King seen at work for first time since cancer diagnosis

Image source, PA Media

The King told the PM how much the messages of goodwill had meant to him

King Charles has been pictured meeting Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the first time he has been seen back at work since revealing his cancer diagnosis.

The monarch shook hands with Mr Sunak as he arrived for the Buckingham Palace audience on Wednesday afternoon.

"Wonderful to see you looking so well," said Mr Sunak to the King.

"It's all done with mirrors," the King joked in reply, who said the messages and cards sent to him had "reduced me to tears".

While he receives treatment the King has stopped carrying out public engagements, but is continuing with his duties as head of state.

A camera recorded as Mr Sunak arrived in the palace's Audience Room and as they sat down, the King spoke of his admiration for cancer charities. But the rest of their meeting was held in private as usual.

Image source, PA Media

The King and Queen were seen attending church in Sandringham on Sunday

The King has been seen heading to church in Sandringham and being driven to and from Clarence House in London, but this was the first sight of him in such a formal setting since his cancer diagnosis was announced more than two weeks ago.

Earlier this afternoon, the King attended the monthly meeting of the Privy Council, a body of advisers to the monarch, mostly made up of senior politicians from the House of Commons and House of Lords.

Since his diagnosis with an unspecified type of cancer, the King has been receiving treatment as an outpatient.

He has continued with the administrative side of his role, such as dealing with government papers in their red boxes and signing documents.

But he has stepped back from the round of royal visits where he would usually meet the public or attend events.

Wednesday's meeting with Mr Sunak was the confidential audience between the King and prime minister, usually held each week.

They were seen going into the ornately decorated Audience Room, with its 18th Century Canaletto painting of the River Thames.

The meeting is a traditional opportunity for the politically-neutral monarch to talk about current affairs of state with the prime minister of the day.

Previous prime ministers have spoken of these meetings as a chance to talk about ideas outside the usual party political pressures.

Edward Heath, Conservative prime minister in the 1970s, said of his meetings with Queen Elizabeth II: "It was always a relief to be able to discuss everything with someone, knowing full well that there was not the slightest danger of any information leaking."

Labour's Harold Wilson, who was said to have got on well with the late Queen, had meetings that grew longer, stretching on occasion to two hours.