Royal Tour of Australia: King Charles Meets Cancer Researchers During Treatment

During his royal tour of Australia and Samoa, King Charles had a touching meeting while undergoing cancer treatment.

While in Australia with Queen Camilla, the 75-year-old monarch met on October 22 with respected cancer experts Professor Georgina Long and Professor Richard Scolyer to have a better understanding of their work regarding the treatment of melanoma. Melanoma is a common cancer in Australia, and the King met with the professors to learn about their efforts to aid people impacted by the disease.

As co-medical directors of the Melanoma Institute Australia, Long and Scolyer hold the positions of professor at the University of Sydney. Their ground-breaking efforts to combat skin cancer were recognised earlier this year when they shared the Australian of the Year Award.

Since the scientists’ work has benefitted Scolyer, it is much more personally significant. In the wake of his June 2023 diagnosis of incurable grade 4 brain cancer, Long created a suite of ground-breaking medicines influenced by discoveries in the fight against melanoma. The Australian of the Year Awards stated that Scoyler was the first patient in the world to get pre-surgery combination immunotherapy for brain cancer, which is “an experimental treatment hoping to advance the understanding of brain cancer.”

The BBC announced in May 2024, a year after his diagnosis, that he is still cancer-free.

Reuters reported from Australia on October 22 that the conference did not address Charles’ personal illness or disease.

Scolyer remarked in the aftermath, “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.”

The King also met and congratulated Adam Brown, a melanoma survivor, during his visit. In 2015, Brown received the news that he had only twelve months to live. He was accompanied by his wife Kristy and their two children.

His busy day included a meeting with cancer experts in addition to seeing the Sydney Opera House and going to the Premier of New South Wales’ barbecue. He also had an important conversation with indigenous leaders.

Following the announcement of King Charles and Queen Camilla’s trip to Australia and Samoa in July, a statement from Buckingham Palace in September indicated that he would interact with the ground-breaking researchers. The King and Queen’s royal tour is of significant significance because it is both their first trip to the Commonwealth realms following his accession in September 2022 and their longest trip since the King’s cancer diagnosis in February.

On February 5, Buckingham Palace disclosed that the monarch had been diagnosed with a non-specific type of cancer subsequent to his treatment for a benign enlarged prostate in January. A representative elucidated that he does not have prostate cancer.

The monarch has deferred his public engagements for a period of three months, following the counsel of his medical advisors. He recommenced his forward-facing responsibilities on April 30 and has been engaged ever since.

The palace described the King’s treatment as ongoing and provided an upbeat outlook from his medical team upon the announcement of his return to work in late April.

His Majesty’s treatment program will persist, yet the medical team expresses satisfaction with the advancements achieved thus far, allowing The King to recommence several public-facing responsibilities. A spokesperson from Buckingham Palace stated at the time, “Upcoming engagements will be modified as needed to mitigate any risks to His Majesty’s ongoing recovery.”

The King has alluded to his health on a few occasions in the months that have followed. During his visit to the Macmillan Cancer Centre at University College Hospital London on April 30, an occasion that signified his return to public-facing duties despite the center’s lack of direct involvement in his treatment, he expressed to a fellow cancer patient, while grasping her hand, “It’s always a bit of shock when they tell you.”

The sovereign reportedly mentioned having experienced a “loss of taste” throughout his treatment when he met British Army veteran Aaron Mapplebeck several weeks later at the Army Flying Museum, according to The Sun.

Prior to the tour, it was indicated that the King would temporarily suspend his ongoing treatment during his visit to Australia and Samoa. According to reports, he is traveling with two medical professionals and won’t be making a stop in New Zealand, another Commonwealth country, during the tour.

A representative previously stated that “the King’s medical team has recommended that an extended program be avoided at this time in order to prioritise His Majesty’s ongoing recovery.”