The King was back in London this week for an audience at Clarence House.

king charles and queen elizabeth on the palace balcony
King Charles was back in London this week (Image: Getty)

King Charles has broken a longstanding royal tradition started by his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth. The King was back in London this week to carry out an engagement at Clarence House.

His mother would usually retreat to Sandringham in late December, where she would spend nearly two months in Norfolk, usually until the anniversary of her father, George VI’s death and her own accession to the throne on February 6, before resuming her royal duties. However, Charles has introduced his own way of doing things since he became King.

According to the Court Circular, the official record for the daily engagements of members of the Royal Family, the King received Dr Nathan Ross on Monday evening at Clarence House.
The King leaves church

The King went to church on Sunday (Image: PA)

The audience took place after Dr Ross stepped down as Assistant Private Secretary, concluding his tenure since 2023. The King invested Dr Ross with the Insignia of a Member of the Royal Victorian Order.

Charles was pictured in Norfolk just the day before, when he and Queen Camilla attended the Sunday church service at St Mary Magdalene Church at Sandringham.

He is also expected to spend some time in Balmoral in January, like he did last year.

It comes as the monarch issued a rare health update last month, saying that his cancer treatment will be reduced in the new year.

Charles was diagnosed with an undisclosed type of cancer in 2024 and has been undergoing treatment ever since

In his video message, broadcast as part of last year’s Stand Up to Cancer campaign, the King said that the “remarkable advances” in cancer care have enabled him to lead a full and active life while undergoing treatment.

The King is understood to have responded exceptionally well to treatment, and his doctors have advised that his treatment move into a precautionary phase.

He will be continually monitored and reviewed to protect and prioritise his continued recovery, but a royal source said the regularity of his treatment “will be significantly reduced” this year.