King Charles has completed a nine-day tour of the Caribbean, carrying out around 40 engagements in scorching heat, and a senior royal aide has offered an update on his health following his cancer diagnosis in early 2024.
The King, who will be 78 in November, travelled across the Bahamas, Guyana and Antigua and Barbuda, attending dinners, speaking to locals and addressing Commonwealth leaders.
Aide: 'He copes better than I do'
Asked about the King's current state of health, a senior royal aide said: "I think probably the best response to that is a picture of a man about to turn 78 wangling the cowbells as he jives down the street in nearly 40 degree heat."
The aide added: "When the engagement finished, I get in the car next to him and say: 'Crikey, I'm hot'. He says, 'Oh, never mind.' So no, he copes. I mean, frankly, he copes better with it than I do, and I'm younger than him. This is literally what he was born to do, he's very good at it, and he enjoys the reaction he gets from people in the doing of it."
Tour described as 'complex' and 'exhausting'
The aide described the visit as "complex", "challenging" and "exhausting", adding: "It's been a hot tour across nine days, across three countries… But the takeaway is that it's been very successful, and I think the King has demonstrated his statecraft both by word and deed."
The tour drew significant attention as Charles faced pressure and calls to issue an apology for Britain's role in the slave trade. While the King did not apologise, the tour featured several moments of reflection as Charles addressed the past.
