live from london. this is bbc news. king charles has been diagnosed with cancer — buckingham palace says he will continue with state duties, but step back from public engagements during his treatment. the palace says the cancer was identified during the king's recent trip to hospital for an enlarged prostate — but haven't said what type of cancer it is. prince harry has spoken to his father and will travel back to the uk in the coming days. hello. i'm christian fraser. if you'rejustjoining us, welcome to our continuing coverage of this breaking story. buckingham palace has announced that the king is being treated for cancer. he will continue with state duties but will step back from public engagements

during his treatment. during the kings recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a separate issue of concern was noted. subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer. his majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public—facing duties. throughout this period, his majesty will continue to undertake state business and official paperwork as usual. the king is grateful to his medical team for their swift intervention, which was made possible thanks to his recent hospital procedure. he remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible. his majesty has chosen to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer. a spokesperson for the king has not

revealed what type of cancer the king has but says it is not prostate cancer. last week the king was discharged from hospital following surgery for an enlarged prostate 7 a condition the palace had described as benign. king charles, was last pictures yesterday at the sunday service at the church of st mary magdalene on the sandringham estate in norfolk. it was his first public outing since his three—night hospital stay a week ago. there have been responses from westminster. prime minister rish sunak said: wishing his majesty a full and speedy recovery. i have no doubt he ll be back to full strength in no time and i know the whole country will be wishing him well. the labour leader sir keir starmer said:

o'neill said: the leader of the democratic unionist party sir jeffrey donaldson also said: welsh first minister mark drakeford said: in the past few minutes the scottish first minister humza yousaf hs been giving his reaction to the king's cancer diagnosis. cani can i send my thoughts and indeed my prayers to his majesty the king and wish him well for a full recovery and a return back to public life. let me also send my very best wishes

and my thoughts with her majesty the queen and all members of the royal family who will be deeply worried at this time. i don't think it matters whether you are a member of the royalfamily or not, whether you are a member of the royal family or not, if a family member has cancer, that is always going to be extremely worrying indeed, so i want to send them my best with —— wishes on behalf of the entire nation. with me is our royal correspondent sarah campbell. there will be people joining there will be peoplejoining us there will be people joining us who will be just there will be people joining us who will bejust coming there will be people joining us who will be just coming to the news this hour. let mejust will be just coming to the news this hour. let me just to recap on the tone of the statement. there is a note of optimism in here. there is. the king is gratefulfor his medical team's swift intervention. he was admitted to hospital ten days ago for treatment, corrective treatment

to an enlarged prostate. something was discovered during that procedure. grateful to his medical team for their swift intervention and he remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible. also that his majesty has chosen to share his diagnosis, a, two delay speculation and to support all those around the world diagnosed with cancer. we've heard from cancer charities, really appreciating the fact that whilst sending their best wishes that this has been put front and centre on people's radar, which when anything happens to a member of the world family, that is what happens. we are talking about him as king and how this will affect his role as king but he is also a father, grandfather. he is a husband, we

know prince harry, he told both of his sons in person about his diagnosis. the duke of sussex, prince harry, is making his way back to the uk in the coming days. there have been issues over the last few years, family issues but when something like this happens, lots of thoseissues something like this happens, lots of those issues get forgotten. so we will see how that happens. and it will see how that happens. and it will be, as we have been talking about, as well as a mental strain on the rest of his family because of this diagnosis, there is a practical issue in that they will have two step up and perform duties that the king otherwise would have done. we have prince william, who is already dealing with the princess of wales who was admitted to hospital for abdominal surgery, she was released last week and is due to convalesce for the next few weeks, but he is

going to have to go on and carry the ship now along with queen camilla, who is 76 years old. she has already seen a rise in the number of engagements she is carrying out. she will how to do more, the duke and duchess of edinburgh as well. this impacts the family in an emotional way but also upping their workload. irrespective of the position he holds in the title he has, most people have empathy for anybody who learns that they have just been diagnosed with cancer. it's an enormous shock to learn of that then everybody recognises when you are told that news, there is a long road ahead of you, whatever type of cancer that is. whatever his duties are, the priority will be the king's health and ensuring he gets the right treatment.— health and ensuring he gets the right treatment. absolutely. we don't know— right treatment. absolutely. we don't know the _ right treatment. absolutely. we don't know the specifics - right treatment. absolutely. we don't know the specifics of - right treatment. absolutely. we don't know the specifics of what j right treatment. absolutely. we - don't know the specifics of what the cancer is, we know the king returned

