The Stand Up To Cancer campaign each year raises funds for medical research and treatment and encourages people to get check-ups to increase the chances of an early diagnosis.
The King’s relative openness about his illness, and living with cancer, has been intended to raise awareness and to get more people to get tested – and this will be taken a step further with this unusual personal contribution.
So far the King’s main approach to his cancer has been to keep working, maintaining a busy schedule despite his regular rounds of treatment, and he seems not to have wanted to be defined by his illness.
This year has seen the King, 77, taking several overseas trips, including to Italy and Canada, and hosting the biggest number of inward state visits to the UK for almost 40 years, including the German president last week.
Before the announcement of this special broadcast, the King earlier this week enjoyed an atmospheric and meditative Advent service in Westminster Abbey, with a message from the King highlighting that this was a season of optimism and “hope”.
