His moving comment shows how his illness is bringing him closer to his people than ever before. The outpouring of love he has received over the past few weeks, has highlighted to the monarch the deep affection the nation has for him – and that will undoubtedly fuel him over the coming months.
The King may have spent less than 18 months on the throne, but he’s spent decades working tirelessly for the public and the institution itself and has earned a special place in the hearts of the nation.
Charles will be remembered for his fierce campaigning on environmental and sustainability issues that he championed long before the topic of climate change entered the mainstream.
And from what we’ve seen so far, it seems inevitable that instead of winding down his workload, he’ll want to press on with his passions with even more vigour.
Last year he turned his efforts to campaigning on food poverty by launching an ambitious Coronation Food Project that aimed to reduce food waste.
King Charles was keen to make tackling food insecurity the first major project of his reign so we may well see him doubling down on his efforts later this year.
Let’s not forget he also urged Britons to volunteer and build “kinder, closer communities” in a second Big Help Out last month – just days after returning home following his prostate surgery.
This announcement was a sure hint of both his hardworking nature and commitment to carry on no matter his own personal circumstances. And the public can expect more of this as he looks to focus on the good of the country and the Commonwealth rather than his own health concerns.
The King’s determination to appear in public and carry on with official duties reveals Charles’s incredible strength of character.
It also highlights the depth of his emotional connection with his people, which he is displaying to the nation in the way the late Queen would never contemplate.