from sandringham to london this morning to start his treatment as an outpatient. we know that he is staying at home in london this evening. we don't know the actual details of the treatment he is going to be undergoing but anybody who has had a cancer diagnosis will note that that sort of treatment can be difficult. we will not speculate how difficult. we will not speculate how difficult. it’s difficult. we will not speculate how difficult. �*, . ., , difficult. we will not speculate how difficult. �*, . ., ., difficult. it's already come to li . ht in difficult. it's already come to light in the — difficult. it's already come to light in the last _ difficult. it's already come to light in the last two - difficult. it's already come to light in the last two hours i difficult. it's already come to light in the last two hours is | difficult. it's already come to . light in the last two hours isjust light in the last two hours is just how important it is for everybody out there to get tested. here is a man who went to hospital with a concern about an enlarged prostate on the advice of his doctors, and lo and behold, there is something else that needs treatment but you don't know unless you go and get tested and so the lesson is go and get tested and find out.— and so the lesson is go and get tested and find out. very much on the record — tested and find out. very much on the record guidance _ tested and find out. very much on the record guidance from - tested and find out. very much on the record guidance from the - tested and find out. very much on i the record guidance from the palace, it has been made very clear that the king elected to make his diagnosis

public once the schedule of treatment had begun because as princess of wales, before he was king, he was patron of a number of cancer charities and he has often spoke publicly in support of cancer patients, their loved ones and their health professionals. we have been speaking for the last couple of hours about this is relatively unusual in the years i have been covering the royal family, particularly with prince philip and queen elizabeth ii. we were aware they were unwell because they did not turn up to engagements. we were not turn up to engagements. we were not told specific details and we were not told in advance when they did not turn up to engagements. their life is very public and in a sense, the one thing they are able to keep for themselves is their health, to keep that private and thatis health, to keep that private and that is their right to do so but the king has taken this decision that

for the greater good, actually sharing this diagnosis is a positive thing to do. i sharing this diagnosis is a positive thing to de— sharing this diagnosis is a positive thing to tie-— thing to do. i know you will stay with me and _ thing to do. i know you will stay with me and react _ thing to do. i know you will stay with me and react to _ thing to do. i know you will stay with me and react to some - thing to do. i know you will stay with me and react to some of. thing to do. i know you will stay l with me and react to some of the news as it comes in. let's go to windsor castle and duncan kennedy. we were remarking in the last hour just what a blow this will be to the community in windsor, as attached as closely as it is to the royal family. closely as it is to the royal famil . ., v closely as it is to the royal famil . ., �* , , closely as it is to the royal famil. . �*, , . closely as it is to the royal famil. , . family. that's very much the case. just family. that's very much the case. just ordinary _ family. that's very much the case. just ordinary people _ family. that's very much the case. just ordinary people reacting - family. that's very much the case. just ordinary people reacting to i just ordinary people reacting to this news tonight, notjust presidents, other politicians about ordinary subjects of king charles. we were speaking to people here come a lot of tourists, some local people walking their dogs tonight and we spoke to a group of guys from india and they use the word shop. that is the word that most people used with us tonight. —— shocked. we spoke to

two couples in glasgow and we told them the news, they hadn't been following the news because they were here on a break and they literally gasped. they said they couldn't believe it, they also were shocked by this news coming from buckingham palace. spoke to another chap from singapore, here on holiday. he said he wished the king well and another chap we spoke to said he was sorry to hear the news and he also wished the king well. while we haven't had here is any reaction from the prince and princess of wales who stay in the grounds of windsor castle here behind me at a place called adelaide cottage, where they live with their three children. it is understandable there hasn't been reaction from them because the princess of wales herself is recuperating from her own abdominal surgery that she had a couple of weeks ago and it is very much in keeping that the royal family don't comment in detail about

