King Charles III has reached out to former U.S. President Joe Biden with a heartfelt message of support following his diagnosis with an aggressive form of prostate cancer.
Buckingham Palace confirmed on Monday that the king, who is currently undergoing treatment for his own undisclosed type of cancer, personally wrote to Biden over the weekend.
Biden, 82, was diagnosed Friday with a Gleason score of nine, indicating aggressive cancer that has spread to his bones but remains hormone-sensitive allowing for effective treatment.
“While this represents a more aggressive form of the disease, the cancer appears to be hormone-sensitive, which allows for effective management,” the statement said.
On Monday, Biden broke his silence with a social media post thanking the public for their overwhelming support.
“Cancer touches us all,” he wrote. “Like so many of you, Jill and I have learned that we are strongest in the broken places. Thank you for lifting us up with love and support.”
The two leaders share a cordial relationship, built through several meetings over recent years. Biden attended Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in 2022 and met Charles at COP26 in 2021. In 2023, they had a cordial tea at Windsor Castle.
Biden had also expressed concern for King Charles following his cancer diagnosis in 2024. “I’m concerned about him. Just heard about his diagnosis. I’ll be talking to him, God willing,” he told reporters. He later posted online, praising the strength needed to face cancer: “It takes hope and absolute courage to get through.”
Last week, Charles gave a rare update on his own health during a visit to Bradford. He told a former patient he was optimistic and hoped to be on the “better side” of treatment soon.
Prostate cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer among men in both the United States and the United Kingdom. The Gleason score, which measures the cancer’s aggressiveness, plays a key role in guiding treatment decisions. A score of nine suggests a rapidly growing cancer, making early intervention crucial.
As the two world leaders face their personal health battles, their mutual support serves as a reminder of the human resilience behind the titles they hold.
