King Charles III briefly hospitalized for observation following side effects from cancer treatment

LONDON (AP) — King Charles III was briefly hospitalized for observation on Thursday after experiencing “temporary side effects’’ related to a scheduled cancer treatment, Buckingham Palace said in a statement.

His engagements for Thursday afternoon and Friday were canceled.

“His majesty has now returned to Clarence House and as a precautionary measure, acting on medical advice, tomorrow’s diary program will also be rescheduled,’’ the palace said. “His majesty would like to send his apologies to all those who may be inconvenienced or disappointed as a result.’’

The king's health has been closely watched ever since early last year when he announced that he had been diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer. Charles, 76, stepped away from public duties for about three months but continued fulfilling state duties, such as reviewing government papers and meeting with the prime minister.

Charles' cancer diagnosis has heaped pressure on the British monarchy, which is still evolving after the 70-year reign of the late Queen Elizabeth II.

When he succeeded his mother in September 2022, Charles’ task was to demonstrate that the 1,000-year-old institution remains relevant in a modern nation whose citizens come from all corners of the globe. But this task takes much time and energy.

Although the duties of a constitutional monarch are largely ceremonial, the royal whirl can be exhausting. Besides the occasional procession in full royal regalia, there are meetings with political leaders, dedication ceremonies and events honoring the accomplishments of British citizens. That added up to 161 days of royal engagements during Charles’s first year on the throne.

Charles' illness came as his daughter-in-law, Kate, the Princess of Wales, was also diagnosed with cancer. Kate, the wife of Prince William, took more than six months off before returning to public duties in late September.

Find more of AP’s coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/royalty

FILE - Britain's King Charles III waves as he arrives for a visit to University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre in London, Tuesday, April 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, File)

FILE - Britain's King Charles III waves goodbye as he departs following a visit to the Injury Studies at the Imperial College London's White City Campus to highlight the UK's support to injured service personnel in Ukraine, in London, Wednesday, Feb. 19, 2025. (AP Photo/Kirsty Wigglesworth, Pool, File)

FILE - Britain's King Charles III holds up flowers he was given as he leaves after a visit to University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre in London, Tuesday, April 30, 2024. (AP Photo/Kin Cheung, File)

FILE - Britain's King Charles III and Queen Camilla wave as they arrive by carriage on the first day of the Royal Ascot horse race meeting at Ascot, England, Tuesday, June 18, 2024. (AP Photo/Alberto Pezzali, File)

FILE - Britain's King Charles III smiles during his visit to the Forsinard Flows Visitor Centre in Forsinard, Highland, Scotland, July 31, 2024. (Jane Barlow/Pool Photo via AP, File)

Britain's King Charles III greets Riz Lateef during a reception at Buckingham Palace, London, for guests from a wide range of media organisations across the country, Wednesday March 26, 2025. (Aaron Chown, Pool via AP)

Britain's King Charles III greets a guest during a reception at Buckingham Palace, London, for guests from a wide range of media organisations across the country, Wednesday March 26, 2025. (Aaron Chown, Pool via AP)

Britain's King Charles III greets a guest during a reception at Buckingham Palace, London, for guests from a wide range of media organisations across the country, Wednesday March 26, 2025. (Aaron Chown, Pool via AP)

King Charles III smiles during a visit to the 'Soil: The world at our feet' exhibition at Somerset House on Wednesday, March 26, 2025, in London, England. (Chris Jackson/Pool photo via AP)

Freezing rain brought down trees and power lines in Michigan and Wisconsin, cutting electricity for thousands of people Sunday in the upper Great Lakes region, while forecasters said severe weather was on its way to Tennessee.

Winds topping 70 mph (112 kph) were possible for the middle of Tennessee, with a chance of tornadoes as well as hail as large as 2 inches (5 centimeters) Sunday night, the National Weather Service said.

“Have your safe place cleaned out just in case,” forecasters said on social platform X.

More than 400,000 power outages were reported in Michigan, Indiana and Wisconsin. Churches that had power, as well as schools and fire halls, were turned into warming centers as utilities worked to restore electricity, a job that will likely stretch into Monday in small communities and rural pockets.

The Weather Service office in Gaylord, Michigan, was in the middle of it, saying on X: “Accumulations range here from a half inch to nearly a whole inch of ice!”

Despite the calendar showing spring, “it's still winter,” said Ryan Brege, managing director of the Alpena County, Michigan, Road Commission, 250 miles (402 kilometers) north of Detroit.

Alpena Power said nearly all of its 16,750 customers — homes and businesses — were in the dark. Many churches without power in Wisconsin and Michigan were forced to cancel Sunday services.

"We pray that everyone stays safe!” said Calvary Lutheran Church in Merrill, Wisconsin.

Jesika Fox said she and her husband drove more than 40 minutes from their home in Alpena, Michigan, to find fuel for a generator. Her family lost power Saturday night but kept the house warm by using a fan to circulate heat from a gas-burning stove.

“We just passed a veterinary clinic. The entire front corner of the building was taken out by a tree,” said Fox, 36.

Sarah Melching, emergency services manager in nearby Presque Isle County, said virtually the entire county — population 13,200 — has no power.

“There are trees still falling down. It’s kind of ruthless out there,” Melching said.

Authorities in South Carolina reported progress Sunday in controlling wildfires in the Blue Ridge mountains. The Table Rock and Persimmon Ridge fires have burned about 17 square miles (44 square kilometers). Mandatory evacuations were ordered Saturday for some residents of Greenville County.

“Thank you for the prayers. They’re being heard. There’s rain in the air," said Derrick Moore, operations chief for the firefighting Southern Area Blue Team.

A broken tree rests in a yard after a storm in Howell, Mich., Sunday, March 30, 2025. (Chad Livengood/Detroit News via AP)

A tree lies fallen between two vehicles at a residence near the intersection of Beech Street and Division Street on Sunday, March 30, 2025, after severe thunderstorms and high winds in East Lansing, Mich. (Arthur H. Trickett-Wile/MLive.com/The Grand Rapids Press via AP)

A tree lies fallen between two vehicles at a residence near the intersection of Beech Street and Division Street on Sunday, March 30, 2025, after severe thunderstorms and high winds in East Lansing, Mich. (Arthur H. Trickett-Wile/MLive.com/The Grand Rapids Press via AP)

A tree lies fallen atop the rear section of a car near the intersection of Beech Street and Division Street on Sunday, March 30, 2025, after severe thunderstorms and high winds in East Lansing, Mich. (Arthur H. Trickett-Wile/MLive.com/The Grand Rapids Press via AP)

A bush is coated with thick ice outside the National Weather Service office in Gaylord, Mich., Sunday, March 30, 2025, after freezing rain caused thousands of power outages in the region. (National Weather Service visa AP)