these things. what we have had from buckingham palace will remain it for now, they will not be speculating about anything in terms of the king's treatment other than saying that it has begun. one or two people we did speak to tonight asked me what kind of cancer it was and because buckingham palace haven't said anything about that, i was unable to pass any of that news on boat people will be curious about that. they felt having had all that information about the king going to hospital, they felt perhaps that buckingham palace was going to give us more information about the king's health but although they have issued this comprehensive statement, we are not likely to get any more details, including the type of cancer that the king now has. indie including the type of cancer that the king now has.— the king now has. we were 'ust sa in: the king now has. we were 'ust saying earner fl the king now has. we were 'ust saying earlier in i the king now has. we were 'ust saying earlier in the i the king now has. we were just saying earlier in the evening, . saying earlier in the evening, duncan, that he is a relatively fit man, he is in good shape for a man of his age. he has a certain physical resilience, yes, there has

been the odd incident along the way, particularly when he played polo, but in that sense, the prognosis must be fairly good as it is for all younger men who are diagnosed with cancer. there is a very strong chance that he will get over this. yes, potentially. we are simply unaware of the facts, that's the problem with all of this. cancer is a serious matter, and i have heard many of your guests speak about that. if they have got whatever cancer this is at a early stage, the prognosis could be very positive indeed. if it was at a later stage, other calculations come into play. we simply don't know what type of cancer it is, whether it is amendable to treatment. they have said his treatment has started today but no more details. on his way to health, you are quite right. we saw

him yesterday at sandringham, waving and smiling to people as he went to church, walking in with queen camilla. he is in very robust health for a man of 75, he obviously has a lot of duties, a lot of engagements that keep him active and we are told in this statement tonight that he will can —— continue to look at his responsibilities. his health is not in a state where he won't neglect those mental activities if you like. what we do know tonight is that large sections of the public, at leastjudging by those here in windsor, they are shocked by what has happened but many of them are wishing the best for the king and a speedy recovery. wishing the best for the king and a speedy recovery-— speedy recovery. we've had some reaction from _ speedy recovery. we've had some reaction from washington - speedy recovery. we've had some | reaction from washington tonight. president biden said he was concerned about king charles's diagnosis and will be calling him later to talk to him directly. one

of the set piece events we remember at windsor was a president biden's visit injuly and so, there seems to be a connection between these two heads of state.— heads of state. yes, that's right. there was _ heads of state. yes, that's right. there was a _ heads of state. yes, that's right. there was a connection. - heads of state. yes, that's right. l there was a connection. obviously the president couldn't make it to the president couldn't make it to the coronation nine months ago but did pay him that visit and the two men seem to connect. both extremely experienced, worldly wise men who have a lot of history in common with each other, not least the fact that britain and the united states have beenin britain and the united states have been in close relations anyway. these two men are well experienced on the world stage and have a lot to talk about. it's no wonder that people like president biden have reacted tonight, just one of many reacting to this news. king charles is a very prominent figure. second only to his mother, he will have been well known around the world and

people will be shocked by this news and people will make these statements. they putting these calls, they put out these statements expressing their wishes for these people to get better. we also had a statement via secondary sources from prince harry and he has also spoken to his father and he also will be heading to the united kingdom in the coming days, no doubt to visit him at close quarters. he hasn't been here for several months but he will also want to see his father as well. all kinds of reaction from around the world, this upbeat, toned statement from buckingham palace save the king remains totally positive at that's kind of the message coming from all kinds of other people, whether it's world leaders or simply people walking round the streets of windsor, wishing the king all the best for the future. , u, wishing the king all the best for the future-— wishing the king all the best for the future. , , ., ~ the future. duncan kennedy, thank ou. let's the future. duncan kennedy, thank you- let's have _ the future. duncan kennedy, thank you. let's have a _ the future. duncan kennedy, thank you. let's have a listen _ the future. duncan kennedy, thank you. let's have a listen to - the future. duncan kennedy, thank you. let's have a listen to the - you. let's have a listen to the action at the us state department. he was the deputy spokesperson.

