In the midst of his cancer battle and internal family tensions, King Charles resumed his duties on April 30, hosting two garden parties at Buckingham Palace. However, both he and Prince William have suddenly canceled their upcoming engagements following Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s unexpected announcement of general elections on July 4.
Buckingham Palace issued a statement explaining that both the King and Prince William would likely continue to delay scheduled events “which may appear to divert attention or distract from the election campaign.”
According to People, altering the schedule during election campaigns is a common practice, aiming to keep public attention focused on the election.
Buckingham Palace and Prince William issue apology
Buckingham Palace also apologized to the public and those involved in the rescheduled events. “Their Majesties send their sincere apologies to any of those who may be affected as a result,” the statement read.
The Trooping the Color ceremony is set for June 15, but it remains uncertain if the date will change. However, People reported that Queen Camilla and King Charles’ trip to Normandy, France, for the 80th anniversary of the D-Day Landings will proceed as planned.
Prince William also apologized for canceling his engagements. “We look forward to rescheduling in the future and are extremely sorry to anyone who has already traveled,” stated Kensington Palace, according to Hello.
Will Prince William spend more time with his family?
Newsweek reported that the additional free time will provide Prince William with “more than a month of family time,” which is a positive aspect despite the cancellations. For King Charles, this was likely a frustrating setback just as he was resuming his duties.
This situation arises at a challenging time for the royals, with both Charles and Kate Middleton facing cancer battles, resulting in reduced public appearances.
In February, the Palace announced that King Charles had been diagnosed with an unspecified cancer during a “routine hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement.”
Meanwhile, Kate Middleton has yet to return to her royal duties following abdominal surgery in January, with her last public appearance being on Christmas Day.