King Charles's cancer message has achieved one thing no royal has ever done before

For someone who has been very open about their cancer from the start, the King's personal reflections on his cancer journey do not come as a surprise. In the wake of hisy, the King made the brave decision to be transparent about his diagnosis.

He has , speaking candidly about the realities of cancer, about losing his sense of taste and smell and the shock of receiving the initial diagnosis. And it was a masterstroke of his not to reveal the type of cancer he has, as the King was keen to reach the widest number of people who are experiencing the disease, rather than narrow the focus onto a particular form of cancer.

Charles's commitment to shine a light on the disease and spread the message of the importance of early diagnosis has led some sources to confirm that the four C's - the core pillars of his philanthropic work - have now become five.

Cancer has joined climate, community, culture and Commonwealth that underpin his top working priorities.

Over the past 14 months, he's sought to put duty first at every step, refusing to let a state counsellor step in when he first started his treatment and instead reluctantly heeding advice to postpone his public-facing duties while continuing to work behind the scenes at home.

before resuming a near-normal diary of engagements just three months after starting treatment.

His stoic work ethic was seen during his gruelling tour of Australia and Samoa, which on the long-haul trip.

And this year he has thrown himself into work, travelling up and down the country to undertake royal visits and busying himself with his stately duties at home - despite his ongoing weekly treatment course.

His brief hospitalisation in March was a reminder that no matter how hard he works, Charles is still battling what he once described as a "wicked disease".

Though he appeared in good spirits during his four-day state visit to Italy with the Queen, his quieter diary in the weeks that followed rather suggested that he had taken on advice from all corners that it was best to slow down. But his diary over the coming weeks suggests the change in pace is only short-lived.

Charles often cracks jokes about his mortality, whether he's hoping he lives long enough to see a tree grow or to visit countries far and wide.

The King has shown incredible strength and fortitude throughout his diagnosis, which came just 18 months into his reign.

But instead of shying away from his responsibilities and reducing his workload while he navigated the unpredictable path of cancer, Charles has approached the disease head-on and demonstrated how it is possible to continue leading a full life while having cancer treatment.

Moreover, his decision to speak openly about his journey has humanised him in a way no royal has achieved before.

Charles is no longer just a picture on a bank note, he's a 76-year-old father, grandfather and husband who is fighting cancer just like thousands of others.

His decision to end his heartfelt message by quoting cancer campaigner Dame Deborah James will resonate with so many and serves as an important reminder that the disease is unpredictable, brutal and unforgiving - but it's the human spirit that perseveres above all else.