King in good spirits after hospital visit for cancer treatment side effects

It is understood he is going to his Highgrove estate in Gloucestershire.

By contributor PA Reporter
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The King being driven from Clarence House
The King being driven from Clarence House (Ben Whitley/PA)

The King appeared in good spirits on Friday morning as he was seen in public for the first time since it was revealed he had been in hospital over side effects from his cancer treatment.

Charles, 76, smiled and waved at well-wishers as he left Clarence House in London in a black Audi.

It is understood he is going to his Highgrove estate in Gloucestershire.

Crowds look on as a car containing the King drives along The Mall
The King was being driven by car from Clarence House along The Mall towards Buckingham Palace (Ben Whitley/PA)

Buckingham Palace announced on Thursday night the King “required a short period of observation in hospital” earlier that day.

Planned engagements in Birmingham on Friday were cancelled to prioritise his recovery as a precautionary measure.

A source described it as a “most minor bump in a road that is very much heading in the right direction”.

The King sitting in the back of a car with the window half down
The King’s planned engagements for Friday were cancelled (Yui Mok/PA)

The King visited the London Clinic on Thursday morning and travelled to and from the hospital by car. He was not joined by the Queen during his brief stay.

Buckingham Palace said in a statement: “Following scheduled and ongoing medical treatment for cancer this morning, the King experienced temporary side effects that required a short period of observation in hospital.

“His Majesty’s afternoon engagements were therefore postponed.”

The palace added: “His Majesty would like to send his apologies to all those who may be inconvenienced or disappointed as a result”.