Buckingham Palace announced on Monday that King Charles III has written to Joe Biden to express his support after the former U.S. president was diagnosed with an aggressive form of prostate cancer.
Charles, who is himself undergoing treatment for a yet-to-be-disclosed cancer, sent a personal note to Biden over the weekend, extending his best wishes in light of the diagnosis.
Biden, “82,” received the diagnosis on “Friday” with a “Gleason score of nine,” indicating a particularly aggressive type of prostate cancer, according to a statement issued by his office.
Though the cancer has reportedly spread to his bones, it remains hormone-sensitive, which means it can still be treated.
“While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive, which allows for effective management,” the statement said.
On Monday, Biden made his first post on social media since the diagnosis was made public, thanking people for their messages of encouragement.
“Cancer touches us all,” he wrote.
“Like so many of you, Jill and I have learned that we are strongest in the broken places. Thank you for lifting us up with love and support.”
The two leaders have had several meetings in recent years. Biden was in the UK for Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in 2022 and had bilateral discussions with Charles—then the Prince of Wales—during the 2021 COP26 climate conference in Glasgow.
In July 2023, Biden joined the King for tea at Windsor Castle. A spokesperson for the palace described their meeting as “extremely cordial.”
Biden had also expressed his concern when news broke of Charles’ own cancer diagnosis in 2024.
“I’m concerned about him. Just heard about his diagnosis. I’ll be talking to him, God willing,” Biden told reporters at the time.
Later, he shared: “Navigating a cancer diagnosis, treatment, and survivorship takes hope and absolute courage.”
During a visit to Bradford last week, Charles made a rare public statement about his health, telling a former patient that he hoped to be on the “better side” of his treatment soon.
Prostate cancer remains the most frequently diagnosed cancer in men in both the United States and the United Kingdom. The Gleason scoring system is used to assess how severe the cancer is, with higher scores pointing to more aggressive cases.
What you should know
Joe Biden has been diagnosed with a highly aggressive prostate cancer, while King Charles III is also undergoing cancer treatment.
Both leaders have expressed mutual concern and support, reflecting their ongoing relationship and shared health battles.
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