first and foremost our thoughts are with the king. with the king and his family. it's incredibly sad news and we are very sorry for the king and his family. we are very sorry for the king and his family-— his family. there has been some reaction from _ his family. there has been some reaction from the _ his family. there has been some reaction from the president - his family. there has been some - reaction from the president himself. this is what he said a few minutes ago. do this is what he said a few minutes auo. y ., this is what he said a few minutes ayo. y., ., ., this is what he said a few minutes auo. ., ., this is what he said a few minutes ago. do you have a message for king charles? concerned _ ago. do you have a message for king charles? concerned about _ ago. do you have a message for king charles? concerned about him, - ago. do you have a message for king charles? concerned about him, just. charles? concerned about him, 'ust heard his diagnosis, i charles? concerned about him, 'ust heard his diagnosis, but i charles? concerned about him, 'ust heard his diagnosis, but i i charles? concerned about him, 'ust heard his diagnosis, but i willh charles? concerned about him, just heard his diagnosis, but i will be i heard his diagnosis, but i will be talking to him. hopefully passes in the senate. ., ., , the senate. reaction from president biden in the senate. reaction from president itiden in the — the senate. reaction from president biden in the last _ the senate. reaction from president biden in the last hour— the senate. reaction from president biden in the last hour or _ the senate. reaction from president biden in the last hour or so. - the senate. reaction from president biden in the last hour or so. sarah . biden in the last hour or so. sarah campbell is with me in the studio. we are going to talk about the cancer side of it in a minute with

fergus walsh, but in terms of the year ahead and how this will complicate the calendar for the king. complicate the calendar for the kin. ~ complicate the calendar for the kinu. ~ ., �* complicate the calendar for the kini,. .,�* 4' ., complicate the calendar for the kin. ~ ., , complicate the calendar for the kini. , , , king. we don't know is the simple answer. king. we don't know is the simple answer- the _ king. we don't know is the simple answer. the treatment _ king. we don't know is the simple answer. the treatment will - king. we don't know is the simple answer. the treatment will take i king. we don't know is the simple| answer. the treatment will take as long as it takes. we know they are hoping he will continue doing his red boxes, the things he can do without having to undertake any strenuous activity, the public facing duties, although he will be seeing the prime minister, those weekly meetings will continue. the big question is whether this year was very much the year for him to come if last year was building on being king in the uk if you like, i think this year was about travel. it was about the commonwealth, it was about commonwealth countries of which she is of course head of state. it was about visits to canada, potentially, nothing confirmed but it was talked about.

visits to canada and australia because you will remember the queen, queen elizabeth ii, for at least the last ten years before she died undertook no long haul travel. so for those countries, they haven't had their head of state in their country for a very long time. that was very much a priority for the king to go and visit these countries. i was with him back in 2022 when he and at that point the duchess of cornwall went to canada. they travelled halfway across the country in three days. it was extraordinary the workload but it was important for them to go out and meet as many people as possible and put their stamp on being in canada, being in a commonwealth country and people appreciated that. he being in a commonwealth country and people appreciated that.— people appreciated that. he will be sensitive to — people appreciated that. he will be sensitive to the _ people appreciated that. he will be sensitive to the questions - people appreciated that. he will be sensitive to the questions being i sensitive to the questions being asked in australia and also in chobham. asked in australia and also in chobham— asked in australia and also in chobham. . , _, ., , chobham. there are very contentious issues at the — chobham. there are very contentious issues at the moment _ chobham. there are very contentious issues at the moment and _ chobham. there are very contentious issues at the moment and one i chobham. there are very contentious issues at the moment and one of i chobham. there are very contentious

issues at the moment and one of the | issues at the moment and one of the things he has done is really tackled these things head on. he has tackled contentious issues when he has been to these countries and i'm sure that is something he would have wanted to do. queen elizabeth said she had to be seen to be believed. the same with the king. these countries want him to go there. we are not able to say that he won't be able to visit australia this year, that he won't be able to visit canada. the treatment may well have finished by then but certainly, at the moment, there are questions because we simply don't know about the prognosis. indie simply don't know about the prognosis— simply don't know about the irionosis. ~ ~ , ., , prognosis. we will keep our fingers crossed on that. _ prognosis. we will keep our fingers crossed on that. let's _ prognosis. we will keep our fingers crossed on that. let's talk - prognosis. we will keep our fingers crossed on that. let's talk about i crossed on that. let's talk about the medical side of things. fergus walsh is in our london newsroom. it is difficult to talk specifically about this because we don't know what type of cancer it is about putting things together from the events of the last three weeks, what do you see? figs

