King Charles has been forced to cancel engagements after being admitted to hospital after suffering side effects to his cancer treatment, Buckingham Palace said tonight

The King has had to cancel his engagements after being temporarily admitted to hospital due to side effects from his cancer treatment, Buckingham Palace announced this evening.

Charles, who has been receiving weekly treatment for the disease since his diagnosis last February, was taken in for observation this morning but has since been discharged.

The monarch had to withdraw from this afternoon’s engagements and completely call off a visit to Birmingham tomorrow where he was set to meet local communities.

A palace aide referred to the King’s swift hospital visit to The London Clinic in Marylebone, London – where he was previously treated for a prostate condition last January – as “a minor bump in the road”, reassuring that Charles’ treatment is still “very much headed in the right direction”.

The King resumed full-time duties last April, albeit with a reduced schedule in line with his weekly treatment at a London hospital.

Since then, he embarked on a significant tour with the Queen to Australia and Samoa in October and has maintained a brisk pace of public duties this year.

This evening, the King is at home in Clarence House, where he “is in good form”, and continues to work on State papers and make calls from his study, reports the Mirror.

Buckingham Palace anticipates that the King and Queen’s planned state visit to Italy, set to commence on April 7, will proceed as scheduled.

A statement from Buckingham Palace revealed: “Following scheduled and ongoing medical treatment for cancer this morning, The King experienced temporary side effects that required a short period of observation in hospital.

“His Majesty’s afternoon engagements were therefore postponed.

“His Majesty has now returned to Clarence House and as a precautionary measure, acting on medical advice, tomorrow’s diary programme will also be rescheduled.

“His Majesty would like to send his apologies to all those who may be inconvenienced or disappointed as a result.”

Last year, the King disclosed he had been undergoing treatment for cancer.

However, he announced in October last year that he would pause treatment while participating in a high-profile visit overseas.

Both he and Queen Camilla were preparing to travel to Australia and Samoa as part of an autumn visit. It was revealed that Charles, a long-time advocate of alternative therapies, had completed chemotherapy treatment for cancer.

Sources indicated that the King also believed in the importance to “get lots of fresh air and encourage family visits” as key factors in his ongoing recovery from the disease. Known as a “workaholic”, King Charles had to be “persuaded to be mindful of pacing his diary.”