Prince Edward has spoken out about the King’s health ahead of the duke’s landmark birthday on Sunday.
The Duke of Edinburgh thanked the public for the “extraordinary support” following his brother’s cancer diagnosis in February.
Prince Edward is set to celebrate his 60th birthday on Sunday after a week of public engagements with his wife Sophie, Duchess of Edinburgh.
The late Queen Elizabeth II’s youngest child said: “We were all hugely grateful for the extraordinary support from everyone.
Prince Edward will celebrate his 60th birthday on Sunday
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“I know he has been very touched by it all.”
The King has been undergoing treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer and has stepped back from public-facing duties.
Charles has however been holding private audiences in London. On Wednesday the King met with the Ambassador of Algeria, Nourredine Yazid, at Buckingham Palace.
Prince Edward told the Daily Mail: “He's doing well, we are keeping our fingers crossed that it all goes very well.”
Prince Edward was presented with a birthday cake during a royal visit
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On Friday the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh made a royal visit to Leeds where Edward was presented with a 60th birthday cake.
The royal was presented with a cake in the shape of a tennis court topped with adorable figures of him and his wife made of icing.
The host joked with the duke that it was about time for him to "get his buss pass".
The couple visited the Community Sport and Recreation Awards at Headingley Stadium to mark International Women’s Day.
Prince Edward was presented with a Leeds Rhinos rugby league shirt
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The couple met female rugby players at the event and highlighted the importance of diversity and inclusion in sport.
Amongst the group of women was Julia Lee, the UK’s first female rugby referee and Lisa McIntosh, the first woman of colour to lead a British sports team.
Speaking at the event, Edward said: “We must do better to make everybody feels part of sport.”
At the stadium, the prince was also presented with a Leeds Rhinos rugby league shirt with the number 60 on the back.
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Prince Edward said that the King is "doing well"
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The duke joked: “Thanks a bunch. I really need to be reminded.”
Ahead of her husband’s birthday, the Duchess of Edinburgh also paid tribute to her “darling” husband calling him “the best of fathers” and “the most loving of husbands.”
Prince Edward is the President of the Sports and Recreation Alliance; a role he took over from King Charles in 2009.
Earlier in the week, the royal couple also visited a boxing club where the duke held onto a punch bag while a young boxer trained.
