King Charles III experienced a temporary health setback on Thursday, March 27, related to his ongoing cancer treatment, prompting a brief hospital stay and the postponement of several planned engagements, according to Buckingham Palace.

The 76-year-old monarch underwent scheduled cancer treatment on Thursday morning, after which he required what palace officials described as “a short period of observation in hospital” due to temporary side effects. Officials confirmed that Charles has since returned to Clarence House, his London residence, and is continuing to work on state papers and make calls from his study.

The palace statement indicated that all royal engagements scheduled for Thursday afternoon and Friday were postponed as a precautionary measure, acting on medical advice. The king had been set to receive ambassadors from three countries on Thursday, followed by four public engagements in Birmingham on Friday.

A palace spokesperson noted that Charles was “greatly disappointed” to miss the Birmingham visit and expressed his hope that the events could be rescheduled. “His majesty would like to send his apologies to all those who may be inconvenienced or disappointed as a result,” stated the official announcement from Buckingham Palace.

Queen Camilla did not accompany the king during his brief hospital stay at the London Clinic, the same private facility where he underwent a procedure for an enlarged prostate in January 2024. The queen instead attended a previously scheduled reception in Wembley, North London, on Thursday, according to reports.

The underlying message from palace sources has been one of reassurance. One source close to the royal household described the issue as a “most minor bump in a road that is very much heading in the right direction.” The palace has emphasized that there was no drama surrounding the hospital visit, with Charles traveling to the London Clinic by car rather than ambulance, and the announcement was made to maintain transparency about what they characterized as a minor issue.

King Charles has been undergoing treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer since February 2024, when the palace first announced his diagnosis. A source told NBC News in December that Charles’ treatment is “moving in a positive direction” and described the cancer as being in a “managed condition.” The treatment cycle is expected to continue during 2025.

Following his initial diagnosis, Charles stepped away from public-facing duties for approximately three months while beginning treatment. He returned to public engagements in April 2024, making his first official appearance at a cancer treatment center, where he connected with patients and medical staff while drawing on his own personal experience.

In the months since resuming public duties, the king has maintained a busy schedule, including foreign trips and numerous engagements. Just last week, Charles visited Northern Ireland with Queen Camilla, and earlier this month met with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. He was seen in public as recently as Wednesday, March 26, when he attended a reception at Buckingham Palace for media organizations and visited an exhibition at Somerset House in London.

Despite Thursday’s setback, the palace has indicated that the King and Queen Camilla are still expected to travel to Italy for a state visit in April, though their planned visit to the Vatican has been postponed as Pope Francis recovers from a recent illness.

The royal family has faced several health challenges over the past year. Charles’ daughter-in-law, Catherine, the Princess of Wales, was also diagnosed with cancer in early 2024. After approximately ten months of treatment, she announced that she was in remission and returned to public duties in late September.

While the palace has been transparent about the king’s cancer treatment, they have not disclosed the specific type of cancer. The king has appeared determined not to be defined by his illness, continuing to fulfill his duties as sovereign while adjusting his schedule in consultation with his medical team.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer’s office released a brief statement following the news of the king’s hospital visit, saying the Prime Minister “wishes His Majesty the King all the very best.”