“Cancer didn’t bring me to my knees,” said Hollywood star Michael Douglas after surviving oral cancer a few years ago, “it brought me
to my feet.
I thought of this inspiring quote when I saw King Charles make his
return of public engagement Tuesday.
Bentley almost came out of his state, beaming with joy, and
sporting his favorite Tyrannosaurus Rex dinosaur tie.
I suspect the tie wasn’t an accidental fashion statement: the T-Rex was known as the king of the dinosaurs and one of the toughest and longest-lived creatures in history, only to have been extinct than by a huge asteroid hitting planet Earth.
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Charles was clearly absolutely delighted to be back
once again, with his faithful and beloved wife, Queen Camilla, by his side, making
the work he loves.
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And it was only natural that he chose the famous London district
Macmillan Cancer Center will re-emerge on the public stage, given that
he himself has spent the last few months being treated for cancer.
The first part of the visit was business as usual with royal business, as he posed for photographers, waved to the waiting crowds and walked in to greet staff who were cheering him on.
But it was when he met other cancer patients upstairs while they were sitting
in chairs for their chemotherapy treatment that I carried out
something profound had changed in our new monarch.
I have attended many events with Charles over the years and his
interactions with the public have always been reasonably superficial.
He will exchange a quick word, or joke, perhaps shake hands or pose for
a photo, then quickly move on.
He rarely stays with a person for more than about 30 seconds.
But it looked and felt very different.
King Charles cancer update a ‘remarkable turnaround’ after ‘difficult’ months of worry for royal family
He spent a lot more time talking to patients,
and with much greater intensity and focus on what they said to him.
It wasn’t hard to see why: he’s in the same boat when it comes to health
they are all stuck in the same turbulent and dangerous ocean of cancer,
paddle for his life.
As Charles stood up, he suddenly took her hand in his and held it for several long seconds.
Pier Morgan
Cancer is the greatest leveler; no matter the wealth,
whether you’re famous, old, or privileged, it can hit anyone at any time.
And it gave the king and his people a raw, visceral feeling
an experience he has never had before.
He sat down with Lesley Woodbridge, 63, who was undergoing her second round of chemo, and they had a long conversation.
“How are you doing?” she asked after he asked her about her own condition.
“Not too bad,” he replied. “It’s always a bit of a shock, isn’t it,
when they tell you? »
She nodded knowingly.
Then, as Charles got up to leave a few minutes later, he
took her hand in his and held it for several long seconds.
It wasn’t his normal handshake, with his right hand.
He used his left hand, which felt much more personal and intimate.
I’ve never seen him so comfortable
And it was a deeply moving moment between two people who had never met before and will almost certainly never see each other again, but who immediately felt connected because they were both going through a very difficult physical, emotional and scary time.
I don’t remember ever seeing Charles be so touchy with
audience, but he’s probably never felt so in tune with the regulars
British.
There was even time for laughter, as he exchanged wry laughs with a man who had lost his hair to chemo.
This man also received the special left handshake.
Like many others.
There was a connection because he knew what it felt like
Patient who met Charles
And all the patients he met understood the importance of it
much more tactile approach.
“Charles held my hand for a while and patted me on the
shoulder,” said one lady afterwards, “and I also found myself tapping
him, and asked him how he was, and he said he was getting there.
“So there was a connection because he knew what it felt like to be a
patient and I know he is going through something.
One of my best friends unfortunately suffers from brain cancer and
is very irritated by well-meaning people who tell him to “keep
to fight” or question him about his “journey”, or the horror of horrors,
while reflecting on the “learnings” he learned from his ordeal.
As he explained to me, he has no choice
“fighting” cancer, he is on an endless and dark “journey”, and the only
The significant “learning” he gleaned was that red wine tastes horrible on
chemo.
CHARLES WAS ONE OF THEM
But what he found incredibly helpful was talking to others around him.
situation, because only they can really know what he’s going through,
and how he feels.
Looking at Charles during his hospital visit, I’m sure it was
exactly the same experience for him.
All family and friends in the world can get cancer and
feel great sympathy for them, but only those who have experienced it themselves can fully understand the importance of empathy based on shared experience.
Suddenly, King Charles no longer considered the people he encountered to be his subjects.
or simple commoners whose lives are extremely detached from his own
rarefied and sumptuous royal world.
He saw them simply as cancer patients and sufferers, people who were all
going through the same thing as him, with the same fears and worries, all having to face their mortality in the same way he must now.
And it gave them real, tangible, searing honest emotion.
a connection I’ve honestly never seen before between Charles and the audience.
ECHOES OF DIANE
Ironically, it reminded me so much of his late ex-wife, Princess Diana.
who had such a natural and easy warmth with people.
Charles’ visit and accompanying announcement that he was to become the patron saint of cancer also had a higher purpose.
Research UK, a patronage previously held by his late grandmother
Queen Elizabeth II.
He wants to use his own health crisis to make a real difference.
On several occasions, knowing deliberately that the cameras were on him, he made a point of saying that it was so important for people to be seen and
treated early enough to survive the cancer.
This is one of the main reasons why he made his diagnosis public, the Palace told the media, to raise awareness and encourage people to see a doctor and get tested if they have symptoms.
A DEEP CONNECTION
“I appreciate what you do,” said one patient, “thank you
such. We all need to stick together!”
“Yes!” exclaimed Charles (who revealed to another patient that he was
he will have his treatment later today.)
And he really meant it.
I doubt the king ever felt a deeper or more intimate connection with his people.
As he left, he met and exchanged gifts with two young children being treated for cancer at the hospital – Ellis, 11, and Della, 6, who is suffering from a brain tumor.
He put his hand on Della’s shoulder to comfort him and didn’t need it.
say anything.
They are in the same boat.
