Grenfell victims: Those who lost their lives in the fire
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1 year agoon
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The final report into the deadly Grenfell Tower fire will be published today – more than seven years after the disaster.
The long-running inquiry will present its findings on the 2017 blaze at the west London tower block, which claimed the lives of 72 people.
Victims of the fire ranged in age from an unborn baby to an 84-year-old woman.
These are their stories.
Anthony “Tony” Disson, 65
The 65-year-old retired lorry driver had lived on the 10th floor of Grenfell Tower for eight years.
In a statement, Mr Disson’s family described him as a “real family man”.
They said: “Tony was the most generous person you could ever meet, he didn’t have much but would always be there to help people.”
Ali Yawar Jafari, 82
Ali Yawar Jafari lived on the 10th floor and tried to escape the tower with his wife and daughter when the fire broke out.
They got in a lift but Mr Jafari got out on the 10th floor after suffering breathing difficulties. He was later pulled from the building by firefighters but pronounced dead at the scene.
His family said he was “loved and will be greatly missed by his family and the wider community”.
Abdeslam Sebbar, 77
Abdeslam Sebbar’s remains were found in his flat on the 11th floor.
The 77-year-old died from the inhalation of fumes.
Denis Murphy, 56
Pic: Metropolitan Police
Denis Murphy lived on the 14th floor of Grenfell Tower, in flat 11, and called his family to say he was trapped during the blaze.
In a statement, Mr Murphy’s family said: “The pain, loss and sorrow we feel is indescribable and we have been left devastated with a gaping hole in our hearts that can never be filled.
“To us, he was an inspiration and an amazing, selfless caring person and we feel lucky and blessed that he was part of our family.”
Zainab Deen, 32, and Jeremiah Deen, two
Pic: Metropolitan Police
The 32-year-old, who lived on the 14th floor of Grenfell Tower, was on the phone with her brother until 4am on the day of the fire.
Ms Deen’s two-year-old son Jeremiah was also killed in the blaze.
Originally from Sierra Leone, Ms Deen was described as a “beautiful, loving lady”.
Zainu and Maria Deen, Jeremiah’s grandparents, said: “You spent a moment in our arms, but you will last a lifetime in our hearts.”
Mohammad Alhajali, 23
A civil engineering student who lived on the 14th floor with his older brother Omar, who managed to escape from the fire, Mr Alhajali called a friend in Syria, asking him to say goodbye to his family, who he had been unable to reach.
Mr Alhajali had fled Syria with his two brothers in 2014 to start a new life in London, studying at the University of West London. He had hoped to return one day to help the country.
His friend lost contact with him at 5am. He sent one final message saying: “The fire is here now goodbye.”
A family statement read at his funeral service said he “loved London and the people he met here”.
Mr Alhajali was described as “a loving and caring person” who was “always showing support and solidarity for friends and family stuck back in Syria”.
Steve Power, 63
The 63-year-old was said to be reluctant to leave his two dogs. It is understood that he remained in his flat on the 15th floor.
His children said: “Our dad was nothing short of a character. He left some sort of impression on everyone, like Marmite. The majority loved him.”
Hamid Kani, 61
The 61-year-old Iranian lived alone on the 15th floor of Grenfell Tower, but his body was recovered on the 23rd floor – suggesting he fled upstairs in search of safety.
In a statement, his family, who all live in Iran, said he would be remembered “for his wit, compassion and devotion to his family and friends”.
They added: “No words can express our sorrow for his loss and the way he left us. He will always be part of our lives and his memory will live on.”
Deborah “Debbie” Lamprell, 45
Pic: Metropolitan Police
Debbie Lamprell lived on the 16th floor and worked front of house at Opera Holland Park.
The 45-year-old went to the top floor of the building with a group of 12 people when the fire broke out and called the emergency services.
She was described by her mother as “a wonderful, precious daughter, always smiling and helping others”.
Marjorie Vital, 68, and Ernie Vital, 50
Marjorie Vital lived on the 16th floor of Grenfell Tower in a flat she shared with her son, Ernie.
