In the hallowed halls of British power and throughout society, a question hangs heavy in the air, yet remains unspoken: How ill is King Charles III?.
Despite the silence, whispers of the King's deteriorating health are spreading like wildfire.
In recent discussions with the King's acquaintances about his health, the most common response is a hushed, solemn declaration: "It's not good."
The King's officials have remained tight-lipped, refusing to comment on the matter when approached by The Daily Beast. It should be noted that since the King revealed his cancer diagnosis earlier this year - a move that marked a significant departure from the royal tradition of maintaining privacy around health matters - his team has made it clear that they will not be providing ongoing updates on his health.
The King has not disclosed the specific type of cancer he is battling, only stating that it is not prostate cancer. He is believed to be undergoing regular radiotherapy treatments in London, a common treatment for various types of cancer.
As the head of a hereditary monarchy, the King's health is not merely a private matter. His health status is of public interest, given that a monarch can only be replaced by death or abdication. The latter seems unlikely, given the precedent set by the late Queen Elizabeth. His health is undoubtedly a concern for certain government sectors.
The Daily Beast has learned that not only are the King's funeral plans being regularly updated, but a document reviewing the Queen's funeral and suggesting improvements for future royal funerals is circulating within Whitehall.
The Cabinet Office, responsible for state funerals, declined to comment on claims that the document, codenamed Operation Menai Bridge, is being regularly updated. They reiterated that it is standard practice not to comment on such plans.
Friends of the royal family and insiders are deeply saddened by the possibility of losing the King sooner than expected, but they are striving to remain hopeful.
A close family friend told The Daily Beast, "Of course he is determined to beat it and they are throwing everything at it. Everyone is staying optimistic, but he is really very unwell. More than they are letting on."
The same source revealed that the late Queen Elizabeth was battling bone marrow cancer in the months leading up to her death, a fact later confirmed by royal friend and biographer Gyles Brandreth.
Adding to the sense of unease, multiple sources have informed The Daily Beast that officials are frequently reviewing the extensive "Menai Bridge" document. All royal family members have bridge-based codenames for use upon their death - Queen Elizabeth's was "Operation London Bridge." Menai Bridge is a striking suspension bridge linking the island of Anglesey with the Welsh mainland.
While the sources stressed that these notes are routinely reviewed by the palace and the military, a former staffer with ongoing connections to serving courtiers said, "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."
Another source, who is acquainted with a senior official involved in planning royal funerals, said, "Of course they are looking at every aspect of Menai Bridge. The queens funeral went like clockwork and set a high bar. Its not an emotional thing, its a job, one taken very seriously, and understandably no-one plans to get caught out."
A military source stated that the plans are under constant review, but cautioned against reading too much into this. "Planning for the worst is what the military do," they said, adding, "Youve got to remember the scale of this thing. The Household Division, under Major General James Bowder, take the leadthat is seven regiments of Guards. Then you have the entire London District, the Territorial Army regiments and the Royal Horse Artillery. Thats before you get to the Navy or Air Force. Charles was closely associated with the Parachute Regiment for years, so they will be involved.
"Thats just the ceremonial end. Then you need a giant security operation because every VVIP on the planet is there. Were talking everything from missile defense to guarding against a lone wolf attack. The whole thing goes from flash to bang in under two weeks which means every aspect of it needs to be meticulously planned in advance. Serious planning for Charles funeral began the day after they buried the queen.
The overall coordinator is the Earl Marshall, Edward Fitzalan Howard, the Duke of Norfolk. The honor of Earl Marshall is hereditary, always held by the Duke of Norfolk, the most senior dukedom in the land.
"Eddie did a bloody good job with the queens funeral and the coronation. He is only 67 so he will still be in the job for Charles whenever it happens," said a friend of the dukes.
The possibility that Charles could die sooner than anticipated has not been openly discussed by the U.K. press, but has been subtly hinted at. One such hint appeared in the Daily Mails Ephraim Hardcastle column on Feb. 22. The column suggested that Prince Williams plans to alter the accession process might need to be expedited, and that the "prison walls" of his destiny were "closing in as his hour approaches."
The British press has largely remained silent on the matter of Charles health and funeral planning. This is not merely out of respect for the palace, but due to strict U.K. laws governing medical privacy and the publication of personal information. Even if you had it copper-bottomed that he had bladder cancer, you couldnt run it, a journalist said.
Some foreign media have also hinted at the King's deteriorating health. Tina Brown, the founding editor of The Daily Beast known for her impeccable royal contacts, wrote in the New York Times: 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. The prospect of it, I am told, is causing them intense anxiety.
The type of cancer the King is battling has not been disclosed by the palace, but his regular trips to London for treatment suggest that he is undergoing radiotherapy. A cancer expert, who asked to remain anonymous, said that radiotherapy is conducted using large machines, unlike chemotherapy which can be done with equipment available at any cottage hospital, although the two therapies are often used in conjunction.
As for how the King is faring, there have been few official updates from the palace. However, after making a significant effort to greet the public at Easter, shaking hands 56 times and joking with the crowd outside St Georges Chapel in Windsor, Charles has largely retreated from public view.
He has appeared gaunt in recent sightings, when being driven to treatment in London in a ceremonial-style vehicle with large windows. On a more positive note, he drove to and attended church in Scotland on Sunday.
However, his attendance at major upcoming events will provide the clearest indication of how his battle against cancer is progressing. One such event is his official birthday parade, known as Trooping the Color, on June 15, which the Ministry of Defence has announced he will attend.
Rumors also suggest that he will attend the Royal Ascot horse racing festival later in June. A state visit to Australia, followed by a trip to Samoa for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, scheduled for mid-October, has not yet been cancelled. The palace has stated that planning for this trip continues.
Christopher Andersen, the New York Times best-selling royal writer, told The Daily Beast: Its not just the king who has to review his own funeral plans. Every senior royal does. William and Harry were only teenagers when they were asked to plan their own funerals. Theyre asked to pick their own music, flowers, the prayers and who will read them. Royals are constantly reminded that when they die, their send-off will be a major, headline-grabbing event. They cant escape this macabre fixation on death.
"King Charles reign will by definition be short, but its anyones guess at this time just how short. In the meantime, the tried-and-true practice of revising funeral plans should not be used to make that determination. What would be enormously helpful is for the palace to be transparent about the kings condition and his prognosis. Until that happens, gossip and speculation will continue to swirl, and conspiracy theories will abound.
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