King Charles meets Iraqi prime minister at Buckingham Palace
The monarch, 76, who is still undergoing treatment for cancer, greeted Al-Sudani, 54, ahead of the Iraqi PM's meeting with Sir Keir Starmer on Tuesday.
King Charles held an audience with Iraq's prime minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani at Buckingham Palace today, as the royal returns to work amid ongoing cancer treatment.Â
The monarch, 76, greeted Al-Sudani, 54, on Tuesday - ahead of the Iraqi PM's meeting with Sir Keir Starmer on Tuesday.Â
The prime ministers are expected to sign a new bilateral security deal and strategic partnership accord during a landmark visit aimed at strengthening ties between Iraq and Britain - against the backdrop of seismic shifts in the Middle East.Â
Writing about his visit to the UK in The Telegraph, Al-Sudani described his meeting with Charles as one of 'symbolic significance'.Â
'it underscores the enduring historical ties between our two countries and highlights the importance we place on deepening dialogue and coordination on issues of security, stability and development in our region,' the politician, who came to power in 2022, added.
Following his visit to Buckingham Palace, Al-Sudani is expected to travel to Downing Street for his meeting with Starmer later on Tueday. Â
The King's audience with the Iraqi prime minister comes after Buckingham Palace confirmed Charles will visit Poland to attend commemoration events for the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz later this month.Â
Charles, who was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer last year, will attend a service on January 27 and meet with members of the local community in Krakow.
King Charles held an audience with Iraq 's prime minister Mohammed Shia Al-Sudani at Buckingham Palace today
The monarch, 76, who is still undergoing treatment for cancer, greeted Al-Sudani, 54, ahead of the Iraqi PM's meeting with Sir Keir Starmer on Tuesday.
The visit will mark 80 years since the liberation of the former German Nazi concentration camp on January 27, 1945.
It will be The Kingâs fifth to Poland - the more recent of which include a 2008 trip with Queen Camilla and in 2010 as part of a wider European tour to Hungary and the Czech Republic.
His Majesty will also meet the President of the Republic of Poland, Mr Andrzej Duda.
The King's cancer treatment is continuing into this year, a Buckingham Palace source previously revealed.
The source has said the 76-year-old's health is still being 'managed' but is 'moving in a positive direction'.
His Majesty intends to return to a full programme of public duties next year. This will include 'exciting' UK and international visits in the first half of 2025, the insider said.
'His treatment has been moving in a positive direction, as a managed condition the treatment cycle will continue into the new year', the Palace source said.
The king's audience with Al-Sudani comes one day after the Daily Mail's Richard Eden reported he will host his royal medical team for an 'important get together' in Balmoral in the coming days.Â
The King's audience with the Iraqi prime minister comes after Buckingham Palace confirmed Charles will visit Poland to attend commemoration events for the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz later this month
The team will be visiting the royals' Aberdeenshire retreat for a meeting to discuss all health matters relating to The Firm.Â
A royal source, however, stressed that the meeting is an annual event not related to the cancer treatment of the King or the Princess of Wales, who is making a gradual return to work after completing a course of preventative chemotherapy last September.Â
Charles has been carrying on with his duties despite facing a personally challenging year in which both he and the Princess of Wales were diagnosed with cancer.
News of Charles' cancer, undisclosed in its form, came in February, after it was discovered while he was treated in hospital for an enlarged prostate in January.
He cancelled all face-to-face public duties but returned in April and has since travelled to France for D-Day commemorations, hosted incoming state visits for the Emperor of Japan and the Emir of Qatar, and undertaken a hectic tour to Australia and Samoa with the Queen, despite still undergoing outpatient cancer treatment.
On the same day that Charles met Al-Sudani at Buckingham Palace, Kate, 43, embarked on her first major major solo engagement in more than a year.
The Princess of Wales was effortlessly elegant in an all-red ensemble - as she made a deeply emotional visit to the Royal Marsden Hospital in London this morning, where it can now be revealed she has been undergoing her own cancer treatment.Â
The compassionate mother-of-three met with patients to show her support and personally thanked staff for their âexceptional care, support and compassionâ over the past 12 months.Â
As revealed by the Mail on Sunday earlier this month, todayâs visit is one of a small number of engagements Catherine will undertake this year as part of a deliberately slow and measured return to duties. She opted for an elegant all-red ensemble
It came as Kensington Palace revealed that the princess will join her husband as joint Royal Patron of the Marsden, a role that Prince Williamâs mother Diana, Princess of Wales, once held before her.
As revealed by the Mail on Sunday earlier this month, todayâs visit is one of a small number of engagements Catherine will undertake this year as part of a deliberately slow and measured return to duties.Â
Meanwhile, Charles and Queen Camilla are set to travel to Italy, for their first major royal tour of the year.
The visit will see him meet with Pope Francis for the first time as monarch.
The historic meeting will see Charles hold a private audience with the Pope during the Rome leg of their Spring trip.
With Italy marking its jubilee year, the visit of King Charles will signify a major sign of intent on the monarch's behalf.