote.
His Majesty seemed in good spirits as he read the public correspondence that had been placed in his red box for him to peruse.
The King opens a card with hand-drawn drawings of a rainbow and a multi-coloured crown sent to Buckingham Palace by a child
Palace officials said they have received more than 7,000 letters for Her Majesty. Pictured: a card telling Her Majesty “at least you don’t have to wear a cone”
One message read: “His Majesty King Charles III, we pray for a stable recovery.”
One person wrote: “I’m sorry to hear you’re not feeling well at the moment. I wish you a speedy recovery.” Get well soon!’
Another letter gave the King some advice, including “never give up, be brave, don’t exceed your limits.”
Some of the children’s cards were decorated with bright colors to brighten Charles’ mood.
One piece of correspondence had a rainbow hand-drawn by the child author, while on the other side was a sweet “Get well soon” message written beneath a multi-colored wreath.
Another message from a supporter added: “King Charles, I’m sorry to hear that you are not feeling well at the moment.” I wish you a speedy recovery. Get well soon.’
The King has also received messages from adults, some of whom revealed their deeply personal experiences of going through difficult times and expressed their unconditional support for His Majesty.
“I wanted to tell you that I am thinking of you as you face your own diagnosis and treatment and sending you prayers and all the best wishes for a speedy recovery,” one wrote.
Another who had been through difficult situations urged Charles to keep his “chin up, chest out, stay positive and don’t let it get you down.”
“Believe me, it works, but the main thing is family,” they added.
A senior royal aide said: “They have been a frequent source of laughter and good humour.”
The staff have decided to put a small selection of official documents in their red box each day to cheer up Her Majesty.
Others are said to be deeply moving and people share their own personal experiences of living with cancer.
A short video, posted on social media this evening, contained a message that read: “Following the announcement of the King’s cancer diagnosis, Buckingham Palace’s correspondence team has received over 7,000 letters and cards from around the world. The King has been sent a selection in his daily red box of paperwork. Many share their own experience with cancer. Others offer well wishes and advice for a speedy recovery.
‘To everyone who took the time to write, THANK YOU. As Her Majesty has said of her, “such kind thoughts are the greatest comfort and encouragement.”
As always, where postal addresses have been provided in correspondence with Her Majesty, Buckingham Palace will send a thank you response.
Another supporter wrote: “I wanted to tell you that I am thinking of you as you face your diagnosis and treatment and sending you prayers and all the best wishes for a speedy recovery.”
One person urged the King to keep “your chin up, your chest out, stay positive and don’t let it get you down.” They added: “Believe me, it works, but the main thing is family.”
The King revealed in a meeting with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak that some of the messages of support had brought him to tears.
The outpouring of goodwill towards the King is understood to have caused the palace to “groan” under the weight of the mail bags, which staff are still sorting through.
The royal household has also seen updates on the King’s health attracting more than 100 million views on social media.
This week, the King met Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for the first time since his diagnosis and told him: “I have received so many wonderful messages and cards.” He has made me cry most of the time.
Mr Sunak assured him that “we are all behind you, the country is behind you”, adding that it was “wonderful to see you doing so well”. With typical good humor of his, the king jokingly replied, “Well, actually everything is done through mirrors.”
He also said he was greatly encouraged by the renewed attention paid to many of the country’s leading cancer charities as a result of his openness about his condition.
The King spoke of his admiration for cancer charities, telling Mr Sunak: “I have heard that much more potential attention has been given to those major and wonderful cancer charities, many of which I have been a patron for years”.
The Prime Minister responded: “They do incredible work across the country.”
The King currently comes to London once a week for treatment and outpatient meetings before retiring to Sandringham, his estate in Norfolk, to recover.
Last month he underwent surgery to treat a benign enlarged prostate.
It was during this surgery that doctors discovered an unrelated condition that concerned them.
Subsequent tests showed it was cancer.
Buckingham Palace has confirmed that it is not prostate cancer but has not given any further details about the king’s condition.