King Charles offers major update on his cancer journey
King Charles has revealed he's 'on the better side of his cancer journey'.
Speaking to a former cancer patient during a visit to Bradford to celebrate its status as the UK's City of Culture, Charles spoke to florist Safeena Khan about his recent treatment, adding that he has been given a 'thumbs up' about his health.
Charles visited the Impact Hub Yorkshire to meet local business owners supporting diverse communities in Bradford.
Ms Khan presented the King with a bouquet inspired by the garden of his Highgrove home.
'He asked me how I was, and I asked him how he was,' she said.
'There was some pleasantries towards the end, but it was a lovely conversation.'
The King undergoes regular treatment as an out-patient at the London Clinic and the Bradford florist said he gave her the 'thumbs up' when she asked about his health, and told her: 'I'd like to think I'm on the better side (of my cancer journey)'.
The King stepped up his workload at the start of the year following positive progress with his cancer treatment and that has continued despite the 'bump' of spending a short stay in hospital after experiencing temporary cancer treatment side effects in March.
It comes just weeks after Prince Harry says he does not know how long Charles has left to live in an emotional interview after losing his appeal in court over his security.
The Duke of Sussex claimed his father is not speaking to him because of his battle over taxpayer-funded police bodyguards.
He said there had been 'so many disagreements, differences between me and some of my family', as he admitted he couldn't see a world in which his family would return to the UK.
But, amid another devastating broadside reopening wounds with the Royal Family, Harry told the BBC in California that he wants 'reconciliation'.
'He won't speak to me because of this security stuff,' the prince said, adding he didn't know how long the King had left to live.
The King described the 'daunting' and 'frightening' experience of being told you have cancer, speaking in his most poignant update on his illness since being diagnosed 15 months ago.The King, 76, is still undergoing regular treatments as someone 'living with cancer', although aides have previously said his recovery continues in a 'very positive direction, as reflected with the very full national and international diary programme' he is undertaking.
He said: 'There have been so many disagreements, differences between me and some of my family this current situation that has been now ongoing for five years with regards to human life and safety is the sticking point it is the only thing that's left.
'Of course, some members of my family will never forgive me for writing a book, of course they will never forgive me for lots of things.
'But you know there is, I would love reconciliation with my family there's no point in continuing to fight anymore, as I said life is precious. I don't know how much longer my father has, he won't speak to me because of this security stuff but it would be nice to reconcile.
Earlier, in the day the King was left 'flabbergasted' by magician Steven Frayne when he turned newspaper into £20 notes.
Bradford-born Frayne impressed Charles at the start of his tour of the Yorkshire city where he recognised another famous son, painter David Hockney, while the Queen visited the nearby home of the Bronte sisters.
Teenager Florence McGrellis surprised the King with an impromptu hug when he toured the Hockney Gallery at Cartwright Hall.
Florence, 15, who has Down's Syndrome, said afterwards it was 'awesome' adding, 'I'm friendly and I'm very helpful, and I'm a hugger', and the King seemed to enjoy the gesture, smiling and patting her on the back.
Frayne, formerly known as Dynamo, showed the King new tricks he had been working on like an 'athlete' training, when Charles met a group supported by his King's Trust at a refurbished venue which will play a key role during Bradford's cultural year.
He told the King he had just finished a run of 50 shows and was making a TV programme and joked 'you should come on it, we've got to tell our story, we go way back'.
The entertainer, whose big break came after he was awarded a grant by Charles' trust, added: 'I wouldn't be doing magic today without the support you gave me.'
The King replied: 'But it was your determination – you studied.'
He produced a handful of note-sized pieces of paper and told the King 'I've got some newspaper clippings but I've been trying to take any bad news and turn it into good news', and as he tapped the paper pile it turned into £20 notes and Charles held the money to verify it.
The classic 'pick a card' trick with a twist followed and Charles' apt selection of 'King of Hearts' became the new name for a string of wifi hotspots in the Bradford Live venue when the King named his card.
Charles burst into laughter and Frayne said later: 'I've been fortunate to visit him in the royal estate, but it's nice to bring him back to my hood, to my estate – from council estate to royal estate.
'He's created an opportunity for someone (who felt) I'm invisible, there was no hope. It's almost come full circle as now he's back in Bradford, 2025, we're the capital of culture and he's once again inspiring hope and he's inspiring his own type of magic in all these incredible people.'
