King Charles will share a deeply personal and hopeful message about his cancer journey in a televised address on Friday, Dec. 12.

The message, recorded at Clarence House in London a few weeks ago, will air during the U.K.’s Stand Up To Cancercharity telethon, a special broadcast dedicated to raising awareness and vital funds for cancer research and treatment.

At 77, the King hopes his words will inspire others to prioritize screening, embrace early detection and feel supported throughout their own health journeys.

Buckingham Palace confirmed to PEOPLE that Charles filmed the short message at his London residence, reflecting on his experience since announcing his diagnosis in February 2024. The video will be shown as part of Channel 4’s Stand Up To Cancer special, produced in partnership with Cancer Research UK.

In the message, the King is expected to emphasize the life-saving importance of early screening while offering a thoughtful reflection on his own path to recovery — one marked by resilience, openness and gratitude for medical advances.

Throughout his treatment, Charles has remained remarkably candid, using his platform to normalize conversations around cancer and encourage others to seek help early. He has continued to meet with fellow patients, survivors and leading researchers, making cancer awareness a meaningful part of his public work.

Following the initial phase of treatment in 2024, the King gradually returned to royal duties, including visits with Queen Camilla to major cancer centers across the U.K. His commitment to service has remained strong, underscoring his determination to live fully while managing the illness.

In May 2025, palace aides shared insight into how Charles, like millions of people worldwide, is learning to live with cancer. “You manage it, and that’s exactly what he does,” one aide said, adding that advances in medical science have made a remarkable difference. “As long as he follows medical advice, he lives as normally as possible — and that’s precisely what he’s doing.”

While details of the King’s cancer have not been publicly disclosed, Buckingham Palace has confirmed that it is not prostate cancer. The illness was discovered during treatment for an enlarged prostate in January 2024, with the diagnosis announced shortly thereafter.

Since then, Charles has periodically offered encouragement to other cancer patients, openly discussing both challenges and progress. Although he experienced a brief hospitalization in May 2025 due to a temporary reaction to treatment, aides have consistently emphasized that his condition is being carefully managed and continues to move in a positive direction.

As one palace source noted late last year, “His treatment has been progressing well, and as a managed condition, it will continue into the coming year.”

Through honesty, optimism and quiet strength, King Charles continues to turn his personal journey into a message of hope — reminding others that early detection, medical progress and resilience can make all the difference.