Image Credits - People.com
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During King Charles and Queen Camilla’s royal tour of Australia and Samoa, the King, 75, had an emotional meeting with leading cancer researchers as he continues his own battle with cancer. On October 22, 2024, the King met with Professors Georgina Long and Richard Scolyer, renowned for their groundbreaking work in melanoma treatment, while in Sydney. Melanoma is one of Australia’s most common cancers, and the meeting allowed the King to learn more about how these researchers are helping those affected.
Meeting Pioneering Researchers
Long and Scolyer, both professors at the University of Sydney and co-medical directors of the Melanoma Institute Australia, have been recognized for their life-saving work. Earlier this year, they were jointly awarded the Australian of the Year Award for their contributions to skin cancer research. Their work has a personal significance, as Scolyer was diagnosed with incurable grade 4 brain cancer in June 2023. Inspired by melanoma research, Long developed an experimental pre-surgery combination immunotherapy treatment for Scolyer, making him the world’s first brain cancer patient to undergo the procedure. As of May 2024, Scolyer remains cancer-free.
After their meeting with the King, Scolyer said, “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.”
King Charles’s Ongoing Cancer Battle
While King Charles’s own cancer diagnosis wasn’t discussed during the meeting, it remains a key part of his personal journey. In February 2024, Buckingham Palace revealed that the King had been diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer following treatment for a benign enlarged prostate in January. The palace clarified that he does not have prostate cancer. Since his diagnosis, the King has postponed public duties for three months, resuming them in late April 2024 after his doctors were satisfied with his progress.
In addition to meeting the cancer experts, King Charles also met Adam Brown, a melanoma survivor who was given 12 months to live in 2015 after his diagnosis. Brown was accompanied by his wife Kristy and their two children, and the King congratulated him on his recovery. The King’s day also included a barbecue hosted by the Premier of New South Wales, meetings with Indigenous leaders, and a visit to the iconic Sydney Opera House.
King Charles and Queen Camilla’s royal tour marks both their first visit to Commonwealth realms since his accession to the throne in September 2022 and their longest-haul trip since his cancer diagnosis. Prior to the tour, Buckingham Palace confirmed that the King had paused his ongoing treatment during the visit to Australia and Samoa, traveling with two doctors. Medical advice also led to the King’s decision to skip New Zealand, another Commonwealth realm, to prioritize his recovery.
While his treatment continues, the King briefly mentions his health publicly. During his return to public duties at the Macmillan Cancer Centre in April 2024, he shared with a fellow cancer patient, “It’s always a bit of shock when they tell you.” Weeks later, while meeting a British Army veteran, he discussed experiencing a “loss of taste” during his treatment.
The King’s visit to Australia highlights his commitment to his royal duties, even as he navigates his own health challenges, and serves as an opportunity to spotlight important advancements in cancer research and treatment.