The King has done us all a service by being open about his cancer diagnosis

Editorial: The sharing of such deeply personal information is welcome – and while it brings up questions we can only hope the palace will answer, we’d do well to remember there is a family at the centre of this crisis

It has been a sensitive time for the royal family in recent weeks (Getty)

A cancer diagnosis is a deeply personal thing, so King Charles should be lauded for the openness with which he has shared his news with the world.

The impact of that openness should not be underestimated: it is likely to encourage people to book potentially life-saving check-ups, and the increase in cancer awareness should hopefully provide a boost to the charities and care groups that advance research and support those in need.

That his announcement represents a break with tradition is also worthy of note; it is a welcome move at a difficult time.

In that vein, this marks a test of a modern monarchy. How much information should Buckingham Palace release about the King’s condition? He and his loved ones deserve privacy in matters of health – and it is worth remembering that behind all the pomp and circumstance, there is a family at the heart of this news.

Not revealing the specific form of cancer for which the King is being treated – at least as things currently stand – is entirely understandable, but any information that does not push too far into the personal sphere will surely be welcomed. Many in British public life have come out to wish Charles a speedy recovery and that is something we at The Independent echo. But the palace will also be acutely aware that speculation has the potential to fill any gaps left by extended silence.

The announcement will raise questions among the public about how royal duties will be carried out – and by whom – while Charles has his treatment. The palace has said that Charles will continue with his constitutional role as head of state, including paperwork and private meetings, but that the monarch’s public events will be paused.

It has been a sensitive time for the royal family in recent weeks. The Princess of Wales has had – and is now recovering from – abdominal surgery, with Prince William also temporarily withdrawing from public engagements (although he is expected to return to royal duties this week). This period has been navigated with regular updates and there is nothing to suggest this will not continue in the coming weeks and months.

There will always be keen interest in the royal family’s relationships; particularly between Charles and his two sons, and Prince Harry and his brother, especially given the controversy that accompanied the Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepping back from their royal duties in 2020. But the Windsors need to be given the space to deal with this cancer diagnosis in the manner they see fit.

All we can ask is that the British people are kept informed on the matters that impact the public role the royal family performs.

Having seen his mother guide the monarchy for decades, Charles has the task of taking the institution forward. An openness has underpinned the announcement of his cancer diagnosis. It is a sign of the practical shifting of tradition that Charles must undertake in order to fashion the kind of modern monarchy the nation requires.

Long may that continue – but there must also be space to deal with private matters such as these.