She had lived there almost since the tower was built in the 70s and had worked in the textile industry for many years after coming to the UK from Dominica.
Her family said: “She was a beautiful, joyful, independent, intelligent, kind-hearted, sensitive individual who dedicated her life to her children.”
Her son Ernie’s family said he worked in the catering industry: “He was a creative individual who pursued a creative life. He was a proud, humble, mature and independent man. He was a loyal son and a law-abiding citizen who maintained good relationships with all those he met in society.
“He will be remembered as a kind, sensitive and caring person with a warm-hearted smile.”
Joseph Daniels, 69
Joseph Daniels lived on the 16th floor of Grenfell Tower and reportedly suffered from dementia, so was confused and could not be persuaded by his son to leave the building.
His son, who escaped the fire, said on the first day of the Grenfell inquiry: “The events of that night took his life and all trace of his existence from this world.”
Sheila Smith, 84
The 84-year-old’s body was recovered on the 16th floor of the tower, where she had lived for 34 years.
Sheila had two sons, six grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren and was said to be a “very active and well-respected” member of the community.
Her family said: “Sheila was cycling around London, performing yoga daily and swimming regularly in the Kensington Leisure Centre until she was 80 years old.
“As a family we are heartbroken as to this senseless tragedy that took her far too early, and will do all we can to honour her name.”
Kamru Miah, 79, Rabeya Begum, 64, Husna Begum, 22, Mohammed Hanif, 26, and Mohammed Hamid, 29
Rabeya Begum (left) and Husna Begum
Husna Begum (left) and Komru Miah
Mohammed Hanif
Mohammed Hamid
Kamru Miah lived on the 17th floor with his wife Rabeya Begum, their daughter Husna Begum and two sons, Mohammed Hanif and Mohammed Hamid.
Mr Miah had difficulty walking and his grown-up children stayed in the tower because they knew their parents were not mobile enough to escape – all five of them died.
They were said to be on the phone with relatives throughout the blaze.
Khadija Khalloufi, 52
Khadija Khalloufi died after she became separated from her husband, Sabah Abdullah, as they tried to escape from their flat on the 17th floor.
Due to the crush and panic in the stairwell, they were split up between the 16th and 15th floors. Mr Abdullah survived.
Vincent Chiejina, 60
Vincent Chiejina lived on the 17th floor and was identified by his DNA.
The 60-year-old’s provisional cause of death was given as “consistent with the effects of fire”.
Isaac Paulos, five
Pic: Metropolitan Police
The schoolboy’s body was discovered on the 13th floor – five levels below the flat where he lived with his family, who he was separated from during the fire.
In a statement, Isaac’s family said they would “miss our kind, energetic, generous little boy”.
They added: “He was such a good boy who was loved by his friends and family. We will miss him forever, but we know God is looking after him now and that he is safe in heaven.”
Birkti Haftom, 29, and Biruk Haftom, 12
Pic: Metropolitan Police
Pic: Metropolitan Police
Birkti and her 12-year-old son Biruk lived on the 18th floor of the building.
The 29-year-old’s family described her as a “generous, caring, loving mother, partner, sister, aunty and friend” who will be “missed by us all forever”.
Biruk was described as “a loving, pure-hearted boy, wise beyond his years and known for his politeness, kind heart and his love for his family and friends.”
Their family added: “Berkti and Biruk left an everlasting legacy full of lovely memories and their contagious laughter and charisma will live in our hearts forever.
“We are deeply hurt and heartbroken our angels were taken from us so cruelly, so young. We will not rest until justice is served!”
Sakina Afrasehabi, 65, and Fatemeh Afrasiabi, 59
Pic: Metropolitan Police
Sakina Afrasehabi lived with her younger sister Fatima in Grenfell Tower.
Sakina’s Iranian family have said she was disabled and could only move with a walking stick – but she had no choice but to live on the 18th floor of the building.
