Prince Andrew was spotted riding his horse in Windsor today, just hours before it was announced that his brother the King has cancer.
Buckingham Palace announced in a shocking statement this evening that Charless has been diagnosed with a form of cancer. It is not believed to be a prostate.
A smiling Prince Andrew was seen riding his horse in Windsor earlier today.
The 63-year-old Duke of York was joined by two female companions for the drive through Windsor Great Park – not far from his seven-bedroom home, the Royal Lodge. Andrew appeared relaxed as he chatted to the pair on a cloudy day in Berkshire.
It is not related to his recent surgery and is not prostate cancer, but doctors discovered it when he underwent medical surgery for an enlarged prostate.
Buckingham Palace said in a statement this evening: “Another problem was noted during the King's recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement.” Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a type of cancer.
“His Majesty began a regular treatment plan today, during which he was advised by doctors to postpone public duties.” During this time, His Majesty will continue to conduct state business and official paperwork as usual.
Prince Andrew was spotted horse riding in Windsor Great Park with two female companions today
Andrew appeared relaxed as he chatted to the pair on a cloudy day in Berkshire
King Charles has been diagnosed with cancer, Buckingham Palace announced in a statement this evening. Above: Charles was last seen waving to well-wishers as he attended a service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham, Norfolk, on Sunday with his wife Queen Camilla
Buckingham Palace said in a statement this evening: “Another problem was noted during the King's recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement.” Subsequent diagnostic tests have identified a form of cancer.
“The King is grateful to his medical team for the rapid intervention made possible thanks to his recent hospital procedure.” He remains absolutely positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to public service as soon as possible.
“His Majesty has decided to share his diagnosis to avoid speculation and in the hope that it may contribute to the public’s understanding of all people affected by cancer around the world.”
Reacting to the news, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak tweeted: “I wish His Majesty a full and speedy recovery.”
“I have no doubt he will be back to full strength in no time and I know the whole country will wish him well.”
Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer tweeted: “On behalf of the Labor Party, I wish His Majesty all the best in his recovery.”
“We look forward to seeing him back to full health soon.”
House of Commons Speaker Sir Lindsay Hoyle told MPs: “I know the whole House would like to join me in expressing our condolences to His Majesty the King following the announcement this evening.”
“Our thoughts are of course with His Majesty and his family and, following today’s news, we would all like to send him our very best wishes for successful treatment and a speedy recovery.”
The diagnosis is also likely to be professionally devastating for Charles, who was the longest-serving heir to the throne in British history before becoming king following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth, on September 8, 2022.
Since then he has hit the ground running with three state visits abroad, hosted two state visits to the UK and made hundreds of public appearances each year, maintaining a rigorous official workload well into his 70s.
Aides said he enjoyed the challenge and was thoroughly enjoying his royal role.
The king's diagnosis will raise serious questions for the functioning of the monarchy, with fewer working members of the royal family and the Princess of Wales out of action until after Easter due to so-called “abdominal surgery”.
The Holiday's Rufus Sewell will soon play Andrew in a film that tells the story of his infamous 2019 interview with the BBC's Emily Maitlis, played by Sex Education star Gillian Anderson.
Sewell reportedly spent up to three hours a day in the make-up chair per shoot to resemble the disgraced Duke of York, while his co-star Anderson studied the interview and previous episodes of Newsnight for the role of Maitlis .
Set to hit Netflix sometime this spring, the film will take a behind-the-scenes look at how the interview was secured and the events surrounding the interview as it pays homage to the work of the four women responsible.
This weekend it emerged that Andrew will also be the subject of another film recounting his crash.
The film examines the Duke of York's “character arc” from “war hero” and “favourite of the Queen” to the scandal surrounding his close friendship with pedophile sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, which led to his resignation from royal duties in 2019.
The program is produced by the award-winning production company Sandpaper Films, known for its work with top streaming services Netflix, Apple and Amazon.
Sandpaper has made several films about the royal family, including the 2017 film Diana, 7 Days, which analyzed their final days and featured interviews with Prince William and Prince Harry.
Other productions covered the 2012 war crimes trial of genocidal Bosnian Serb military leader Ratko Mladic and the Rochdale sex trafficking ring.
In contrast, the upcoming Netflix show is based on 'Scoops' by Sam McAlister, also known as 'Booker extraordinaire' on Newsnight after he successfully negotiated and secured the interview in which the Duke discussed his friendship with the recently Convicted sex offender Jeffery Epstein was questioned.
McAlister herself is portrayed on screen by former Doctor Who actress Billie Piper, who joins a star-studded cast including Ashes To Ashes' Keeley Hawes, who plays Amanda Thirsk – the Duke's right-hand woman – and Romola Garai, who plays Esme Wren Newsnight editor, plays .
