The King is said to be in his “usual good form” and “coping magnificently” after his recent hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement and subsequent news of cancer diagnosis.

However, he is understood to be a “little frustrated” that his diagnosis has affected both his plans and those of the people around him.

King Charles was pictured for the first time as he smiled to the cameras from inside his car, wearing a suit with a purple tie, after his diagnosis of an unspecified cancer.

He flew to Sandringham in Norfolk along with the Queen where he met his youngest son Prince Harry for about 45 minutes.

A Palace source told The Times separately that the King was tired from a procedure the previous day.

“If you didn’t know what was the matter, you wouldn’t have any idea that he had any condition at all,” they said, adding that both the King and Queen were “coping magnificently”.

Prince Harry’s return to the UK to see his ailing father King Charles has dominated the headlines of the British dailies after the major health scare to the royals.

The Telegraph called it “Harry’s dash to see father” while Metro said “King’s cancer shock brings reunion”.

The Express said “Harry’s show of love cheers King” with front page pictures of the first images of the King and the Queen, looking out from their car, since the cancer diagnosis.

The Mirror said the pictures showed the “Brave face of the King”.

The Princess Royal has handed out honours at Windsor Castle as she continues with her royal duties the day after the King’s shock cancer diagnosis.

Anne is the first member of the family to perform royal duties since the news was made public on Monday evening.

When it was announced Charles was due to undergo treatment for an enlarged prostate several weeks ago, Anne proved once again she was a reliable member of the family, taking on investiture ceremonies and continuing her royal visits.

There are no plans for Prince Harry and Prince William to meet while the Duke of Sussex is in the UK to see his father, according to a report.

“The years of disagreements between the Sussexes and the rest of the royals, and decisions by Harry and Meghan to share personal details about their difficult relationships with certain family members, have ramped up speculation about whether the two brothers would meet,” Sky royal correspondent Rhiannon Mills said.

“Currently it appears highly unlikely that will happen during this visit.”

The Prince of Wales will carry out his first public engagement outside of Windsor Castle tonight since his wife’s operation and the King‘s cancer diagnosis.

William will attend the gala fundraising dinner for London’s Air Ambulance Charity in central London in his role as the organisation’s patron.

Kate left hospital last Monday and returned to Adelaide Cottage in Windsor to be reunited with her three children after undergoing planned abdominal surgery on 16 January at the London Clinic.

At the same private hospital, the King received treatment for an enlarged prostate and was discharged the same day as his daughter-in-law, but on Monday.

The gala dinner is raising funds for London’s Air Ambulance Charity’s Up Against Time appeal, which is seeking £15m to replace the service’s helicopter fleet by the autumn.

William is a former air ambulance pilot with the East Anglian Air Ambulance and during the event will meet crew members, former patients and supporters before delivering a short speech.

The Duke of Sussex’s rush to meet his father after the shocking news of his cancer diagnosis is being seen as a testament to the bond that remains between the two estranged family members.

The hopes of a thaw in relations come after Harry’s decision to step down as a working royal in 2020 severely strained his relationship with his brother and father.

He was left barely on speaking terms with his two closest relatives – Charles and the Prince of Wales. Charles’s health scare has prompted his son to return to the UK, signalling the potential for reconciliation between father and son where there is contact, royal commentators have said.

However, Harry and William continue to be estranged. The Prince of Wales reportedly has no intentions of meeting his brother during his short visit.

Richard Fitzwilliams, a royal commentator, said he hopes that “something positive comes out of news which has been a dreadful shock”.

Here are some questions answered about what is known so far about Charles’ condition:

King Charles has flown to Sandringham in Norfolk after he was seen in public for the first time since his cancer diagnosis was announced.

The King was with the Queen as they first traveled to Buckingham Palace from Clarence House and then took a helicopter to reach Sandringham. They arrived at the eastate at around 4.30pm.

There, the monarch met his youngest son Harry and the meeting lasted around 45 minutes. No details of their first interaction in months have been shared yet.

The King will continue to work from Sandringham and red boxes are expected to be delivered to the remote base in West Norfolk.

The King, 75, has postponed all public-facing duties but is continuing with behind-the-scenes work on his red boxes of state papers.