In Photos: King Charles Meets Cancer Patients As He Visits Hospital In London

King Charles began his week with a poignant engagement that undoubtedly held personal significance. On Monday, he marked the 300th anniversary of Guy’s Hospital by visiting its cancer centre in London. According to the official announcement, the King met with chemotherapy patients, doctors, and nurses, toured the state-of-the-art Innovation Hub, and unveiled a plaque marking the anniversary of the hospital during the visit. 

Charles tried his hand at operating a revolutionary surgical robot known as the Da Vinci Surgical System by zooming in on his own face on a five-pound note. The trailblazing system, which enables smaller and more precise incisions during bladder surgery, is currently in the final stages of being approved for use by the NHS. 

Charles placed his fingers on the controls of the “marvellous invention”, but struggled to get a grip of the system. “I  think I'll have to come back after some more training,” he quipped. The robot may not be approved by the NHS yet, but it seems that it is definitely approved by the King, and that surely counts for something. 

It remains unclear whether the monarch spoke about his own health during the visit; however, he has been notably candid about his own diagnosis in the past. “I know from my own experience that a cancer diagnosis can feel overwhelming. Yet I also know that early detection is the key that can transform treatment journeys, giving invaluable time to medical teams – and, to their patients, the precious gift of hope,” he had said during a video message in December 2025. 

The royal family has certainly battled with cancer with all hands in the past few years, as around the time of Charles’ diagnosis, his daughter-in-law Kate Middleton was also diagnosed with the terrible disease. Thankfully, she is now recovering well and has gotten back to royal duties as well.