events of the last three weeks, what do you see?— do you see? as you say, the palace really don't — do you see? as you say, the palace really don't want _ do you see? as you say, the palace really don't want speculation i do you see? as you say, the palace really don't want speculation on i really don't want speculation on even what type of cancer this is, let alone what stage, how early it was caught. we know it is not prostate cancer but that it was picked up through diagnostic tests as a result of the king's recent treatment for benign enlarged prostate. so we know the palace has said he began his regular sessions of cancer, what will become regular sessions of treatment for cancer today and that these will be done as an outpatient. the king joins their thousand people a day in the uk diagnosed with cancer and most cancer treatment now is given as outpatients, but that covers a huge variety of different treatments, most commonly things like

chemotherapy, drug treatments to try and shrink down cancers but chemotherapy comes in a vast many different forms, including infusions into the arm, the most common way, but also oral tablets and even in some cases, injections direct into the affected organ. there is also radiotherapy. all these treatments come with potential side effects but because we haven't been told what type of cancer, we cannot speculate on those. age is the number one risk factorfor most cancers. on those. age is the number one risk factor for most cancers. the on those. age is the number one risk factorfor most cancers. the king is 75 and just over a third of all new cancers are diagnosed in people aged 75 and over. cancers are diagnosed in people aged 75 and over-— 75 and over. perhaps the most important _ 75 and over. perhaps the most important public _ 75 and over. perhaps the most important public service i 75 and over. perhaps the most important public service we i 75 and over. perhaps the most| important public service we can extend tonight, fergus, and the one the king would want us to extend is to urge people to go and get tested. here is a very good example for our

head of state, what you can avoid, we hope, what can be avoided if you go and get tested and you can catch these things early.— these things early. yes, and that was very much — these things early. yes, and that was very much the _ these things early. yes, and that was very much the reason - these things early. yes, and that was very much the reason why i these things early. yes, and that. was very much the reason why the treatment for his prostate was announced, that he wanted men to go and get checked, to see if they had any problems with their prostate, such a common condition. and it is as a result of treatments for one part of the body that you then may pick up something else and the king has been praised by the royal couege has been praised by the royal college of physicians tonight, saying it is further proof that cancer is indiscriminate, can affect anybody. and to raise awareness of it, encourage people if they have any doubts, they have a lump or a bump or something they're worried about, they should always go and get it checked out. indie about, they should always go and get it checked out.— it checked out. we have talked toniiht it checked out. we have talked tonight about _

it checked out. we have talked tonight about his _ it checked out. we have talked tonight about his age, - it checked out. we have talked tonight about his age, he i it checked out. we have talked i tonight about his age, he turned 75 in november but also how fit he is and for a man of his age, he has beenin and for a man of his age, he has been in pretty good health through his life, apart from the odd bump and scrape here and there. does that tend to help with prognosis going forward? it tend to help with prognosis going forward? . ., , tend to help with prognosis going forward? . . , ., forward? it certainly can do. doctors who _ forward? it certainly can do. doctors who are _ forward? it certainly can do. doctors who are treating i forward? it certainly can do. | doctors who are treating any condition. by saying they want their patients, they hope their patients have a good overall level of fitness but there is a limit to what you can say about this since we don't even know what part of the king's body is affected by cancer. the palace don't want speculation so it's hard to say but yes, doctors would definitely say to you that the better, the fit said their patients are, usually the better the outcomes are.- better the outcomes are. fergus walsh, better the outcomes are. fergus walsh. thank — better the outcomes are. fergus walsh, thank you _ better the outcomes are. fergus walsh, thank you very _ better the outcomes are. fergus walsh, thank you very much i better the outcomes are. fergus i walsh, thank you very much indeed for that. we are shortly going to say goodbye to our viewers on pbs who are watching us around the world

but before we do that, let me quickly recap the statement that we have had from buckingham palace this evening. in which they confirm the king is suffering from cancer. we don't know which type of cancer it is but subsequent diagnostic tests, they said, have identified a form of cancer. his majesty today, commenced a schedule of regular treatments during which time he has been advised to postpone public facing duties. throughout this period his majesty will undertake state business and paperwork each day as usual. he says he is grateful to his medical team for their swift intervention which was made possible thanks to his recent procedure, those tests that he underwent, and he remains wholly positive about his treatment, looking forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible. he has chosen to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and to assist public

