King to Share Personal Message on His Health Battle in TV Programme

His Majesty has filmed a personal message about his journey with cancer, set to air as part of this year's fundraising campaign, run by a leading cancer charity and a major network.

Buckingham Palace stated the King would talk about his "recovery journey" as a cancer patient, in a video message on Friday at 20:00 GMT.

The recording, recorded at Clarence House a fortnight ago, will emphasise the critical nature of routine screenings to ensure more people detect the illness at an initial point.

This will be a infrequent public commentary on the medical condition of the Sovereign, who has been undergoing regular treatment since the news was shared in early last year. But it is thought unlikely the King will disclose his particular diagnosis.

The Campaign's Core Mission

The awareness initiative each year raises funds for medical research and therapies and prompts people to get check-ups to boost the chances of an early diagnosis.

The King's relative openness about his condition, and living with cancer, has been designed to raise awareness and to persuade more people to get tested - and this will be escalated with this unique royal involvement.

To date the King's main approach to his cancer has been to maintain his duties, upholding a full diary alongside his frequent sessions of treatment, and he is understood not to have wanted to be characterised by his diagnosis.

The past twelve months has seen the King, 77, embarking on several international tours, such as visits to Italy and Canada, and welcoming the largest volume of inward state visits to the UK for a generation, which included the German president last week.

The Televised Broadcast Event

Friday evening's charity show on television, featuring presenters including Davina McCall, Adam Hills and Clare Balding, will urge people not to be afraid of getting health screenings.

Each presenter have been personally touched by cancer - McCall revealed recently she had received treatment for breast cancer, while another presenter was treated for the illness over a decade ago. Comedian Adam Hills has previously mentioned his father, who had stomach cancer and then later another illness.

The show will appeal to the estimated 9m people in the UK who health organisations state are not current with NHS screening schemes, with an digital tool to let people see if they are eligible for screenings for key health indicators.

In an effort to explain health tests and illustrate the benefit of timely identification there will be a direct feed from treatment centres at two Cambridge hospitals in Cambridge.

"My aim is to take the fear out of preventative tests and demonstrate all people that they are not on their own in this," commented Davina McCall.

Available National Services

Currently in the UK, there are three national health screening services - for specific cancers - accessible for specific demographics.

A recently launched scheme for lung health is also being phased in for anyone at potential risk of contracting the illness, specifically targeting people of a certain age, who are smokers or have smoked in the past.

Male patients may request specific tests, but there is lacking a standardised service in place.

Charitable Impact

The charity project, which has raised a significant sum since 2012, is financing multiple medical projects involving 13,000 patients.

His Majesty, in a statement for guests at a gathering for cancer charities in earlier this year, had referred to acknowledging the "daunting and at times scary situation" for those diagnosed and their loved ones.

But he said his experience of living with cancer had revealed that "the most difficult times of disease can be alleviated by the greatest compassion," as he commended those who cared for cancer patients.

Official sources has not disclosed the specific type of cancer the King has, or the medical care he has been given. The King's cancer was discovered after he had received a medical treatment.