Monarch to Share Intimate Message on His Health Battle in Television Broadcast

King Charles has taped a first-hand account concerning his journey with cancer, which will be broadcast as part of this year's fundraising initiative, run by Cancer Research UK and Channel 4.

Official sources confirmed the King would reflect on his "path to recovery" as a cancer patient, in a video message on this Friday at 20:00 GMT.

The recording, filmed within a royal residence a fortnight ago, will emphasise the importance of preventative health checks to help guarantee more people catch the illness at an treatable phase.

This will be a infrequent public commentary on the medical condition of the Monarch, who has been in a course of therapy since the news was shared in early last year. However, it is believed doubtful the King will disclose his type of cancer.

Fundraising Primary Goal

The Stand Up To Cancer event each year raises funds for scientific studies and treatment and urges people to get health assessments to increase the odds of an early diagnosis.

The King's public discussion about his illness, and his experience as a patient, has been aimed to raise awareness and to encourage more people to get checked - and this will be escalated with this unusual personal contribution.

Up until now the King's key philosophy to his cancer has been to continue his schedule, upholding a busy schedule despite his ongoing course of therapy, and he is understood not to have desired to be defined by his condition.

Recently has seen the Sovereign, undertaking several overseas trips, notably to Italy and Canada, and receiving the largest volume of foreign dignitaries to the UK for a generation, including the German president in recent days.

Charity Evening Programme

Friday evening's charity show on Channel 4, presented by presenters such as several TV personalities, will appeal to people not to be afraid of getting health screenings.

Each presenter have been personally touched by cancer - McCall revealed in November she had had an operation for breast cancer, while Clare Balding was diagnosed with the illness over a decade ago. Presenter Adam Hills has previously discussed his late father, who had stomach cancer and then later leukaemia.

The broadcast will target the approximate nine million people in the UK who charities says are not current with NHS screening schemes, with an digital tool to let people determine if they are able for tests for several common cancers.

In an attempt to explain screenings and show the importance of prompt detection there will be a live broadcast from cancer clinics at Addenbrooke's and Royal Papworth hospitals in Cambridge.

"The goal is to take the fear out of cancer screening and prove the public that they are not isolated in this," stated one of the hosts.

Available Health Checks

Right now in the UK, there are three national health screening services - for specific cancers - offered to specific demographics.

A emerging lung cancer screening programme is also being slowly rolled out for anyone at potential risk of being diagnosed with the illness, focusing on people in a specific age bracket, who currently smoke or were former smokers.

Men may request prostate cancer checks, but there is no national programme operational.

Charitable Impact

The Stand Up to Cancer campaign, which has collected a significant sum for many years, is financing multiple clinical trials with many patients.

King Charles, in a address for dignitaries at a reception for cancer charities in the spring, had spoken of understanding the "daunting and at times frightening situation" for those diagnosed and their families.

But he noted his first-hand encounter of living with cancer had shown him that "the most difficult times of disease can be illuminated by the greatest compassion," as he praised those who looked after individuals with the illness.

The Palace has not disclosed what kind of cancer the King has, or the medical care he has undergone. The King's cancer was identified after he had received a routine operation.