The monarch announced his diagnosis with an undisclosed type of cancer in 2024

King Charles visits Guy’s Cancer Centre on May 11, 2026.Credit : Eddie Mulholland-WPA Pool/Getty

King Charles empathized with a side effect of cancer treatment as he met a patient during a hospital visit.

The 77-year-old British monarch, who is undergoing continued treatment for an undisclosed type of cancer, toured Guy’s Cancer Centre on Monday, May 11, to celebrate 300 years of Guy’s Hospital and to learn about research projects from the hospital and King’s College in London, one of his many patronages.

During the visit, the King met Raymond Burgess, a patient undergoing chemotherapy. While chatting with the sovereign, Burgess said his treatment leaves him with a bad taste in his mouth, and King Charles instantly related.

“It’s an awful sort of metallic taste,” the King replied, according to The Telegraph. “It doesn’t exactly help with eating.”

King Charles visits Guy’s Cancer Centre in London on May 11, 2026.Eddie Mulholland-WPA Pool/Getty

During the visit, King Charles also met with medical professionals and researchers, learning how medical teams are using AI and robotics to treat patients.

After revealing he was diagnosed with cancer in 2024, King Charles has continued to receive treatment into this year. In December, the royal shared a positive development in his health journey in a pre-recorded message for Channel 4’s Stand Up To Cancer broadcast.

“Today, I am able to share with you the good news that thanks to early diagnosis, effective intervention and adherence to ‘doctors’ orders,’ my own schedule of cancer treatment can be reduced in the New Year,” the King said. “This milestone is both a personal blessing and a testimony to the remarkable advances that have been made in cancer care in recent years; testimony that I hope may give encouragement to the 50% of us who will be diagnosed with the illness at some point in our lives.”

King Charles visits Guy’s Cancer Centre in London on May 11, 2026.Eddie Mulholland-WPA Pool/Getty

While avoiding the word “remission,” a Buckingham Palace spokesperson confirmed that the King’s recovery reached a notably positive stage.

“His Majesty has responded exceptionally well to treatment, and his doctors advise that ongoing measures will now move into a precautionary phase,” the spokesperson said. “This position will be continuously monitored and reviewed to protect and prioritize his continued recovery.”