Sovereign to Broadcast Intimate Message on Illness in Nationwide Address

The Monarch has filmed a first-hand account about his experience with cancer, set to air as part of this year's Stand Up To Cancer campaign, run by a leading cancer charity and Channel 4.

The royal household confirmed the King would talk about his "recovery journey" as a individual battling cancer, in a recorded address on this Friday at 20:00 GMT.

The address, filmed within Clarence House two weeks ago, will stress the critical nature of preventative health checks to ensure more people catch the disease at an early stage.

This represents a rare update on the health of the Sovereign, who has been in a course of therapy since his condition was announced in early last year. But it is thought improbable the King will identify his type of cancer.

Awareness Central Purpose

The awareness event each year raises funds for medical research and therapies and urges people to get health assessments to increase the odds of an prompt identification.

The King's candid approach about his health challenge, and managing the disease, has been aimed to increase understanding and to encourage more people to get tested - and this will be taken a step further with this unusual royal involvement.

To date the King's key philosophy to his cancer has been to keep working, preserving a full diary despite his regular rounds of treatment, and he seems not to have wanted to be defined by his diagnosis.

The past twelve months has seen the Sovereign, taking several overseas trips, notably to Italy and Canada, and hosting the highest tally of foreign dignitaries to the UK for almost 40 years, featuring the German president recently.

Charity Broadcast Event

The upcoming awareness broadcast on Channel 4, presented by well-known figures including a team of famous hosts, will appeal to people not to be afraid of getting preventative tests.

All three have been personally touched by cancer - one host disclosed in November she had had an operation for breast cancer, while Balding was overcame thyroid cancer over a decade ago. Comedian Adam Hills has previously discussed his parent, who had stomach cancer and then later blood cancer.

The show will appeal to the approximate nine million people in the UK who Cancer Research UK estimate are not current with public health checks, with an digital tool to let people check if they are able for examinations for key health indicators.

In an bid to explain screenings and illustrate the value of timely identification there will be a live broadcast from treatment centres at medical facilities in Cambridge.

"I want to remove the anxiety out of cancer screening and prove everyone that they are not on their own in this," commented a presenter.

The Landscape of Health Checks

Currently in the UK, there are three NHS cancer screening programmes - for bowel, breast and cervical cancer - available to certain age groups.

A emerging scheme for lung health is also being gradually implemented for people at potential risk of being diagnosed with the disease, specifically targeting people in a specific age bracket, who have a smoking history or have smoked in the past.

Individuals may enquire about specific tests, but there is not a universal scheme in place.

Funding Research

The fundraising initiative, which has raised £113m over the past decade, is financing dozens of medical projects encompassing thousands of patients.

His Majesty, in a message for attendees at a event for related organisations in earlier this year, had referred to acknowledging the "daunting and at times scary situation" for those diagnosed and their families.

But he noted his personal journey of coping with cancer had demonstrated that "the darkest moments of disease can be alleviated by the support of carers," as he thanked those who looked after individuals with the illness.

The Palace has not disclosed what kind of cancer the King has, or what treatment he has undergone. The King's cancer was detected after he had received a routine operation.