Sovereign to Share Intimate Message on Illness in TV Address

His Majesty has taped a first-hand account about his journey with cancer, set to air as part of this year's annual cancer awareness initiative, organised by a leading cancer charity and Channel 4.

Buckingham Palace said the King would talk about his "path to recovery" as a individual battling cancer, in a recorded address on this Friday at 8pm UK time.

The recording, recorded at Clarence House a fortnight ago, will stress the importance of preventative health checks to ensure more people diagnose the disease at an early stage.

This constitutes a infrequent public commentary on the health of the Monarch, who has been receiving ongoing care since revealing his diagnosis in early last year. But it is thought doubtful the King will disclose his particular diagnosis.

Awareness Central Purpose

The annual charity event each year collects money for medical research and patient care and prompts people to get health assessments to boost the odds of an timely detection.

The King's relative openness about his health challenge, and managing the disease, has been aimed to promote education and to get more people to get checked - and this will be escalated with this unique direct participation.

So far the King's key philosophy to his cancer has been to maintain his duties, maintaining a hectic timetable despite his frequent sessions of therapy, and he seems not to have desired to be characterised by his illness.

This year has seen the 77-year-old Monarch, taking several overseas trips, including to Italy and Canada, and receiving the largest volume of foreign dignitaries to the UK for a generation, featuring the German president recently.

The Televised Evening Programme

Friday evening's awareness broadcast on television, hosted by celebrities including several TV personalities, will appeal to people not to be frightened of getting health screenings.

All three have been affected by cancer - McCall revealed recently she had had an operation for a tumour, while another presenter was overcame thyroid cancer in the past. Comedian Adam Hills has previously discussed his father, who had a diagnosis and then later leukaemia.

The broadcast will target the estimated 9m people in the UK who Cancer Research UK says are not up to date with national health programmes, with an website to let people see if they are able for screenings for several common cancers.

In an effort to explain cancer checks and illustrate the benefit of prompt detection there will be a live broadcast from cancer clinics at two Cambridge hospitals in Cambridge.

"The goal is to reduce the stigma from preventative tests and demonstrate the public that they are not on their own in this," commented a presenter.

Available National Services

At present in the UK, there are several key national health screening services - for bowel, breast and cervical cancer - offered to eligible individuals.

A new preventative initiative is also being phased in for individuals at potential risk of contracting the condition, specifically targeting people of a certain age, who currently smoke or used to.

Men may request prostate cancer checks, but there is no national programme currently available.

Charitable Impact

The charity project, which has generated a significant sum over the past decade, is supporting 73 research studies involving thousands of patients.

His Majesty, in a statement for attendees at a gathering for support groups in earlier this year, had discussed understanding the "intimidating and at times frightening reality" for patients and their loved ones.

But he stated his personal journey of living with cancer had demonstrated that "the darkest moments of sickness can be alleviated by the kindness of others," as he thanked those who cared for those receiving treatment.

Royal representatives has not revealed what kind of cancer the King has, or what treatment he has been given. The King's cancer was detected subsequent to he had had a routine operation.