Her family said: “Sakina was a loving mother of five, who is much missed by all of us. She was completely selfless in all she did and always put other people first.”
Fatemeh’s nephew Shahrokh said he spoke on the phone to his aunt as the fire spread to the upper floors, who pleaded with him to seek help, but in the final minutes, she was quieter and then the phone disconnected.
Mohamednur Tuccu, 44, Amal Ahmedin, 35, Amaya Tuccu-Ahmedin, three, and Amna Mahmud Idris, 27
Mohamednur Tuccu
Amal Ahmedin
Mohamednur Tuccu and his wife and daughter, Amal Ahmedin, and Amaya Tuccu-Ahmedin, were breaking their Ramadan fast with Amal’s cousin Amna Mahmud Idris and their friends when the blaze broke out.
A family statement said: “This has been a very distressing time for us as a family, but we are relieved that Amal, Amaya and Amna [Mahmud Idris] have been identified following the tragic fire. They will now be laid to rest.”
Amaya Tuccu-Ahmedin
Amna Mahmud Idris
Ms Idris’s husband Ibrahim told the hearing: “She came to live with me in the UK in March 2016. After one year I lost her forever.”
Eslah “Suhar” Elgwahry, 64 and Mariem Elgwahry, 27
Mariem Elgwahry
Eslah Elgwahry, who was also known as Suhar, lived with her 27-year-old daughter Mariem on the 19th floor.
Soon after the fire, a friend of her daughter shared an appeal on social media, writing: “Last someone heard from her was 2.30am, she was with her mum.”
Eslah’s remains were found on the 23rd floor, four floors higher than her flat. Mariem also died in the fire.
Mary “Sissy” Mendy, 52, and Khadija “Ya-Haddy Sisi” Saye, 24
Mary Mendy
Also known as Sissy, Gambia-born Mary Mendy was with her daughter, artist and photographer Khadija Saye, also known as Ya-Haddy Sisi Saye, on the 20th floor of the tower.
Ms Mendy’s sister said in a tribute: “Your heart was pure, your soul was one of a kind. You will be missed for a lifetime.”
Khadija Saye. Pic: PA
At the time of the blaze Ms Saye’s work was part of an exhibition at the Venice Biennale, and has since been displayed at the Tate Britain.
Her friend, the now foreign secretary David Lammy, called her “a wonderful young woman” and “a talented artist”.
Jessica Urbano Ramirez, 12
Jessica was at home on the 20th floor of the tower block when the fire broke out.
A family statement said: “Our little girl was loving, kind-hearted and caring. She brought joy to everyone who met her and her laugh was contagious.”
Omar Belkadi, 32, Farah Hamdan, 31, Leena Belkadi, six months, and Malak Belkadi, seven
Omar Belkadi
Farah Hamdan and six-month-old Leena Belkadi
Malek Belkaldi with Tazmin Belkaldi, who survived
Omar Belkadi lived on the 20th floor of Grenfell Tower with his wife Farah Hamdan and their three children.
They died in the fire along with two of their children, Leena and Malak Belkadi, but their daughter Tazmin survived.
Abdulaziz El Wahabi, 52, Faouzia El Wahabi, 41, Yasin El Wahabi, 20, Nur Huda El Wahabi, 16, and Medhi El Wahabi, 8
Mehdi El-Wahabi (centre), his father Abdulaziz (top left), mother Faouzia (bottom right), brother Yasin (top right), and sister Nur Huda ( bottom left)
Abdulaziz El Wahabi lived on the 21st floor with his wife Faouzia and their three children, Yasin, Nur Huda, and Mehdi.
Mrs El Wahabi’s niece later said: “They died in a building that should not have got to that extent to burn in that way – and that’s something we’re going to have to live with forever and it’s scary.”
Their family said: “Yasin was a lovable, bubbly and caring young man. He would lend his hand to anyone who asked for help. He was loved by so many and his contagious smile will always be etched on our minds and hearts.
