King Charles III has returned to his royal duties, marking his first appearance since publicly revealing his battle with cancer.
In a symbolic gesture, the monarch was photographed shaking hands with British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak upon his arrival at Buckingham Palace on Wednesday afternoon.
Their meeting signifies the resumption of their routine discussions on governmental matters, highlighting King Charles' commitment to his role as head of state despite temporarily scaling back public engagements for cancer treatment.
Photographs captured by the British news agency PA Media depict King Charles III, dressed in formal attire, warmly greeting Prime Minister Rishi Sunak with a genuine smile.
According to reports from PA Media, Sunak conveyed his support for the monarch, affirming, "We're all behind you. The country is all behind you."
In response, King Charles expressed gratitude for the overwhelming support he has received, admitting, "I've had so many wonderful messages and cards. It's reduced me to tears most of the time."
During their meeting, the pair discussed the impact of the King's illness on raising awareness for cancer charities, with King Charles acknowledging the vital role played by such organizations.
Prior to his meeting with the prime minister, King Charles presided over an in-person Privy Council at the royal residence, attended by ministers including Lord President of the Council Penny Mordaunt.
