How long will the king stay away from the public scene? When will he return to London for his duties and public appearances? These questions are being raised as the king remains at Sandringham, where he spent Christmas with the Windsor family. He is reported to be receiving medical treatment there, with no official regency declared.
It has been revealed that the king has been receiving treatment for an early-stage tumor with the help of his personal homeopathic doctor. While the palace has assured that the king will continue to fulfill his institutional duties, there are concerns about the potential need for a senior member of the royal family to take on some constitutional functions on behalf of the king if his absence from public life becomes prolonged. The monarchy’s visibility has been a significant aspect of its enduring success, and the absence of the king’s public appearances raises questions about the need to ensure the continuity of the institution. The history of previous crises in the monarchy, such as King Edward VIII’s abdication and Queen Victoria’s struggle to maintain the institution’s stability after her husband’s death, serve as reminders of the importance of maintaining visibility.
As the public and the media ponder the king’s prolonged absence and the potential implications for the monarchy, the Windsor family is under pressure to ensure the king’s visibility and the continuity of the institution. (original text was in Italian)