King Charles III’s video message providing an update on his cancer treatment is the focus of Saturday’s papers. “Strong to reign over us”, the Sun splashes on its front page, writing: “King Charles revealed the ‘good news’ that doctors are reducing his cancer treatment – almost two years since his diagnosis.” In a Channel 4 broadcast of the King’s pre-recorded video, the paper quotes him saying “early diagnosis quite simply saves lives”.
“Good news by sticking to doctor’s orders” is the Daily Express’s take, quoting the King – who said his “early diagnosis, effective intervention, and adherence to doctor’s orders” means his scheduled treatment can be reduced next year.
The Daily Telegraph leads with the monarch’s emphasis on the benefits of early diagnosis. It reports King Charles did not confirm if he is “in remission”. He used his speech to insist cancer detection is “not as ‘frightening, embarrassing or uncomfortable’ as some imagined… calling it a ‘few moments of minor inconvenience'”, according to the paper.
The Daily Mail says the King’s news has brought “Christmas cheer” to the royal family. It quotes an anonymous royal source who describes it as a “just about the best Christmas present” the 77-year-old monarch “could have asked for”.
The King uses his cancer “milestone” to “urge Britons to go for life-saving treatment” is the Times’s headline. The paper provides some behind-the-scenes details on its front page, saying the short film was “recorded in the Morning Room at Clarence House in the last week of November”. It also says the King wore a “Stand Up To Cancer” badge in the video as part of Channel 4’s broader campaign.
The King’s TV message “offers hope to others”, the Daily Mirror says in its headline, describing his address as “touching”.
“King Charles: I was overwhelmed by my cancer diagnosis,” is the headline on the Independent’s front page. It also features photos released on Friday from the estate of the late convicted paedophile, Jeffrey Epstein, which include photos of US President Donald Trump, Andrew Mountbatten Windsor and former US President Bill Clinton. Being pictured in files related Epstein is not an indication of wrongdoing.
“EU freezes €210bn (£185bn) of Russian assets” is the top story in the FT Weekend. The move “paves the way for a loan to be raised against the assets to prop up Ukraine’s defence” against Russia, according to the paper. However, EU members must “overcome strong objections from Belgium, where the assets are mostly held”, as it seeks to avoid legal and financial reprisal from Russia, according to the paper.
“Urgent NHS drive to give children the flu vaccine before Christmas” is the i weekend’s headline story. Health officials warn “unvaccinated children may risk passing the virus to older relatives during family gatherings”, the paper writes. The NHS is “braced for one of its toughest winters on record”, the paper says, noting the North East and Yorkshire have the “worst hospitalisation rates” in the UK.
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer criticises planned doctors strikes during a flu outbreak as “reckless” and “beyond belief”, the Guardian reports. Sir Keir has penned a column in the paper accusing the doctor’s union, the British Medical Association (BMA), of placing “the NHS and patients who need it in grave danger”. The paper quotes the BMA saying the government “should not be scaremongering” and making the public think “that the NHS will not be able to look after them and their loved ones”.
“Teen darts sensation Luke Littler” was almost derailed by a wasp on stage during his first round win at the World Championship in Ally Pally (Alexandra Palace), reports the Daily Star. “Other players have been told to bee on the guard!” the paper quips.
