King Charles has ‘brief personal phone call’ with Rishi Sunak but will resume in-person audiences with the Prime Minister in two week’s time, Palace says as monarch battles cancer

King Charles has had a ‘brief personal call’ with Rishi Sunak today but is set to resume in-person audiences with the Prime Minister, Buckingham Palace says. 

The 75-year-old monarch had his weekly audience today over the phone following his cancer diagnosis.

But Charles is set to meet face-to-face with Mr Sunak in two weeks’ time for the next scheduled audience on February 21, the Palace says. 

Number 10 earlier today took the unusual step of revealing details about the phone call following an agreement with Buckingham Palace to disclose the information this afternoon.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said: ‘We don’t in general and we are not going to get into the habit of commenting on the PM’s conversations with the King.

‘But we have agreed with the Palace in this specific instance to confirm that they will be speaking on the phone later.’

The King’s cancer treatment as an outpatient started earlier this week, and he returned with Queen Camilla to his Sandringham home in Norfolk yesterday after seeing his son Prince Harry, who has flown back to the UK from California.

It comes as Prince William retuned to royal duties today and is now the monarchy’s most prominent public figure after the King’s diagnosis was revealed on Monday.

Earlier, Mr Sunak told the House of Commons: ‘I know the thoughts of the house and the country are with the king, and his family. We wish his majesty a speedy recovery and look forward to him resuming his public-facing duties in due course.’

King Charles III welcomes Rishi Sunak during an audience at Buckingham Palace in London in October 2022 where he invited him to become prime minister and form a new government

Charles has postponed all public-facing duties, but is continuing with behind-the-scenes work on his red boxes of state papers.

For some time William, as heir to the throne, will be the leading member of the royal family at official events across the country as his father receives treatment.

William began his working day today by hosting an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle, awarding honours like CBEs, OBEs and MBEs to recipients, and this evening he will attend a gala fundraising dinner in Central London for London’s Air Ambulance Charity.

The Prince may step in to represent his father at an event, but no engagements are scheduled at the moment and the royal palaces will make arrangements if the need arises.

William’s wife Kate Middleton left hospital last Monday and returned to Adelaide Cottage in Windsor to be reunited with her three children after undergoing planned abdominal surgery on January 16 at the London Clinic.

The Prince, 41, took time off work to support his family and planned to return once Kate’s care and recovery had settled, but the 42-year-old future queen is not expected to return to official duties until after Easter.

King Charles III arrives with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak for a reception at Buckingham Palace in London to mark the Global Investment Summit 2023 on November 27 last year

William last carried out a major royal event more than three weeks ago, when he travelled to Leeds to make former Leeds Rhinos team-mates Rob Burrow and Kevin Sinfield each a CBE for raising funds and awareness for motor neurone disease.

At the same private hospital that cared for Kate, the King received treatment for an enlarged prostate and was discharged the same day as his daughter-in-law, but on Monday evening, Buckingham Palace announced Charles had been diagnosed with a ‘form of cancer’.

The King is a constitutional monarch who must remain politically neutral.

He holds a regular audience with the Prime Minister, usually on a Wednesday at Buckingham Palace, which is expected to continue even if it is done remotely.

Charles will also continue to receive and review important documents in the red box used by the monarch and Government ministers.

The King is also expected to remain available for meetings of the Privy Council, which usually meets once a month.

This is the oldest form of legislative assembly still functioning in the UK, responsible for a number of executive responsibilities.

At each meeting the Council obtains the King’s formal approval of orders which have already been discussed and approved by ministers.

He also approves proclamations through Council, formal notices covering issues such as the summoning of a new Parliament, coinage and the dates of certain bank holidays.

King Charles III greets Prime Minister Rishi Sunak during a reception at Buckingham Palace in London ahead of the Cop27 summit on November 4, 2022

The King’s role in general elections will be a focus, as Mr Sunak has hinted he will send the country to the polls to elect a new Westminster government in the second half of this year.

The monarch dissolves Parliament before a general election.

The day after the vote, it is his duty to invite the leader of the party that won the most seats in the House of Commons to become Prime Minister and to form a government – one of the few remaining personal prerogatives of the sovereign.

It was one of Queen Elizabeth II’s last duties, just two days before she died, when she appointed Liz Truss prime minister, at Balmoral Castle.

It was the first time the Elizabeth II, who had mobility issues, carried out the key duty at her Scottish retreat rather than at Buckingham Palace.

Another one of the King’s official parliamentary roles is assenting to Bills passed by Parliament on the advice of ministers.

Legislation must receive his sign-off to become law. Royal Assent has not been refused since 1707.

It is also a long-established convention that the monarch is asked for consent to debate Bills which would affect the prerogative or interests of the Crown.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla wave as they leave by car from Clarence House yesterday

The King also opens Parliament in the annual State Opening ceremony and sets out the Government’s agenda in the King’s Speech.

Charles’ first State Opening of Parliament as King was in November, although he delivered the last Queen’s Speech of Elizabeth II’s reign in his mother’s place in 2022 after she dropped out due to health issues.

Traditionally the Lord Chancellor would read the speech on the sovereign’s behalf if he is unavailable.

He can summon new Parliaments on the Government’s advice, and open and close, or prorogue, each session of Parliament. The King also hosts heads of state visiting the UK.