King Charles has been pictured at work for the first time since his cancer diagnosis, after holding an audience with Rishi Sunak at Buckingham Palace.
The 75-year-old monarch met with the prime minister late Wednesday afternoon, marking the restart of their weekly meetings to discuss government matters.
It is the first time the King has been filmed carrying out official duties since his shock diagnosis, which forced him to withdraw from public engagements while he undergoes treatment.
“It's wonderful to see you looking so good,” Mr Sunak said, and the king jokingly replied: “It's all made of mirrors.”
He spoke of being overwhelmed with emotion at the outpouring of public support, telling Mr Sunak: “I have received so many wonderful messages and cards. He has made me cry most of the time.”
After greeting the King with a handshake, Mr Sunak told him: “We are all behind you. “The whole country supports you.”
Rishi Sunak told the monarch 'We are all behind you' during a meeting at Buckingham Palace
(Jonathan Brady/PA Wire)
They also discussed the attention that has been placed on cancer charities, with the King describing them as “wonderful”.
Since announcing he had begun outpatient treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer just over two weeks ago, he has continued to deal with his red boxes of state documents behind the scenes and has been seen attending Sandringham church services.
Before meeting the Prime Minister, he held an in-person Privy Council at the royal residence, where attendees included the Lord President of the Council, Penny Mordaunt, and a selection of other ministers who are Privy Councillors.
Traditionally, the King and Privy Councilors remain standing throughout the meeting due to etiquette requirements, but Buckingham Palace has not yet commented on whether this rule was followed this afternoon.
He met Sunak shortly afterwards, just a day after the king's son and heir, the Prince of Wales, risked controversy by issuing a strong appeal for peace in Gaza.
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