Sovereign to Deliver First-Hand Address on His Health Battle in TV Broadcast

The Monarch has taped a personal message about his experience with cancer, set to air as part of this year's annual cancer awareness initiative, run by Cancer Research UK and Channel 4.

Official sources stated the King would discuss his "healing process" as a person living with the disease, in a televised statement on this Friday at the evening slot.

The message, recorded at a royal residence recently, will highlight the vital significance of cancer screening checks to help guarantee more people detect the illness at an early stage.

This will be a uncommon insight on the wellbeing of the Sovereign, who has been undergoing regular treatment since revealing his diagnosis in early last year. But it is thought doubtful the King will specify his particular diagnosis.

Fundraising Primary Goal

The annual charity event each year raises funds for medical research and patient care and prompts people to get check-ups to increase the chances of an timely detection.

The King's relative openness about his illness, and living with cancer, has been aimed to increase understanding and to persuade more people to get checked - and this will be advanced with this unusual royal involvement.

So far the King's key philosophy to his cancer has been to continue his schedule, upholding a hectic timetable despite his regular rounds of therapy, and he is understood not to have desired to be defined by his condition.

This year has seen the 77-year-old Monarch, undertaking several foreign visits, notably to Italy and Canada, and receiving the biggest number of foreign dignitaries to the UK for a generation, which included the German president last week.

Friday's Evening Programme

Friday evening's Stand Up to Cancer programme on Channel 4, hosted by presenters such as several TV personalities, will urge people not to be frightened of getting health screenings.

All three have been personally touched by cancer - Davina McCall revealed recently she had undergone surgery for the disease, while another presenter was diagnosed with the illness more than 15 years ago. Presenter Adam Hills has previously spoken about his father, who had a diagnosis and then later blood cancer.

The broadcast will reach out to the estimated 9m people in the UK who health organisations state are not current with public health checks, with an online checker to let people determine if they are eligible for screenings for breast, bowel and cervical cancer.

In an attempt to explain cancer checks and illustrate the benefit of early diagnosis there will be a real-time transmission from treatment centres at medical facilities in Cambridge.

"The goal is to remove the anxiety from cancer screening and show the public that they are not isolated in this," said a presenter.

Understanding Screening Programmes

At present in the UK, there are three national health screening services - for specific cancers - available to certain age groups.

A new lung cancer screening programme is also being slowly rolled out for anyone at high risk of being diagnosed with the illness, specifically targeting people aged 55-74 years old, who currently smoke or have smoked in the past.

Individuals may enquire about prostate cancer checks, but there is not a universal scheme currently available.

Charitable Impact

The charity initiative, which has generated £113m since 2012, is supporting 73 clinical trials encompassing many patients.

The Monarch, in a address for attendees at a reception for cancer charities in the spring, had spoken of acknowledging the "daunting and at times frightening experience" for cancer sufferers and their loved ones.

But he said his first-hand encounter of coping with cancer had demonstrated that "periods of great challenge of illness can be brightened by the kindness of others," as he thanked those who looked after cancer patients.

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