King to Deliver Intimate Address on Illness in Nationwide Programme

His Majesty has taped a first-hand account regarding his battle with cancer, which will be broadcast as part of this year's Stand Up To Cancer initiative, spearheaded by a leading cancer charity and Channel 4.

Buckingham Palace said the King would talk about his "healing process" as a person living with the disease, in a televised statement on Friday at 8pm UK time.

The message, taped inside Clarence House two weeks ago, will highlight the vital significance of cancer screening checks to increase the likelihood more people diagnose the disease at an treatable phase.

This will be a rare update on the health of the Monarch, who has been undergoing regular treatment since the news was shared in early last year. However, it is believed improbable the King will specify his particular diagnosis.

Fundraising Core Mission

The awareness initiative each year collects money for clinical trials and therapies and urges people to get health assessments to increase the chances of an timely detection.

The King's public discussion about his condition, and living with cancer, has been intended to raise awareness and to persuade more people to get checked - and this will be advanced with this unique personal contribution.

So far the King's primary strategy to his cancer has been to keep working, maintaining a hectic timetable in spite of his regular rounds of therapy, and he appears not to have desired to be defined by his condition.

Recently has seen the King, 77, embarking on several overseas trips, such as visits to Italy and Canada, and hosting the highest tally of foreign dignitaries to the UK for decades, including the German president last week.

The Televised Special Show

The upcoming Stand Up to Cancer show on Channel 4, featuring celebrities including Davina McCall, Adam Hills and Clare Balding, will appeal to people not to be afraid of getting preventative tests.

Each presenter have been personally touched by cancer - Davina McCall said in November she had undergone surgery for breast cancer, while another presenter was overcame a thyroid condition over a decade ago. Host Hills has previously spoken about his late father, who had one form of cancer and then later blood cancer.

The programme will reach out to the approximate 9m people in the UK who health organisations says are not current with NHS screening schemes, with an website to let people see if they are able for screenings for key health indicators.

In an effort to explain screenings and demonstrate the benefit of timely identification there will be a direct feed from cancer clinics at two Cambridge hospitals in Cambridge.

"My aim is to take the fear from cancer screening and show everyone that they are not alone in this," said one of the hosts.

Understanding Health Checks

Right now in the UK, there are a number of national health screening services - for bowel, breast and cervical cancer - available to eligible individuals.

A recently launched scheme for lung health is also being gradually implemented for anyone at increased risk of developing the illness, focusing on people of a certain age, who currently smoke or have smoked in the past.

Male patients may request specific tests, but there is no national programme currently available.

Funding Research

The charity project, which has generated £113m for many years, is funding 73 clinical trials involving thousands of patients.

King Charles, in a address for attendees at a gathering for support groups in April, had spoken of understanding the "intimidating and at times scary situation" for patients and their support networks.

But he noted his personal journey of living with cancer had revealed that "the most difficult times of sickness can be illuminated by the greatest compassion," as he commended those who supported cancer patients.

Official sources has not made public the nature of cancer the King has, or the therapies he has been given. The King's cancer was identified after he had had a medical treatment.