“Nur Huda was a lovable, smart and kind person. She had a lot of potential and that can be recognised in her GCSE exam results. We are proud of her and will continue on remembering her and all our family and friends who have died in this tragedy.”
“Mehdi was a calm and friendly young boy who loved his family very much. He was loved by staff and pupils at his school who held a beautiful memorial and made a plaque in memory of him.”
Logan Gomes, stillborn
Unborn baby Logan Gomes was officially recorded by police as a victim of the Grenfell Tower fire.
His mother Andreia Gomes, who was seven months pregnant, lived on the 21st floor with her husband and two daughters – they all managed to escape but Logan was stillborn in hospital on 14 June. He had been due on 21 August.
Speaking on the first day of the Grenfell inquiry, his father Marcio Gomes said he and his wife had prepared for their son’s arrival by painting “twinkle twinkle little star, do you know how loved you are?” on the wall.
Logan’s sister Luana, now aged 19, told Sky News she feels guilty she survived the fire.
Raymond “Moses” Bernard, 63
Raymond Bernard, known to friends as Moses, lived on the 21st floor of the tower and often stayed with his partner, Karen McMillan, on a different floor of the block.
Dubbed a “hero”, he offered shelter to six people in his flat as the fire raged and was discovered alongside them.
His family said: “Gone but not forgotten, you are so dearly loved by us all and will sadly be missed by many. May you rest in eternal peace, with love always.”
Ligaya Moore, 78
Ligaya Moore, from the Philippines, had been a resident of Grenfell Tower for more than 40 years. She had lived alone in her flat on the 21st floor since the death of her husband some years earlier.
In a statement, her family said: “43 years ago, Aunt Ligaya, DITE, as we fondly called her, lived her dream – to live and work in London.
“She endured being away from family – not able to attend her mother’s funeral – but in exchange of all the loneliness and homesickness, she met the love of her life, Jim Moore, a British national, had a new family, acquired new friends, and built a new life in London.
“But the dream turned into a nightmare on that fateful night of June 14, when the Grenfell Tower was consumed in flames. At this time, she was already living by herself in this building, as her husband had passed away several years back.
“The jolly, bubbly person, the lady who loves to dance and who laughed her heart out, succumbed to a fire which turned her laughter into silence.”
Hashim Kedir, 44, Nura Jemal, 35, Yahya Hashim, 13, Firdaws Hashim, 12, and Yaqub Hashim, six
Hashim Kedir. Pic: Metropolitan Police
Nura Jemal. Pic: Metropolitan Police
Firdaws (left) and her brother Yahya
Yaqub Hashim. Pic: Metropolitan Police
Hashim Kedir and Nura Jemal lived on the 22nd floor with their children, Yahya, Firdaws, and Yaqub Hashim.
Mr Kedir’s sister described him as her “role model”, saying he was “giving and sharing until his last day”. She described him as “making friends so easily; age, gender, religion, ethnicity or social status didn’t matter”.
A statement on behalf of Ms Jemal’s family said: “You appreciated even the smallest things in life. And your joy was contagious. Being around you could lighten up anyone’s day in a matter of seconds.”
Yahya’s aunt described him as her “most kind, handsome, pure-hearted, sweet nephew”. She said: “Everyone that met you used to fall in love with your politeness and pure-heartedness”.
Firdaws was described as “intelligent, wise, eloquent and beautiful” with “the voice of an angel”.
And Yaqub’s extended family described him as an “energetic, sporty, funny, smart and cute boy”.
Sirria Choucair, 60, Bassem Choucair, 40, Nadia Choucair, 33, Fatima Choucair, 11, Mierna Choucair, 13, and Zainab Choucair, three
Sirria Choucair
Bassem Choucair
Sirria Choucair died along with her daughter Nadia Choucair, son-in-law Bassem and her three grandchildren, Fatima, Mierna, and Zainab.
Nadia Choucair
Fatima (left), Mierna (middle) and Zaynab (right)
Bassem’s sister-in-law, Sawsan, spoke to him on the phone when the fire started.
