King Charles, on Thursday, March 28, released a special message for Maundy Thursday, coupled with a new photo in which he, as per experts, appeared shockingly gaunt as he continues his cancer treatment.
The British monarch, who was diagnosed with an unrevealed form of cancer last month, missed the traditional royal Maundy Thursday service, where his wife, Queen Camilla stood in for him to hand out symbolic alms to those who’ve done ‘outstanding Christian service’.
While Charles, on doctor’s orders, could not attend the service, he made up with a special audio message for Britons, a photo from which was shared on Wednesday, and prompted concern for his declining health.
Soon after the photograph was shared, The London Times noted that King Charles actually appeared ‘more gaunt’ than in a 2022 photo of him sitting at the same desk.
Royal watchers online also expressed concern, with one taking to X (formerly Twitter) to write, “I was just shocked when I saw Charles this morning in that clip, so frail,” but one also sympathized with the monarch, saying, “Anyone going through chemo is perfectly entitled to look tired, drawn & ill.”
While King Charles refrained from talking about his and Kate Middleton’s struggle with cancer in his special message, he did talk about his ‘great sadness’ at not being able to attend, and many royal experts viewed his words through an empathetic lens.
“The Maundy service has a very special place in my heart. It has its origin in the life of our Lord, who knelt before his disciples, and to their great surprise, washed their trouble-weary feet,” the monarch said in his address.
