Kate Beckinsale praises King Charles for ‘being really open’ about his cancer diagnosis

Kate Beckinsale is applauding King Charles III amid his battle with cancer.

The British actor, 50, praised the 75-year-old monarch for being candid about his cancer diagnosis as she reflected on her own relationship with cancer in her family. While attending the King’s Trust Gala in New York City on 2 May, the Underworld star said she’s “impressed” with “how open” Charles has been about his health.

“My mom’s got cancer and my step dad just died of cancer, and I think having a monarchy that is... you know, people kinda go: ‘Why’ve you got it? What’s it for?’ and all of that. Then there’s this, and actually being really open about quite personal things that I think is really important,” Beckinsale told reporters at the event, per People.

“I’m really impressed that he’s doing that,” she added.

Beckinsale, who previously revealed in a since-deleted post that her mother Judy Loe has been “battling gracefully and quietly dealing with stage four cancer for the last six years,” noted that her mother and Charles “happened to be at the same cancer hospital” recently.

“I hope everyone gets better. I’m f***ing sick of cancer, I really am,” the Van Helsing star said.

Her stepfather, Roy Battersby, died earlier this year aged 87 after “a brief period of illness,” Beckinsale announced on Instagram in January.

The Total Recall star’s praise for King Charles comes following her recent hospitalisation for an undisclosed health issue. On 11 March, she shared an Instagram photo of herself in a hospital bed while paying tribute to her mother in honour of Mother’s Day, which fell on 10 March in the United Kingdom. She included two pictures of herself in a hospital bed, as she wore a large black headband with a bow on her head. The post also featured a snap of Beckinsale’s friend visiting her at the hospital.

“Thank you to those that love us and support us when it’s s*** and try to make sure there are some bits that aren’t,” Beckinsale wrote in the caption. “And for looking after our dogs when we can’t, and lead us to remember happy things when we can’t. And turn up when we are sick and sit with us... And send balloons and check in and pull us out of wells with love.”

In February, King Charles publicly announced he had been diagnosed with cancer following treatment for an enlarged prostate. The royal family did not specify the form of cancer, but revealed he would be undergoing treatment at the time.

This week, he made his return to public-facing duties for the first time since his diagnosis. Charles met with fellow cancer patients at the University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre on 30 April, where he reassured the public “I’m well” and spoke about the importance of early diagnosis.

When asked about his health by one patient during Tuesday’s visit, the monarch replied: “I’m all right thank you very much, not too bad.”