understanding. we will say goodbye to our viewers on pbs news. but for our other viewers who remain with us, sarah campbell is here in the studio. prince harry, we have not talked much about him. he is coming back, he has got public duties of his own the other side of that. what do you make of what you've heard tonight? do you make of what you've heard toniiht? ., i“ do you make of what you've heard toniiht? . ., ., tonight? the palace have guided that all the king's— tonight? the palace have guided that all the king's siblings _ tonight? the palace have guided that all the king's siblings and _ tonight? the palace have guided that all the king's siblings and children i all the king's siblings and children were notified personally by his majesty. and we understand from harry's side, of course we know that harry's side, of course we know that harry and his wife, meghan live in california. harry has cleared his schedule is and will be coming back to the uk. it has been well documented that there have been many

issues over the last few years in the relationship between prince harry and the rest of his family, his brother and his father. i don't think there is any doubt it has been extremely difficult but i think as we know, when there are health issues, perhaps difficulties get put aside. ., , issues, perhaps difficulties get put aside. . , ,., issues, perhaps difficulties get put aside. . , , �* aside. that is the point, isn't it? there is a _ aside. that is the point, isn't it? there is a lot _ aside. that is the point, isn't it? there is a lot in _ aside. that is the point, isn't it? there is a lot in the _ aside. that is the point, isn't it? there is a lot in the public i aside. that is the point, isn't it? i there is a lot in the public domain about the relationships, some of which, a large part of it may be, i don't know, there is no doubt the king loves his son and i'm sure he loves his dad and it's moments like this when you find outjust how much and the fact that he is coming quite quickly to see him, perhaps does speak volumes about the relationship. it speak volumes about the relationship.— speak volumes about the relationshi i. , , ,., ., relationship. it must be said that most of the _ relationship. it must be said that most of the information - relationship. it must be said that most of the information put i relationship. it must be said that most of the information put in i relationship. it must be said thatl most of the information put in the public domain has been put in the public domain has been put in the public domain has been put in the public domain by prince harry. we haven't heard from buckingham palace, they have kept, not said

anything about the issues and although it is talked about online, on social media almost all day, every day, we don't know other than what prince harry has said but this news that prince harry is dropping everything, he will be coming to the uk, people watching the royal family will be hoping perhaps this will lead to a thaw in relations. it is difficult times that bring families together. difficult times that bring families to i ether. ., difficult times that bring families toiether. ., ., �* ., , ., together. you don't often see that moment of— together. you don't often see that moment of tenderness _ together. you don't often see that moment of tenderness within i together. you don't often see that moment of tenderness within the | moment of tenderness within the royalfamily moment of tenderness within the royal family but you did see it from prince william, prince of wales, at the coronation, just that moment when he brought the orb to his father. there was that moment which talks about the relationship between them and i think, you know, we have talked tonight about his status and the title he has but a lot of people will have empathy with the family tonight because they will know who

have had cancer.— have had cancer. family relations, we had to talk— have had cancer. family relations, we had to talk about _ have had cancer. family relations, we had to talk about queen i have had cancer. family relations, l we had to talk about queen camilla as well. it was striking, when i have watched members of the royal family going into hospital in previous years, quite often they haven't had any visitors but the queen, when he was having its procedure, she was there twice a day every day and i think there is absolutely no doubt of the strength of feeling, the love between queen camilla and king charles and it will be absolutely her who will be his rock in what undoubtedly is going to be a very difficult time ahead. and i'm sure he will be relieved, pleased, i don't want to put words in his mouth at all but knowing that prince harry is on his way will no doubt be reassurance to him. yes. doubt be reassurance to him. yes, he of course pledged _ doubt be reassurance to him. yes, he of course pledged his loyalty - doubt be reassurance to him. yes, he of course pledged his loyalty to i doubt be reassurance to him. yes, he of course pledged his loyalty to his i of course pledged his loyalty to his king, and that was the moment we all sawjust nine months ago.

if you're just if you'rejustjoining us, welcome to our continuing coverage of our breaking stories this evening— the king is being treated for cancer. he will continue with state duties, but will continue with state duties, but will be having back from public engagements during his treatment.