- King Charles III was absent from the Royal Ballet School's centenary celebrations held in London on October 8 and 9, despite being the institution's patron
- Lady Sarah Chatto stepped in to represent the Crown at the high-profile event, which drew former British PM Sir John Major and leading arts figures
- The monarch continues cancer treatment first announced in February 2024, even as he and Queen Camilla prepare for an eight-day Caribbean tour
Questions about King Charles III's wellbeing have surfaced again after the 77-year-old monarch skipped a significant milestone event closely tied to his royal duties.
Charles was notably absent from the Royal Ballet School's centenary celebrations in London, even though he holds the role of patron for the institution.
The two-day event on October 8 and 9 marked 100 years since the school's founding, making it one of the more culturally significant moments in the British arts calendar this year.
What Happened at the Royal Ballet School Centenary
The centenary programme was a high-profile affair. A performance and reception took place at the Royal Opera House on the Thursday, followed by a black-tie gala dinner at Whitehall Palace the following evening.
Search option is now available at TUKO! Feel free to search the content on topics/people you enjoy reading about in the top right corner ;)
Former British Prime Minister Sir John Major was among the notable guests, joined by leading figures from the ballet and arts worlds.
Lady Sarah Chatto, the daughter of the late Princess Margaret, represented the royal family in Charles's place. She holds the position of president of both the Royal Ballet School and the Birmingham Royal Ballet, giving her a fitting role at the event.
Page Six reported that unnamed insiders within royal circles were unsettled by the king's absence, with suggestions that some of his official engagements are quietly being redistributed among other senior royals.
Buckingham Palace has not confirmed any formal reduction in the king's schedule.
King Charles continues cancer treatment
The absence attracted attention partly because Charles has been undergoing treatment for cancer since early 2024.
Buckingham Palace publicly confirmed his diagnosis on February 5, 2024, following a procedure related to an enlarged prostate, though the specific type of cancer was never disclosed.
Despite his condition, the king has kept up a degree of public activity. He attended the Zoological Society of London's 200th-anniversary event in July 2026 and completed official visits to Washington, DC, and Bermuda in May.
Queen Camilla, Prince William, Princess Catherine and other senior royals have been reported to be taking on some duties alongside him.
Looking ahead, Charles and Queen Camilla are expected to embark on an eight-day Caribbean tour from 27 October, with stops planned in Antigua, the Bahamas and Guyana.
The trip, if it proceeds as scheduled, would represent a significant undertaking given the ongoing questions about how his workload is being managed.
It should be noted that missing a single event and any behind-the-scenes scheduling adjustments do not, on their own, point to a decline in his health.
Source: TUKO.co.ke