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- By Sean Coughlan
- royal correspondent
The King had fun with a card in which a dog had to wear a protective cone
King Charles has been delighted by some of the 7,000 cards of support sent to him during his cancer treatment, including some with a humorous tone.
They included a card with a picture of a dog in a protective cone that said, “At least you don’t have to wear a cone!”
Other messages shared people’s own experiences with cancer and wished the King a “speedy recovery”.
The King has described that the cards sent to him “reduced him to tears.”
According to palace aides, despite the health problems there has been “frequent laughter”, and the dog has especially amused the king.
The senders are not named, but the company that made the card, Pigment, told the BBC that it was one of their best-sellers that had been personalized with the King’s name, and that they “hoped it would make the King smile.” .
Some of the get well cards were handmade.
A selection of the messages of support are placed in the red boxes containing the King’s daily errands.
“I wanted to tell you that I am thinking of you as you face your own diagnosis and treatment and sending you prayers and all the best wishes for a speedy recovery,” wrote one supporter.
“Cheer up, stick your chest out, stay positive and don’t let this get you down. Believe me, it works, but the main thing is family,” said another.
Several of the messages come from people facing their own concerns about cancer.
Rebecca Stead, of Macmillan Cancer Support, told BBC News: “Hearing the news that you have cancer is a big moment in anyone’s life and there is no right or wrong way to respond.”
“Going through waves of different emotions is completely normal. However, we know that many people will experience uncertainty or worry.”
It could be practical issues such as paying the mortgage or confusion over their treatment, he says, and urges people to seek advice.
The King’s openness about having cancer has also been praised for helping to remove taboos around the disease.
According to Macmillan’s, the king’s public recognition of cancer led to an increase in the number of people seeking information.
Macmillan’s online information pages had 50,000 visits on the day the King’s diagnosis was announced, 40% more than usual.
The King has stepped back from public events but has continued with the work of head of state, including regular meetings with the prime minister.
The King told the prime minister that he had been very moved by the messages of support.
The last photographs released by Buckingham Palace were taken on Wednesday before meeting Rishi Sunak.
When the prime minister said how good the king looked, he deflected it with a joke, saying, “It’s all made by mirrors.”
Humor has often been used by the King, who was a former fan of The Goons and participated in comedy shows in college. A contemporary student had said, “I think he’s actually very shy and it’s a lot easier when you make people laugh.”
But in his current circumstances, the King is said to have been moved by the children’s handmade cards, including the message: “Never give up. Be brave. Don’t overstep your limits. Get well soon.”