Latest: King Charles and William make first public comments since cancer diagnosis – live

The Prince of Wales said the royal family appreciate the “kind messages” they have received following the King’s cancer diagnosis.

Arriving at a gala dinner for London’s Air Ambulance on Wednesday evening, William waved to people gathered outside the venue in central London.

He said: “We really appreciate everyone’s kind messages, thank you.”

If Charles was incapacitated, the Prince of Wales could be appointed Prince Regent through the Regency Act 1937, taking over the King’s duties.

However, Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said the King’s cancer has been “caught early”, suggesting any prospect of a regency is unlikely at this stage.

Stephen Fry has praised the King for revealing his cancer diagnosis to the public, but said he is “anxious” for him.

The 66-year-old actor and comedian, who had prostate cancer in 2018, said Charles’s “very swift modernising” of the monarchy now includes “an openness about something as personal and indelicate as a cancer”.

Announcing on Monday that Charles has been diagnosed with a form of cancer, Buckingham Palace said he had chosen to share the news to “assist public understanding” for those around the world affected by the disease.

Speaking on the BBC’s Today Podcast, Fry said: “I am anxious, of course – anxious for his wellbeing, and anxious that, having sort of been in the wings all this time and to have such a short time on centre stage, if he were to be seriously ill, would be really, really sad, because he has a lot to do and a lot he wants to do.

“I think what he wants to do is good, is beneficial for the country and for the people he’s there to help.”

The former QI host stressed the importance of people talking about the disease. “Cancer is sort of mushroom-like – in the dark it grows,” he said. “It’s more dangerous when not exposed to the light. It’s a bit like the Voldemort principle in the Harry Potter books – if you’re afraid to say the name then the name has more power over you.”

The event for the London Air Ambulance Charity was the Prince of Wales’ first public speech and appearance since King Charles’ cancer diagnosis

Tom Cruise was a fellow guest at the event, and the pair spoke and posed together for photos.

William later thanked “fellow pilot” Cruise for attending and made a lighthearted joke about the A-lister, saying “Tom, if you wouldn’t mind not borrowing either of the new helicopters for the next Mission Impossible, it would be appreciated.”

The 75-year-old monarch’s cancer diagnosis was announced on 5 February, after undergoing a procedure for benign prostate enlargement.

When you’re unwell, having an estranged family member show up to offer support – no matter how briefly – only adds to your stress.

I dare say, to Prince Harry, flying in to be with his father who has just been given a cancer diagnosis is the act of a concerned and dutiful son. But after some 17 months spent on mostly non-speaking terms with his papa, would it be uncharitable to say that to the rest of us it all looked rather… performative?

Read the comment piece from Paul Clements, deputy voices editor for The Independent who also spent two weeks in a coma.

Prince Harry flew back home to California on Wednesday, completing a 26-hour turnaround having arrived in the UK after his father revealed his cancer diagnosis to his youngest son over the phone.

There were hopes that the 39-year-old prince’s visit would help repair damaged relationships between himself, his father, and his brother the Prince of Wales. But any hopes of a reconciliation were dashed when Harry was spotted at Heathrow Airport on Wednesday afternoon.

My colleague Athena Starvou has more:

In the decades spent waiting to ascend to the throne, King Charles has always ensured he maintained a strict diet and rigid daily exercise routine.

Weekly audiences between the King and Rishi Sunak are expected to resume in person in two weeks following Charles’ cancer diagnosis, it is understood.

Downing Street and Buckingham Palace took the unusual step of confirming details of a call between the two on Wednesday, in an attempt to show the King was carrying on with his duties.

The prime minister was due to wish Charles well in the brief phone conversation before formal face-to-face audiences are set to start again on 21 February.