What happened in minutes before King Charles's cancer update
The announcement that King Charles III is returning to royal duties came to the press shortly before it was released to the public.
King Charles III will return to royal duties, Buckingham Palace has announced, just a few months after news of his cancer diagnosis was made public.
The Palace revealed that the monarch, 75, was diagnosed with an undisclosed cancer on February 6 this year, and his official duties were postponed while he received "regular treatments".
News that he will return to public-facing duties was revealed today, with the world receiving the update on news bulletins and websites at 6pm this evening.
Articles and broadcasts - regardless of the outlet - disclosing this news appeared at exactly the same time, and there is a reason behind this.
This is because Express.co.uk journalists and our counterparts at other papers and broadcasters received advanced notice of the update straight from the Palace - a couple of hours beforehand.
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The Royal Family typically makes the press aware of major announcements an hour or two ahead of time, and this latest case is no different.
We received advanced notice this afternoon in the form of a statement from Buckingham Palace that gave an update on Charles's health and a picture of the King and Queen.
That notice was "embargoed", a term that means articles containing the information must not be disclosed until a certain time - in this case 6pm.
This allows journalists and editors to prepare detailed coverage, such as articles, videos or radio packages, without rushing.
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Ultimately, the public benefits from multi-dimensional coverage that might not have been possible if the Royal Family provided limited short notice.
The embargoed statement sent to Express.co.uk and other news organisations reveals that the King has hit a "milestone" in his "treatment and recuperation" that will allow him to return to official duties.
The statement reads as follows: "His Majesty The King will shortly return to public-facing duties after a period of treatment and recuperation following his recent cancer diagnosis.
"To help mark this milestone, The King and Queen will make a joint visit to a cancer treatment centre next Tuesday, where they will meet medical specialists and patients.
"This visit will be the first in a number of external engagements His Majesty will undertake in the weeks ahead.
"In addition, The King and Queen will host Their Majesties The Emperor and Empress of Japan for a State Visit in June, at the request of HM Government.
"As the first anniversary of The Coronation approaches, Their Majesties remain deeply grateful for the many kindnesses and good wishes they have received from around the world throughout the joys and challenges of the past year."