She said: “It was just two seconds, he said ‘yeah’ and there was lots of screaming in the background.”
Marco Gottardi, 27, and Gloria Trevisan, 26
The Italian architectural assistant lived on the 23rd floor with his girlfriend, architect Gloria Trevisan. The pair had moved from Venice to London around four months before the fire to look for jobs after graduating from the University of Padua.
Mr Gottardi’s cousin posted a message on Facebook the day after the fire, writing: “I don’t have no news from them since last night and their mobile phones are off. I’m praying to God they make it out safely.”
Ms Trevisan spent her final moments on the phone to her mother, telling her: “I had my whole life ahead of me. It’s not fair. I don’t want to die.”
Hesham Rahman, 57
Hesham Rahman lived by himself in a flat on the 23rd floor and was last in contact with his family at 3am on the night of the fire. He had diabetes which made it difficult for him to walk downstairs.
He told his family he could smell smoke, adding: “Don’t worry, as soon as I’m out I’ll let you know. The police are coming to get me, I’ve spoken to them. It’s going to be okay.”
Mohamed Neda, 57
Mohamed Neda’s wife and son escaped to safety and were taken to hospital after the fire broke out. They said he had been on the top floor of the building trying to help people.
His body was found outside the tower block, and he died as a result of multiple injuries consistent with a fall.
Speaking on the first day of the Grenfell inquiry, his brother said that losing his “best friend and role model” had brought his world crashing down.
Mr Neda’s absence “is a void that cannot be filled”, he said, adding: “The only thing I know is that my brother was a hero. He puts others first – that is the memory I will hold in my heart for as long as I live.”
Gary Maunders, 57
Gary Maunders was found among the victims on the 23rd floor.
The 57-year-old is believed to have been with his friend Deborah Lamprell, who lived on the 19th floor and was also among the victims.
Abufars Mohamed Ibrahim, 39, Isra Ibrahim, 33, and Fathia Ali Ahmed Elsanosi, 73
Fathia Ali Ahmed Elsanosi
Abufars Mohamed Ibrahim lived on the 23rd floor with his sister Isra and his mother Fathia Ali Ahmed Elsanosi. They were all killed in the blaze.
Ms Ahmed, a 73-year-old pensioner, came to the UK as a refugee from Sudan.
Rania Ibrahim, 30, Fethia Hassan, four, and Hania Hassan, three
Mother of two Rania Ibrahim, died along with her daughters Fethia and Hania Hassan.
She was seen running into a smoke-filled corridor to seek help, then looking out of the window to the street below.
Hania Hassan (left) and Fethia Hassan
Her husband was not in Grenfell Tower at the time of the blaze as he was away in Egypt.
Victoria “Vicky” King, 71, and Alexandra Atala, 40
Pic: Metropolitan Police
Pic: Metropolitan Police
Victoria King lived in Grenfell Tower with her 40-year-old daughter Alexandra Atala – they were the final two victims of the blaze to be identified.
Penny Pearce, Ms King’s sister and Ms Atala’s aunt, said: “Eventually, thanks to the Salvation Army family tracing, I was able to get in touch with her and my niece, Alexandra, living in Grenfell Tower.
“If this had not been the case, no family member would have known they had perished as no-one knew they were still living there.”
In a statement, their family said: “We were devastated to hear of our sister, Vicky’s, fate, and that of her daughter, Alexandra, in the Grenfell Tower tragedy.
“Some comfort can come from the knowledge that she and Alexandra were devoted to one another and spent so many mutually supportive years together.
“They died at each other’s side and now they can rest together in peace. We will remember them always.”
Maria Del Pilar Burton, 74
Pic: PA
Maria was rescued from the 19th floor but died in hospital in January 2018 from medical complications. She spent seven months in hospital following the fire.