Asked about the King's reaction to the magic, the entertainer replied: 'He just said it was absolutely phenomenal and a lot of amazing words that made my magic sound incredible, he said keep going, and said he was flabbergasted.'
Charles was granted honorary membership of the elite magician's club in 1975.
Afterwards Frayne sounded emotional as he spoke about the King and the opportunity his charity had given him.
'I would never have got where I am today without his support, ' he said.
'The amount of young people he has helped is incredible.
'I've been to the royal estate to entertain him, so it's nice to bring him to my estate [Bradford].
'I wasn't sure when he became king whether the [Prince's Trust] could keep going and now it's the King's Trust and is still creating opportunity. I felt like there was no hope and he gave it to me. Once again he is still inspiring and bringing his own kind of magic.'
The King, accompanied by his wife, Queen Camilla, were in Bradford, West Yorkshire, on a classic royal 'away day', starting with a colourful song and music-led greeting.
Highlighting the region's year as UK City of Culture, The Majesties arrived at 'Bradford Live', a new 3,000-capacity entertainment and event venue, where they were greeted by a performance of eight musicians from Paraorchestra, an integrated ensemble of professional disabled and non-disabled musicians, and huge, cheering crowds.
Inside the recently-regenerated entertainment venue, which has stood in the city centre since 1930, The King and Queen also watched a rehearsal by pupils from Riddlesden Saint Mary's Primary School of 'Sing, Dance, Leap', an education programme in schools across the city run by the Royal Ballet and Opera with Northern Ballet and Opera North.
The king asked the youngsters how they were enjoying rehearsals - 'are you getting better and better?' he asked, and whether they would be back in time for school lunch, while Camilla told them: 'It's so exciting. All those people are going to be here clapping and clapping you.'
Afterwards they joined a reception attended by artists and contributors to the Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture programme.
Charles and Camilla meet with local school pupils at Bradford Live, to celebrate the city's year as UK City of Culture
Charles beamed as he greeted and spoke to the young performers after their rehearsal
The royals posed for a snap with school pupils at Bradford Live
Meanwhile a beaming Charles looked smart in a grey suit which he paired with a purple shirt and matching tie as he was greeting by officials
Charles shook hands with a women before making his way into the music venue
Outside, the crowds had swelled to easily more than a thousand people, clapping and cheering the couple.
The King made his way along the crash barriers shaking the hands of hundreds of well-wishers calling his name, while his wife was left in a fit of the giggles after encountering Jackie Heron, 87, who had dressed regally in red, white and blue with a tiara, not once but twice.
Waving a flag she shouted: 'Camilla, Camilla…Your Majesty' and when she went over to shake her hand, 'Oh, Your Majesty, Your Majesty, thank you very much.'
Minutes later Mrs Heron appeared further up the line, prompting Camilla to laugh and say: 'Haven't we just met?', shaking her hand again. Mrs Heron said afterwards: 'She told me she liked what I was wearing.'
At the conclusion of the walkabout Charles and Camilla went their separate ways, with the Queen jumping on an old yellow American school bus - now the Bradford Story Bus - for an event with the National Literacy Trust, of which she is patron, to celebrate its work raising literacy levels in the region.
Around 150,000 books have been donated to children in the city in recent years, many of whom had never owned one.
She also met schoolchildren engaging with the charity's Young Poet Laureate programme and sat with local schools who have been engaging with poetry through traditional means as well as more modern types such as rap. 'It seems a brilliant idea,' she said.
In an off the cuff speech she urged them to keep reading and writing, saying it had been a 'real treat for me'. 'You must keep on doing this, just keep on reading, it will change your life,' she said.
The King's final engagement of the day was visiting Cartwright Hall, an art gallery and community cultural space in Lister Park which has a David Hockney gallery, dedicated to the life and career of the Bradford-born artist.
Keen artist Charles is known to love Hockney's work and recently visited him privately when he returned to the UK to live.
The King also met local people involved in grassroots cultural activities and community groups in the city.
And he watched a glorious performance by the Bantam of the Opera choir, a group of local Bradford City Football Club fans taught to sing opera by BBC Radio Leeds. 'Would you like a photograph? 'he asked to cheers. 'When is your next match? I hope you have a good year.'
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