Why King Charles's cancer message was released at exactly 6PM
The timing was aligned with the BBC News at Six, a strategic move rooted in decades of royal media tradition
King Charles has shared a deeply personal message about his cancer journey and in classic royal fashion, the timing of the release was no coincidence.
The heartfelt statement was made public at exactly 6:00PM, just as the monarch joined Queen Camilla at a Buckingham Palace reception honouring cancer support organizations.
The timing was perfectly aligned with the BBC News at Six, a strategic move rooted in decades of royal media tradition.
For years, major royal announcements, from births to abdications, have been timed to coincide with key news broadcasts and print deadlines to ensure maximum visibility and impact.
Monday’s release followed the same protocol, with media outlets given a 6PM embargo, allowing them to prepare coverage while keeping the message under wraps until the hour struck.
King Charles’s statement was printed in a special booklet for guests attending the evening reception, which highlighted groups offering support to cancer patients across the UK.
“Each diagnosis... is a daunting and at times frightening experience for those individuals and their loved ones,” the King wrote.
“But as one among those statistics myself, I can vouch for the fact that it can also be an experience that brings into sharp focus the very best of humanity.”
He added: “It has given me an even deeper appreciation of the extraordinary work undertaken by the remarkable organisations and individuals gathered here this evening.”
What has King Charles been diagnosed with?
King Charles was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer in February 2024 and has been undergoing regular treatment ever since.
After initially postponing public-facing duties for nearly 12 weeks, the monarch resumed a full schedule of engagements, including a demanding tour of Australia and Samoa.
Despite the brief hospital visit, a royal source indicated that King Charles’ treatment remains on track and that his planned state visit to Italy next month is still expected to proceed.
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