King Charles and Queen Camilla made a joint appearance at St. James’s Palace on December 18.The couple’s outing marks the first time they’ve undertaken royal duties together since the King shared a rare update on his health on December 12.In a video message, he shared “good news” about his cancer treatment going into 2026.
Following a solo outing to open a Guinness brewery in London, King Charles stepped out for a joint appearance with wife Queen Camilla—the couple’s first since the King announced positive news in his cancer journey on December 12.
On December 18, the royal couple hosted a reception celebrating the return of HMS Prince of Wales from Operation HIGHMAST, per People. The reception took place at St. James’s Palace in London and followed the “good news” last Friday that Charles’s cancer treatment would be reduced in 2026.
King Charles on December 18, 2025.
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The King shared the rare health update in a pre-recorded message filmed at Clarence House several weeks ago, People reported, and the message was broadcast as part of Channel 4’s Stand Up To Cancer campaign.
“Thanks to early diagnosis, effective intervention, and adherence to ‘doctors’ orders,’ my own schedule of cancer treatment can be reduced in the new year,” Charles said in part. “This milestone is both a personal blessing and a testimony to the remarkable advances that have been made in cancer care in recent years, testimony that I hope may give encouragement to the 50 percent of us who will be diagnosed with the illness at some point in our lives.”
Queen Camilla on December 18, 2025.
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Though a Buckingham Palace spokesperson avoided the word “remission,” they noted that this is a “notably positive stage,” per People. Charles has been receiving what is thought to be weekly cancer treatment since his diagnosis in February 2024; his type and stage of cancer has never been publicly revealed.
“Early diagnosis quite simply saves lives,” the King said in his message on Friday, adding, “I know, too, what a difference it has made in my own case, enabling me to continue leading a full and active life, even while undergoing treatment.”
Following his message last week, Buckingham Palace said in a statement that it is “delighted by the scale and sensitivity of the worldwide media reaction” to the King’s speech, including “the many kind comments we have received for the King, both from those working in cancer care and from the general public.” The palace added that Charles “will be greatly encouraged and deeply touched by the very positive reaction his message has generated.”
Camilla, for her part, has said that—though she is sometimes frustrated that Charles will not “slow down”—her husband “loves his work and it keeps him going.”
King Charles and Queen Camilla in Ravenna, Italy on April 10, 2025.
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On December 16, the King hosted his annual Christmas lunch for members of the royal family at Buckingham Palace, and will soon head out to Sandringham to celebrate Christmas there with his family. According to one of Charles’s friends, the King is in good spirits and good health, and “He is on wonderful form and looking forward to Christmas,” the friend told Vanity Fair.