King Charles III’s cancer diagnosis heaps more pressure on the British monarchy, which is still evolving after the 70-year reign of the late Queen Elizabeth II. When he succeeded his mother 17 months ago, Charles’ task was to demonstrate that the 1,000-year-old institution remains relevant in a modern nation whose citizens come from all corners of the globe. Now the king, who turned 75 in November, will have to lead that effort while undergoing cancer treatment. Pressure On Buckingham Buckingham Palace announced Monday that Charles had been diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer. The king plans to continue fulfilling his state duties, such as reviewing government papers and meeting with the prime minister, but he will step back from public appearances. Although the duties of a constitutional monarch are largely ceremonial, the royal whirl can be exhausting. Besides the occasional procession in full royal regalia, there are meetings with political leaders, dedication ceremonies and events honoring the accomplishments of British citizens. That added up to 161 days of royal engagements during Charles’s first year on the throne. The pressures on an aging monarch aren’t unique to Charles. Denmark’s Queen Margrethe became the first Danish monarch to abdicate in nearly 900 years last month when she handed over the throne to her son, Frederik. Margrethe, 83, had always maintained she wouldn’t quit. But Britain isn’t Denmark. Queen Elizabeth II stuck by a commitment to devote her life to service before she died on the throne at the age of 96. Charles made a similar commitment during his coronation. “I don’t think he will go anywhere anytime soon,” said Joe Little, managing editor of Majesty Magazine. “I still think that abdication is not a word that is bandied about at Buckingham Palace. I mean, who knows what the coming years will bring, but with the best will in the world, Charles III will reign as his mother did, and until the moment of his death.” A SHRINKING WORKFORCE Charles’ illness comes at an awkward time as he cuts costs, in part by reducing the number of “working royals.” Not only is Charles stepping away from public duties, his daughter-in-law, Kate, the Princess of Wales, isn’t expected to resume her royal tasks until April after recent abdominal surgery. HARRY & MEGHAN MEGHAN Charles’ relationship with his younger son was strained even before Harry and the Duchess of Sussex moved closer to the former Meghan Markle’s home in California and left royal duties in 2020. THE MONARCHY’S RELEVANCE Charles reigns over a country that looks much different from the one his mother inherited in 1952. Over the past seven decades, the U.K. has become a multi-cultural nation where school children speak more than 300 languages and less than half the population identifies as Christian. Against this backdrop, Charles has tried to demonstrate the continuing relevance of the monarchy by reaching out to faith leaders, ethnic minorities and each of the four nations that make up the United Kingdom. Supporters argue this is what makes the monarchy so important. The crown is a unifying force, a symbol of stability in a rapidly changing world and a reminder of the common history and traditions that unite a nation of 67 million people. But others see a hereditary monarch as anachronistic, a vestige of Britain’s feudal past that can’t possibly represent the people of today. During Charles’ coronation, republican campaigners staged protests calling for the monarchy to be replaced by an elected head of state. “The monarchy serves at the pleasure of the people. And the people need to believe that the monarchy is in tune with what’s going on in the world,” Smith said. “And, and I think that’s a kind of constant challenge.”