Monarch to Broadcast Intimate Message on Illness in Television Address

His Majesty has taped a personal message about his experience with cancer, which will be broadcast as part of this year's annual cancer awareness drive, run by Cancer Research UK and Channel 4.

Official sources said the King would reflect on his "recovery journey" as a person living with the disease, in a televised statement on Friday at 20:00 GMT.

The message, recorded at his London residence a fortnight ago, will stress the critical nature of cancer screening checks to ensure more people catch the condition at an initial point.

This will be a infrequent public commentary on the health of the Sovereign, who has been receiving ongoing care since his condition was announced in early last year. But it is thought unlikely the King will identify his specific form of cancer.

Fundraising Central Purpose

The Stand Up To Cancer initiative each year raises funds for clinical trials and treatment and prompts people to get health assessments to increase the chances of an early diagnosis.

The King's relative openness about his condition, and living with cancer, has been designed to promote education and to encourage more people to get checked - and this will be taken a step further with this exceptional royal involvement.

So far the King's primary strategy to his cancer has been to continue his schedule, preserving a full diary alongside his ongoing course of treatment, and he is understood not to have wanted to be characterised by his diagnosis.

Recently has seen the 77-year-old Monarch, undertaking several international tours, such as visits to Italy and Canada, and hosting the largest volume of inward state visits to the UK for almost 40 years, including the German president last week.

Friday's Special Show

Friday evening's charity show on the network, hosted by presenters such as several TV personalities, will encourage people not to be frightened of getting health screenings.

Each presenter have been personally touched by cancer - one host disclosed recently she had received treatment for breast cancer, while another presenter was treated for thyroid cancer in the past. Presenter Adam Hills has previously mentioned his parent, who had a diagnosis and then later another illness.

The broadcast will reach out to the estimated 9m people in the UK who Cancer Research UK estimate are not current with national health programmes, with an digital tool to let people determine if they are able for tests for breast, bowel and cervical cancer.

In an bid to clarify cancer checks and illustrate the importance of timely identification there will be a live broadcast from cancer clinics at two Cambridge hospitals in Cambridge.

"I want to remove the anxiety out of health checks and prove all people that they are not isolated in this," commented one of the hosts.

Available Screening Programmes

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

A new preventative initiative is also being slowly rolled out for anyone at potential risk of being diagnosed with the condition, primarily aimed at people of a certain age, who have a smoking history or were former smokers.

Men may discuss prostate screenings, but there is not a universal scheme operational.

Charitable Impact

The Stand Up to Cancer campaign, which has generated over one hundred million pounds for many years, is funding dozens of medical projects encompassing thousands of patients.

The Monarch, in a address for dignitaries at a event for cancer charities in April, had discussed recognising the "intimidating and at times scary situation" for patients and their support networks.

But he stated his personal journey of coping with cancer had revealed that "the most difficult times of illness can be alleviated by the greatest compassion," as he praised those who looked after individuals with the illness.

The Palace has not disclosed the nature of cancer the King has, or the medical care he has undergone. The King's cancer was identified subsequent to he had undergone a prostate procedure.