NEED TO KNOW
- PEOPLE can confirm that King Charles wrote a personal note to Joe Biden following the former president’s cancer diagnosis.
- Biden’s office shared a statement on May 18 revealing that he had been diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer and was reviewing treatment options.
- King Charles is also currently undergoing treatment for an undisclosed type of cancer.
King Charles has reached out to former President Joe Biden following the news of his cancer diagnosis, PEOPLE has learned.
Buckingham Palace has confirmed that the King, who is currently being treated for an as-yet undisclosed type of cancer, personally penned the message of support. The contents of the letter remain private.
On Sunday, May 18, Biden’s office shared a statement revealing that the former president, 82, had been diagnosed with aggressive prostate cancer after recently seeing a doctor.
“Last week, President Joe Biden was seen for a new finding of a prostate nodule after experiencing increasing urinary symptoms,” the statement said.
“On Friday, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer, characterized by a Gleason score of 9 (Grade Group 5) with metastasis to the bone,” the statement continued. “While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive which allows for effective management. The President and his family are reviewing treatment options with his physicians.”
On Monday, Biden thanked supporters for their well-wishes in a post on X alongside a photo of himself with his wife, former First Lady Dr. Jill Biden, and their cat, Willow.
“Cancer touches us all,’ Biden 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.”
In February 2024, Buckingham Palace officially announced that King Charles, 76, had been diagnosed with cancer and was beginning treatment.
While he was initially hospitalised for an enlarged prostate a month prior, palace sources have since clarified that the King’s condition is not prostate cancer.
Shortly after the news broke, Biden expressed his “concern” for the King, adding that “God willing,” he’d be speaking to him soon in better health.
CHRIS JACKSON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
The leaders have met in person several times, including back when Biden was vice president and King Charles was the Prince of Wales. Biden was the 13th and final U.S. president that Queen Elizabeth met with prior to her death in September 2022, and the first that King Charles met with after succeeding his mother on the throne.
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Biden and King Charles have also been correspondents throughout the years, particularly about their shared passion for climate change.
In October 2024, the British Embassy confirmed that the King had sent Biden a note of condolence following the destruction of Hurricane Helene.
“As the clean-up from devastating Hurricane Helene continues, King Charles has sent a message of condolence to President Joe Biden expressing his sadness and sympathy for the tragic loss of life,” the statement read. “He also commended the bravery of emergency responders in incredibly difficult times.”
