Katherine, Princess of Wales, managed to kick her cancer struggle, but the same cannot be said for her father-in-law, King Charles III. In a shocking turn of events today, Queen Camilla and her son revealed startling details about King Charles’s health, throwing the future of the British monarchy into uncertainty.

These unexpected revelations have not only shaken the royal family but also ignited widespread speculation about his ability to continue leading in the years to come.

The king and queen are scheduled to head to Australia and Samoa next month in what has been described as a major test of Charles’s stamina amid his ongoing cancer treatment. Charles is reportedly frail and overworked, leading Camilla to try and get him to slow down. Will she be successful?

In a short announcement, Camilla’s son, Tom Parker Bowles, gave a rare health update on His Majesty’s condition, summing up everything in a blunt five-word response.

He spoke about how his mother was coping with the diagnosis: “You only have to look at photographs from now compared to a year ago, and it’s obvious he’s lost a lot of weight and aged considerably.” Camilla has been telling him to take a break, but “he’s a workaholic, he won’t listen,” reports say.

It’s hard to ignore the signs of wear that this year’s events are taking on the king. For the upcoming tour, you will only have four days to glimpse Their Majesties, and then only if you live in Sydney or Canberra. There will be no night engagements at all. One of the few usual bits of royal choreography we will see is when Their Majesties are at Government House. Charles and Camilla are also attending a community barbecue in Western Sydney. However, these engagements are markedly different from the forward-facing public events typically associated with royal tours.

This new schedule reflects the monarch’s current health condition—a type of cancer that has not yet been revealed publicly. It allows for rest and recovery between engagements. Still, Crown Inc. is nothing if not pragmatic. Even before the news of the king’s condition broke, there was likely planning underway for the future. An old family friend shared concerns, saying, “His condition is worse than he’s letting on. They’re worried that he’s frail and taking on too much work with the weight of his cancer diagnosis earlier this year.”

The number of royal engagements the king has undertaken has also reportedly worried his wife, Camilla Parker Bowles. “Of course, he’s determined to beat it, and they’re throwing everything at it. Everyone’s staying optimistic, but he’s really very unwell—more than they’re letting on,” said an insider. This may explain why Prince Harry flew over from California three days later, and why the king agreed to meet with him in February as the world reacted to the news.

Meanwhile, William has been stepping into a more prominent role. With Katherine’s recovery, the Prince of Wales has taken on a much higher profile than his father, who has been conserving his strength for the Australia tour. William will resume long-haul international travel when he heads to South Africa in early November for the Earthshot Awards. This event promises to be a high-profile affair.

For Prince Harry, the potential change in the timeframe of his father’s reign brings specific challenges. Without a peace deal with the institution of his family, there can be no meaningful rehabilitation or maximization of his impact as a global social activist. The truth is, Harry is more likely to make peace with King Charles III than with King William V.

Public sources indicate that Harry and Meghan feel betrayed and excluded by the monarchy’s actions. Royal experts have weighed in on the monarchy’s decision to strip Prince Harry of his royal title, further complicating the potential for reconciliation.