Sky News will have full coverage of the Grenfell report on all platforms
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Specialist teams and online investigators deployed across England and Wales to tackle ‘national emergency’ of violence against women and girls
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13 hours agoon
December 14, 2025By
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Specialist investigation teams for rape and sexual offences are to be created across England and Wales as the Home Secretary declares violence against women and girls a “national emergency”.
Shabana Mahmood said the dedicated units will be in place across every force by 2029 as part of Labour’s violence against women and girls (VAWG) strategy due to be launched later this week.
The use of Domestic Abuse Protection Orders (DAPOs), which had been trialled in several areas, will also be rolled out across England and Wales. They are designed to target abusers by imposing curfews, electronic tags and exclusion zones.
The orders cover all forms of domestic abuse, including economic abuse, coercive and controlling behaviour, stalking and ‘honour’-based abuse. Breaching the terms can carry a prison term of up to 5 years.
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Govt ‘thinking again’ on abuse strategy
Nearly £2m will also be spent funding a network of officers to target offenders operating within the online space.
Teams will use covert and intelligence techniques to tackle violence against women and girls via apps and websites.
A similar undercover network funded by the Home Office to examine child sexual abuse has arrested over 1,700 perpetrators.
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Abuse is ‘national emergency’
Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said in a statement: “This government has declared violence against women and girls a national emergency.
“For too long, these crimes have been considered a fact of life. That’s not good enough. We will halve it in a decade.
“Today we announce a range of measures to bear down on abusers, stopping them in their tracks. Rapists, sex offenders and abusers will have nowhere to hide.”
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0:51
Angiolini Inquiry: Recommendations are ‘not difficult’
The target to halve violence against women and girls in a decade is a Labour manifesto pledge.
The government said the measures build on existing policy, including facial recognition technology to identify offenders, improving protections for stalking victims, making strangulation a criminal offence and establishing domestic abuse specialists in 999 control rooms.
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But the Conservatives said Labour had “failed women” and “broken its promises” by delaying the publication of the violence against women and girls strategy.
Shadow Home Secretary, Chris Philp, said that Labour “shrinks from uncomfortable truths, voting against tougher sentences and presiding over falling sex-offender convictions. At every turn, Labour has failed women.”
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UK has seen longest period without migrants arriving on small boats since 2018, figures show
Published
1 day agoon
December 13, 2025By
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There have been no migrant arrivals in small boats crossing the Channel for 28 days, according to Home Office figures.
The last recorded arrivals were on 14 November, making it the longest uninterrupted run since autumn 2018 after no reported arrivals on Friday.
However, a number of Border Force vessels were active in the English Channel on Saturday morning, indicating that there may be arrivals today.
So far, 39,292 people have crossed to the UK aboard small boats this year – already more than any other year except 2022.
The record that year was set at 45,774 arrivals.
It comes as the government has stepped up efforts in recent months to deter people from risking their lives crossing the Channel – but measures are not expected to have an impact until next year.
Debris of a small boat used by people thought to be migrants to cross the Channel lays amongst the sand dunes in Gravelines, France. Pic: PA
December is normally one of the quietest for Channel crossings, with a combination of poor visibility, low temperatures, less daylight and stormy weather making the perilous journey more difficult.
The most arrivals recorded in the month of December is 3,254, in 2024.
Deputy Prime Minister David Lammy met with ministers from other European countries this week as discussions over possible reform to the European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) continue.
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France agrees to start intercepting small boats
The issue of small boat arrivals – a very small percentage of overall UK immigration – has become a salient issue in British politics in recent years.
Last month, French maritime police announced they would soon be able to intercept boats in the English Channel.
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King reveals ‘good news’ in his battle with cancer and urges people to get checked
Published
2 days agoon
December 12, 2025By
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The King has shared in a television address that, thanks to early diagnosis, his cancer treatment can be reduced in the new year.
In a televised address, Charles said his “good news” was “thanks to early diagnosis, effective intervention and adherence to doctors’ orders”.
“This milestone is both a personal blessing and a testimony to the remarkable advances that have been made in cancer care in recent years,” he added.
