The royal family has kept the state of King Charles III’s health rather secret ever since he announced his diagnosis in early February. The palace has every right to guard his medical privacy during his cancer battle, but the situation may be more serious than royal fans realize.
Insiders, who are speaking in hushed tones to The Daily Beast, seem to be echoing the statement, “It’s not good.” Of course, the palace isn’t commenting on the rumor mill, but behind the scenes, the outlet is reporting that the monarch’s funeral plans are being reviewed. The codename for King Charles’ funeral is officially “Operation Menai Bridge.” Every staffer, who is part of the planning process, is making sure that the details are “regularly updated” with an eye on “lessons learned” from Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in 2022.
“Of course, they are looking at every aspect of Menai Bridge. The queen’s funeral went like clockwork and set a high bar,” a palace insider revealed. “It’s not an emotional thing, it’s a job, one taken very seriously, and understandably no one plans to get caught out.”
Another former royal staff member added, “The plans have been dusted off and are actively being kept up to date. It’s no more than what you would expect given the king has been diagnosed with cancer. But the circulation of them has certainly focused minds.”
The unsettling possibility that Charles’ health has taken a more serious turn than noted by the palace is also reportedly unnerving Prince William. Royal author Tina Brown pointed this out in late March in a
New York Times essay. “The almost simultaneous news of Charles’ cancer has put William and Catherine in frightening proximity to ascending the throne just when they had hoped for a span of years to parent their children out of the public eye,” she wrote. “The prospect of it, I am told, is causing them intense anxiety.”
The shocking health battles of both Charles and Kate Middleton were not in the plans for anyone. It wasn’t supposed to play out this way — but it is — and that has longtime pals of the king very worried. “Of course, he is determined to beat it and they are throwing everything at it,” a third source summed up to The Daily Beast.
“Everyone is staying optimistic, but he is really very unwell. More than they are letting on.” *Before you go, click here to see all the best pictures from King Charles III’s coronation.