The upcoming Netflix drama about the now infamous interview between the Duke of York and the BBC's Emily Maitlis has an uncanny resemblance between the actors
Sex Education star Gillian Anderson and The Holiday's Rufus Sewell play respected presenter and disgraced Prince Andrew
Gillian Anderson plays the BBC's Emily Maitlis
The Palace is already prepared for two upcoming television dramas recreating the Newsnight interview. Netflix's “Scoop” wrapped filming last year and Amazon Prime's “A Very Royal Scandal” is believed to have finished filming just a few months ago
Duke of York speaks for the first time about his links to Jeffrey Epstein in an interview with BBC Newsnight's Emily Maitlis
McAlister said: “It's rare that you see a representation of women in their 40s and 50s. “This is an opportunity to see hard-working women behind the scenes at every stage,” she told the Telegraph.
He was there during filming and described Anderson's resemblance to Emily Maitlis as “amazing”.
She said: “It was like she was with Emily, everything about her was physical and her performance depended on money.”
“They also have similar intellects.” Emily is very methodical. She worked very hard, studied at every interview she trained and my impression of Gillian was exactly the same.
“She studied the material, she studied Emily, and she worked on this project both intellectually and dramatically.”
Sam McAlister is also known as the “booker extraordinaire” on Newsnight, having successfully negotiated and secured the interview
Phillip Martin, the director of Scoop, added: “Rufus (Sewell) spent about three hours in the make-up chair. He started early in the morning and had to go through this weird process of putting on a bald wig before the other things went on.
“We worked very hard to make all the prosthetics flexible and light enough so he could get through anything.”
“There are no prosthetics with Gillian – it’s makeup, a wig and mannerisms.”
Both actors spent hours watching the interview as part of their preparation, and Anderson also studied Maitlis' presentation style on Newsnight.
Martin added: “Sometimes people manage to do a really brilliant impersonation but don't capture anything.”
“What Gillian and Rufus have done so brilliantly is capture the spirit of the people they play in a way that feels real.”
The room at Buckingham Palace where the interview was conducted is also recreated down to the smallest detail and the camera angles from the original BBC interview are adjusted frame for frame.
However, the film, written by Steven Moffat, will not be a mere massacre of the Duke.
McAlister continued: “We don't take sides – we don't say, 'Oh, isn't he great' or 'Oh, isn't he evil'.”
“It’s up to the viewer to draw their own conclusions.”
Martin added: “I think a lot of people would get bogged down because they didn't want to give the impression that they approved or disapproved of Andrew.” Rufus wasn't afraid of that.
“Andrew was in some ways the Harry of his time – he was seen in his twenties and thirties as a great communicator with great social skills, a person who could get things done.”
“I think Rufus really understood that side of things and felt that Andrew is older now but has a sparkle and a kind of charisma about him.”
“It doesn't feel like we're pointing an arrow at him and saying, 'That's a bad guy'… You're seeing a person, and that's a real homage to Rufus' take on it.”
The Duke was memorably punished for his reply to Maitlis. This included the bizarre claim that he was physically incapable of sweating and an alibi that landed him in the Woking branch of Pizza Express of all places!
This isn't the only adaptation of the Duke on screen either.
The Mail on Sunday understands the film will explore the Duke of York's “character arc” from “war hero” and “favourite of the Queen” to the scandal surrounding his close friendship with pedophile sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, which led to his resignation the royal duties led in 2019.
The Mail on Sunday understands the film will explore the Duke of York's “character arc” from “war hero” and “favourite of the Queen” to the scandal surrounding his close friendship with pedophile sex trafficker Jeffrey Epstein, which led to his resignation the royal duties led in 2019
The infamous picture of Prince Andrew and Virginia Roberts aged 17 in Ghislaine Maxwell's London townhouse
The program is produced by the award-winning production company Sandpaper Films, known for its work with top streaming services Netflix, Apple and Amazon.
Sandpaper has made several films about the royal family, including the 2017 film Diana, 7 Days, which analyzed their final days and featured interviews with Prince William and Prince Harry.
Producers are said to be interested in approaching Andrew's former private secretary Alistair Watson, who worked for the Duke from 2003 to 2012. If he cooperated, it could be “bad news” for the Duke, according to insiders, as Mr Watson “knows where the bodies are”. to bury'.
Mr Watson was hired to assist the Duke in his position as Britain's trade envoy, where he represented the government around the world after retiring from the Royal Navy in 2001.
The Duke faced a number of controversies in this role, including claims that he went on holiday with a Libyan arms smuggler. Andrew left the role in 2011 after rumors emerged that he had visited convicted pedophile Epstein at his New York home after his release from prison.
Respected author Andrew Lownie, who has written bestselling biographies of Lord Mountbatten and the Duke of Windsor, is set to act as a consultant on the documentary.
However, it is understood that the new documentary will not be “sensational” and, unlike the overall focus of Scoop, will not focus exclusively on the Duke's disastrous Newsnight interview in 2019.