Royal Gesture Sparks Mixed Reactions
King Charles III extended a heartfelt note to former U.S. President Joe Biden after Biden’s prostate cancer diagnosis. While meant as a gesture of empathy—especially as both leaders battle cancer—the move drew backlash online, particularly in the UK.
A Buckingham Palace spokesperson confirmed Charles personally reached out, though the message remains private. Biden, 82, is being treated for hormone-sensitive prostate cancer that has spread to the bone but remains manageable.
“Cancer touches us all,” Biden shared on X, thanking supporters and stating, “We are strongest in the broken places.”
Charles and Biden share a long diplomatic history, but critics in the UK questioned why the monarch hasn’t publicly acknowledged his own citizens facing similar battles.
Meanwhile, global leaders including Barack Obama and Donald Trump offered Biden public support. Trump also emphasized his own clean bill of health during a recent physical at Walter Reed.
As both nations watch their leaders confront personal health struggles, public sentiment remains divided on how empathy and duty should coexist on the global stage.