“Testimony that I hope may give encouragement to the 50% of us who will be diagnosed with the illness at some point in our lives.”
The King announced in February 2024 that he had been diagnosed with cancer and was beginning treatment.
The monarch postponed all public-facing engagements, but continued with his duties as head of state behind palace walls, conducting audiences and Privy Council meetings.
He returned to public duties in April last year and visited University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre in central London with the Queen and discussed his “shock” at being diagnosed when he spoke to a fellow cancer patient.
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Sources suggested last December his treatment would continue in 2025 and was “moving in a positive direction”.
The King began returning to public duties in April last year. File pic: PA
The King has chosen not to reveal what kind of cancer he has been treated for. Palace sources have partly put that down to the fact that he doesn’t want one type of cancer to appear more significant or attract more attention than others.
In a statement after the speech aired, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said: “His Majesty has responded exceptionally well to treatment and his doctors advise that ongoing measures will now move into a precautionary phase.”
Sir Keir Starmer praised the video message as “a powerful message,” and said: “I know I speak for the entire country when I say how glad I am that his cancer treatment will be reduced in the new year.
“Early cancer screening saves lives.”
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Watch: King Charles gives update on treatment
Early detection can give ‘the precious gift of hope’
His message on Friday was broadcast at 8pm in support of Stand Up To Cancer, a joint campaign by Cancer Research UK and Channel 4.
In an appeal to people to get screened for the disease early, the King said: “I know from my own experience that a cancer diagnosis can feel overwhelming.
“Yet I also know that early detection is the key that can transform treatment journeys, giving invaluable time to medical teams – and, to their patients, the precious gift of hope. These are gifts we can all help deliver.”
Charles noted that “at least nine million people in our country are not up to date with the cancer screenings available to them,” adding: “That is at least nine million opportunities for early diagnosis being missed.
“The statistics speak with stark clarity. To take just one example: When bowel cancer is caught at the earliest stage, around nine in ten people survive for at least five years.
“When diagnosed late, that falls to just one in ten. Early diagnosis quite simply saves lives.”
after months of uncertainty, some relief and reassurance for the King
This is a rare but positive update. The King in his own words speaking about his cancer.
And it’s good news.
Since his diagnosis, he’s received weekly treatment. His work schedule has had to fit around the appointments. And while it’s not stopping, it is being significantly reduced.
He’s responded well, and his recovery has reached, we understand, a very positive stage.
The King’s decision to speak publicly and so personally is unusual.
He has deliberately chosen the moment, supporting the high-profile Stand Up To Cancer campaign, and the launch of a national online screening checker.
It still hasn’t been revealed what kind of cancer he has. And there’s a reason – firstly, it’s private information.
But more importantly, the King knows the power of sharing his story. And with it, the potential to support the wider cancer community.
We are once again seeing a candid openness from the Royal Family. Earlier this year, the Princess of Wales discussed the ups and downs of her cancer journey.
These moments signal a shift towards greater transparency on matters the Royal Family once kept entirely private.
For millions facing cancer, the King’s update is empathy and encouragement from someone who understands.
And after months of uncertainty, for the King himself, some relief and reassurance.
Minor inconvenience of screening ‘a small price to pay’
The King acknowledged that people often avoid screening “because they imagine it may be frightening, embarrassing or uncomfortable”. But, he added: “If and when they do finally take up their invitation, they are glad they took part.
“A few moments of minor inconvenience are a small price to pay for the reassurance that comes for most people when they are either told either they don’t need further tests, or, for some, are given the chance to enable early detection, with the life-saving intervention that can follow.”
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Giving his “most heartfelt thanks” to doctors, nurses, researchers and charity workers, the King added: “As I have observed before, the darkest moments of illness can be illuminated by the greatest compassion. But compassion must be paired with action.
“This December, as we gather to reflect on the year past, I pray that we can each pledge, as part of our resolutions for the year ahead, to play our part in helping to catch cancer early.
“Your life – or the life of someone you love – may depend upon it.”
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