King Charles Meets with Cancer Researchers During Royal Tour of Australia amid His Own Treatment
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10/22/2024 06:22 AM
Buckingham Palace previously said the King's cancer treatment is ongoing
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King Charles has a chuckle while co-medical director Professor Georgina Long (left) looks on at the Melanoma Institute of Australia on Oct. 22, 2024King Charles had a poignant meeting during his royal tour of Australia and Samoa amid his treatment for cancer.
During the Australian leg of his tour with Queen Camilla, the King, 75, met with renowned cancer researchers Professor Georgina Long and Professor Richard Scolyer on Oct. 22 to learn more about their work in melanoma treatment. Melanoma is one of Australia's most common cancers, and the King met with the professors to hear about how they are helping those affected.
Long and Scolyer are professors at the University of Sydney and co-medical directors of the Melanoma Institute Australia. Earlier this year, they jointly won the Australian of the Year Award for their pioneering work to save lives from skin cancer.
The scientists' work is further personal because it has helped Scolyer. After he was diagnosed with incurable grade 4 brain cancer in June 2023, Long developed a series of pioneering treatments inspired by melanoma breakthroughs. Scoyler later became the world's first brain cancer patient to undergo pre-surgery combination immunotherapy, "an experimental treatment hoping to advance the understanding of brain cancer," according to the Australian of the Year Awards.
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King Charles is briefed by co-medical director Richard Scolyer at the Melanoma Institute of Australia on Oct. 22, 2024 in Sydney, AustraliaOne year later, in May 2024, the BBC reported that he remains cancer-free.
Charles' own diagnosis and cancer wasn't discussed during the meeting, Reuters reported from Australia on Oct. 22.
Reuters reported that Scolyer said afterwards, "That was an amazing opportunity for us to tell the King about what we're doing here trying to deal with Australia's national cancer, and to talk about how we're trying to get to zero deaths from melanoma."
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King Charles (R) is greeted by co-medical directors Georgina Long (C) and Richard Scolyer (L) during a visit to the Melanoma Institute of Australia on Oct. 22, 2024During the visit, the King also met and congratulated a melanoma survivor Adam Brown. Brown, who was with his wife Kristy and their two children, had been given given 12 months to live in 2015 when he got his diagnosis.
His meeting with the cancer experts came amid a busy day that also included a barbecue hosted by the Premier of New South Wales, an important chat with indigenous leaders and a visit to Sydney Opera House.
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King Chalres greets some of the public outside the Melanoma Institute of Australia on Oct. 22, 2024King Charles and Queen Camilla's trip to Australia and Samoa was announced in July, and a September statement from Buckingham Palace said that he would meet with the pioneering researchers. The King and Queen's royal tour is significant as both their first to Commonwealth realms since his accession in September 2022 and also their longest-haul trip since the King's cancer diagnosis in February.
On Feb. 5, Buckingham Palace announced that the monarch was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer following his treatment for a benign enlarged prostate in January. A spokesman clarified he does not have prostate cancer.
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King Charles meets members of the public at the Premier of New South Wales' barbecue on Oct. 22Related: King Charles and Queen Camilla Embark on Royal Tour of Australia and Samoa: See the Best Photos!
The King postponed public-facing duties for three months on the advice of his doctors. He resumed forward-facing work on April 30 and has been busy ever since.
When his return to work was announced in late April, the palace described the King's treatment as ongoing along with a positive sentiment from his doctors.
"His Majesty's treatment program will continue, but doctors are sufficiently pleased with the progress made so far that The King is now able to resume a number of public-facing duties. Forthcoming engagements will be adapted where necessary to minimize any risks to His Majesty's continued recovery," a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said at the time.
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Queen Camilla and King Charles at Sydney Opera House on Oct. 22, 2024The King has briefly referenced his health on occasion in the months since. While visiting the Macmillan Cancer Centre at the University College Hospital London on April 30 (which is not directly involved in his treatment and marked his return to public-facing work), he told a fellow cancer patient as he held her hand, "It's always a bit of shock when they tell you," according to Rebecca English of the Daily Mail.
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Weeks later, while meeting British Army veteran Aaron Mapplebeck at the Army Flying Museum, the sovereign spoke about experiencing a "loss of taste" during his treatment, according to The Sun.
It was reported before the tour that the King would "pause" his ongoing treatment while visiting Australia and Samoa. He's also said to be traveling with two doctors, and won't be stopping in New Zealand, another Commonwealth realm, during the tour due to medical advice.
A spokesperson previously said that "the King's doctors have advised that such an extended program should be avoided at this time, to prioritize His Majesty's continued recovery."
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