Jonathan Dimbleby praises King for cancer message that ‘will save lives’

In a video message last night Charles shared that his own treatment can be reduced in the New Year, in part thanks to early detection.

In the rare update on his battle with the disease, the King called on Brits to make sure they get checked for the illness as early as possible, as he hailed the work of nurses and doctors across the NHS.

Speaking to Matt Frei, the presenter and broadcaster noted that this was not an "easy act" for the King to do, adding "I think it was both important and not easy. He's quite a private person."

He continued the broadcast was "filled with sort of warmth, charm, regard and anxiety".

"I thought it was an extraordinarily impressive performance," he added.

The veteran broadcaster and author also commented that this latest cancer message should show those who doubt the role of monarchy just how effective the King's word can be in bringing about life saving change.

After the King initially announced his diagnosis there was a "1000 percent surge in people going to look up prostate cancer on the NHS website" according to Dimbleby.

He went on: "Thousands of people now go and get early diagnosis as a result of what he has said, they will be lives saved that would otherwise be lost.

"That's a phenomenal fact, in my view, and it just demonstrates the authority of the King, the respect in which he's held and the key role of the institution."

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He said "But those people who sometimes are slightly cynically or sneeringly, what do they do? They cut ribbons, they have garden parties, they travel in coaches, just wake up and see exactly what he does do in a way that no individual, no other individual could actually achieve..."

In his message for the Stand Up to Cancer campaign King Charles emphasised the importance of early diagnosis and prevention, saying: “I have also learned something that troubles me deeply – at least nine million people in our country are not up to date with the cancer screenings available to them."

Currently in the UK, there are three NHS cancer screening programmes - for bowel, breast and cervical cancer - available to certain age groups.

A new lung cancer screening programme is also being slowly rolled out for anyone at high risk of developing the disease, specifically targeting people aged 55-74 years old, who currently or used to smoke.

Men may enquire about prostate cancer checks, but there is no national programme in place.

The Stand Up to Cancer project, which has raised £113m since 2012, is funding 73 clinical trials involving 13,000 cancer patients.

The King’s outing came as he was announced as the new patron of Cancer Research UK. He has also been patron of Macmillan Cancer Support for almost three decades.

He also sent a deeply personal message to a Buckingham Palace reception in April honoring the work of cancer charities, saying despite the fears that cancer can bring, it can illuminate the best of humanity.