King Charles to miss Commonwealth Day Service

Buckingham Palace announced on Tuesday that Britain's King Charles will be absent from next week's engagements commemorating Commonwealth Day. 

The monarch's wife, Queen Camilla, will stand in for him as he continues to undergo treatment for cancer. 

King Charles has been compelled to step away from his public duties following the revelation last month of his diagnosis with an unspecified form of cancer, less than 18 months into his reign.

Queen Camilla is set to lead a contingent of senior royals in attendance at next week's events, including Prince William, the heir-to-the-throne. 

Notably absent from the lineup will be William's wife, Kate Middleton, who has been out of the public eye this year following abdominal surgery for a non-cancer related ailment.

While Charles maintains his official state duties and was seen meeting with finance minister Jeremy Hunt on Tuesday ahead of his budget statement to parliament, the timeline for his return to his regular public role remains uncertain.