Former royal butler Paul Burrell has commended King Charles for his openness about his prostate condition, stating that it will 'save lives'. The 65-year-old, who served Diana, Princess of Wales, appeared on ITV's Lorraine on Monday to praise the monarch for 'leading the nation in this issue'.
Last week, it was announced that King Charles had been diagnosed with an enlarged prostate and would undergo a corrective procedure at hospital this week. Aides confirmed the condition was benign and that his engagements would be postponed for a short period of recuperation.
Burrell, who was given the 'all clear' from prostate cancer last year, said the King's decision to speak publicly about his health was significant. 'Usually the royals don't talk about their medical problems but this time he has,' he said. 'His issues and his condition is very different to mine but similar in other ways, it will be uncomfortable for him but his message is clear, he wants people to know about it and he wants people to come forward.'
Burrell emphasised the importance of early detection, urging men over 50 to request a PSA blood test from their GP. He highlighted that one in four black men are likely to develop prostate cancer and encouraged them to get tested. 'Well done King Charles for leading the nation in this issue, it's very much a forgotten and hidden issue,' he added.
Burrell also shared his own health journey, revealing that his prostate-specific antigen levels had dropped significantly following treatment. He credited his participation in I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out of Here! with saving his life, as routine medical tests for the show detected raised PSA levels, leading to his cancer diagnosis.
