Vanity Fair: King Charles Overwhelmed by 7,000 Get Well Soon Cards After Cancer Diagnosis

By Erin Vanderhoof

In a recent meeting with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, King Charles III openly shared that he was moved to tears by the sheer number of supportive cards he received after his cancer diagnosis. Buckingham Palace shared a video this Saturday in which the king is seen reviewing a handful of these cards, some of which brought laughter amidst the heartfelt messages.

The video, made accessible through the official social media platforms of the royal family, disclosed that over seven thousand cards and letters were received after the king made his diagnosis public during a benign prostate enlargement procedure. While he has stepped back from his public duties for his outpatient cancer treatment, the king continues to attend governmental meetings and receive his usual red leather box filled with daily papers and letters. The palace correspondence team added a batch of supportive letters and cards into his daily delivery. The palace expressed gratitude to all who sent their sentiments and informed that the king has read a selection of these messages.

The video highlights not only sincere messages from those who shared their own cancer experiences but also a few of the more humorous ones. One such message includes a card with a dog wearing a translucent plastic collar, humorously captioned, “At least you don’t have to wear a cone.” Other messages contained typically British advice about handling the challenges of cancer treatment, advising to stay positive and strong.

The last public event the king attended was on January 25th, wherein he received Dame Polly Courtice from Cambridge’s Institute for Sustainability Leadership and Professor Robert Miller from the Whittle Laboratory at Sandringham. He continues to release statements and share photographs of his customary walks to the church. This Saturday, he conveyed his support for the Ukrainian people on the two-year anniversary of Russia’s onslaught, referencing his meetings with President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and First Lady Olena Zelenska.

King Charles admires the perseverance and courage of the Ukrainian people, who continue to hold their ground and demonstrate valor in their third year of dealing with the unprovoked aggression. The king expressed his personal connection with the Ukrainians' cause, owing to his interactions with various Ukrainians ranging from President Zelenskyy and Mrs. Zelenska to new military recruits trained in the United Kingdom.