Â鶹Éç News, coverage of King Charles’ cancer diagnosis, February 2024

Summary of complaint

We received complaints from people who feel we have given too much coverage to the King’s cancer diagnosis.


Our response

As Head of State, King Charles’ diagnosis with cancer is a story of significance which has generated national and global interest, with the King being sent messages of support from political leaders from across the UK and around the world.  We have offered analysis of the potential constitutional implications and looked at the challenges facing the King and wider Royal Family.  Though we reported in detail on this story as it broke, examining the broader considerations, we continued to report on other stories of national and international importance. 

As our coverage reflected, the statement released by Buckingham Palace was unprecedented in terms of the level of detail it revealed about the health of a British monarch;  as the Palace explained, one of the reasons the King wanted to be open about his diagnosis was to help raise awareness about the disease.  We have reported on the response from cancer charities to the King’s diagnosis, and looked at what this means in terms of the issues highlighted about cancer and cancer care.

We fully appreciate that this is a difficult time for the King and his family, and that this is a story that will resonate with many people.  We have and will continue to be mindful to approach our reporting with sensitivity.Â