King Charles provided a concise update on his cancer treatment and spoke about his ambitions in horse racing during a public engagement on Tuesday. While visiting the Jockey Club Rooms in Newmarket, the epicenter of British horse racing, Charles revealed he is “working on” producing a runner for the prestigious Derby, one of the sport’s greatest events.
His remarks came as he and Queen Camilla toured the National Stud and later greeted more than 1,000 members of the public in Suffolk’s town center. Known to be undergoing ongoing cancer treatment, the King acknowledged his health in a brief exchange.
Lee Harman, a 54-year-old from Bury St Edmunds, shared his experience meeting the monarch. “I asked him how he was, and he said he was feeling a lot better, adding it was ‘just one of those things’,” Harman said. After sharing his own cancer journey, he noted the King’s genuine interest in his well-being.
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The late Queen Elizabeth II’s thoroughbreds famously secured victories in four of the five classic flat races, missing out only on the Derby. Now, King Charles and Queen Camilla have continued managing the royal stables, with the King’s comments suggesting they hope to add a Derby winner to their achievements.
As he interacted with racing officials including his manager John Warren, members of the Jockey Club, and the chairmen of some racecourses, the King appeared optimistic. Brian Finch, chairman of Epsom Downs Racecourse—the Derby’s home—remarked, “We spoke about him getting a Derby runner, and he said ‘we’re working on it.’ Everyone is hoping the royal family will have a Derby winner soon.”