Monarch to Broadcast First-Hand Statement on His Health Battle in TV Address

King Charles has filmed a first-hand account concerning his experience with cancer, which will be broadcast as part of this year's Stand Up To Cancer initiative, organised by a leading cancer charity and a major network.

Official sources confirmed the King would reflect on his "recovery journey" as a person living with the disease, in a video message on this Friday at 8pm UK time.

The address, taped inside his London residence recently, will emphasise the importance of preventative health checks to increase the likelihood more people diagnose the disease at an initial point.

This constitutes a infrequent public commentary on the wellbeing of the Sovereign, who has been receiving ongoing care since the news was shared in early last year. But it is thought doubtful the King will disclose his particular diagnosis.

The Campaign's Central Purpose

The Stand Up To Cancer campaign each year generates donations for scientific studies and patient care and prompts people to get check-ups to increase the odds of an early diagnosis.

The King's relative openness about his condition, and living with cancer, has been designed to increase understanding and to encourage more people to get screened - and this will be advanced with this exceptional royal involvement.

Up until now the King's primary strategy to his cancer has been to keep working, upholding a hectic timetable alongside his regular rounds of care, and he appears not to have sought to be overshadowed by his illness.

The past twelve months has seen the 77-year-old Monarch, embarking on several overseas trips, including to Italy and Canada, and hosting the biggest number of foreign dignitaries to the UK for almost 40 years, including the German president recently.

Friday's Broadcast Event

This Friday's Stand Up to Cancer broadcast on Channel 4, featuring celebrities like Davina McCall, Adam Hills and Clare Balding, will encourage people not to be afraid of getting cancer checks.

The hosts have been had experience with cancer - one host said recently she had received treatment for breast cancer, while Clare Balding was diagnosed with the illness over a decade ago. Presenter Hills has previously spoken about his parent, who had one form of cancer and then later another illness.

The show will target the roughly 9m people in the UK who charities state are not current with NHS screening schemes, with an website to let people see if they are qualified for tests for several common cancers.

In an attempt to demystify health tests and show the value of prompt detection there will be a direct feed from cancer clinics at Addenbrooke's and Royal Papworth hospitals in Cambridge.

"I want to take the fear from preventative tests and show the public that they are not alone in this," commented Davina McCall.

Available Screening Programmes

Currently in the UK, there are several key publicly available checks - for bowel, breast and cervical cancer - offered to certain age groups.

A emerging preventative initiative is also being slowly rolled out for anyone at increased risk of developing the disease, focusing on people in a specific age bracket, who currently smoke or have smoked in the past.

Male patients may discuss specific tests, but there is lacking a standardised service currently available.

Funding Research

The Stand Up to Cancer project, which has collected £113m since 2012, is funding dozens of research studies involving many patients.

His Majesty, in a statement for attendees at a gathering for cancer charities in earlier this year, had discussed recognising the "intimidating and at times alarming situation" for cancer sufferers and their loved ones.

But he noted his first-hand encounter of living with cancer had revealed that "the darkest moments of illness can be alleviated by the support of carers," as he praised those who supported those receiving treatment.

The Palace has not disclosed the nature of cancer the King has, or the medical care he has undergone. The King's cancer was discovered after he had received a routine operation.