LONDON, March 28, 2024 (BSS/AFP) - Britain's head of state King Charles III
will stress the importance of acts of friendship, "especially in a time of
need", in an Easter message Thursday that follows his and the Princess of
Wales's cancer diagnoses.

The pre-recorded audio comments will be broadcast in his absence at a Maundy
Thursday service in Worcester Cathedral in central England, according to
excerpts trailed by Buckingham Palace.

Charles, 75, will say that as a nation, "we need and benefit greatly from
those who extend the hand of friendship to us, especially in a time of need".

The comments come after the 75-year-old monarch's daughter-in-law Catherine
revealed last Friday in an emotional video message that she was also
receiving treatment for cancer.

The king does not refer to his son and heir William's wife in the message.

But royal watchers are likely to interpret his words as a sign of the support
that he and the princess have had about their health concerns.

The Maundy Thursday religious service is an annual fixture on the royal
calendar and marks the start of the Easter weekend.

Charles will be represented by his wife, Queen Camilla.

Catherine, 42, said in a statement late Saturday that she was "enormously
touched by the kind messages" she had received following her shock
announcement.

Last month, Charles said he had been reduced to tears by messages and cards
of support from well-wishers.

Charles was just 17 months into his reign when the palace announced in early
February that he had cancer and would be pausing all public-facing
engagements as he commenced treatment.

He is, however, due to attend an Easter Sunday church service this weekend.

He had been admitted for surgery for a benign prostate condition in January
but was subsequently diagnosed with an unrelated cancer.

The type of cancer has not been disclosed.

He has been continuing with behind-the-scenes work and holding some in-person
meetings and increasingly attending official events.

He praised Kate, as she is widely known, for her bravery by revealing that
she was undergoing preventative chemotherapy.

She was last seen at a public engagement on December 25, then underwent
abdominal surgery in January, after which cancer was found.

Her Kensington Palace office said at the time that she was not expected to be
ready to return to public duties until after Easter.