Donald Trump says King Charles is ‘fighting very hard’ against cancer

Britain's Prince William met with US President-elect Donald Trump during celebrations of the reopening of the Notre-Dame de Paris Cathedral on December 7. Photo / Getty Images

Donald Trump’s account of a conversation with Prince William is getting attention because the royal family has previously said little about the King’s health.

Britain’s King Charles III is “fighting very hard” in his battle with cancer, according to President-elect Donald Trump’s account of a conversation he had with Prince William.

The comment, published Sunday night in an interview with the New York Post, is getting attention in Britain because the royal family has said so little about the king’s health status – and because it is rare for people to publicly dish after official meetings with British royals.

Trump told the tabloid that he had asked William about the health of his wife and his father, who both received treatment for undisclosed forms of cancer this year.

William said Catherine, Princess of Wales, “is doing well”, according to Trump. Catherine announced in September that she was “cancer-free” and has been gradually returning to her public role since then.

About William’s father, the King, Trump said: “His father is fighting very hard, and he loves his father and he loves his wife, so it was sad.”

Trump described King Charles' cancer situation as "sad" while recounting a conversation with Prince William. Photo / Getty Images

It was not clear if William had disclosed anything new about his father or was merely exchanging pleasantries.

Trump also offered his thoughts to the tabloid about William’s appearance, saying: “He’s a good-looking guy. He looked really, very handsome last night. Some people look better in person. He looked great. He looked really nice, and I told him that.”

The conversation between Trump and William took place at the British ambassador’s residence in Paris for about 40 minutes after a service to mark the reopening of Notre Dame cathedral.

William was standing in for his father on this visit, as he sometimes has. The King returned to public duties in late April but with fewer engagements than typically on the royal calendar. Last week, together with their wives, Charles and William hosted a state visit by the Emir of Qatar at Buckingham Palace. In October, the King took part in an 11-day tour of Australia and Samoa.

Kensington Palace said that Trump and William had a “warm, friendly” meeting in Paris and that they discussed a range of global issues, with a focus on the UK-US “special relationship”.

The palace said it had nothing further to add in response to Trump’s comments.

The last time Trump and William met was during Trump’s 2019 state visit to Britain and the incoming President is known to be a huge fan of the royal family.