Earlier this year it was announced that the monarch had been diagnosed with an unspecified form of cancer following a routine procedure for an enlarged prostate in January.

Since then Charles has reportedly being splitting his time between London, where he is being treated, and the royal estate of Sandringham, his place of choice to rest and recuperate.

Just how the King is faring in the midst of his health battle is a matter very much up for discussion.

Though the Palace were up front and candid with the news of his diagnosis, they did not disclose what specific cancer he had, nor what stage he was in.

Worryingly, a report from the Daily Beast this week – parroted by TMZ – claimed that His Royal Highness is in poor health. They state that though Charles has looked hale and healthy during the few outings where he’s been spotted since January, things aren’t going so well behind the scenes.

In fact, the Daily Beast even say that the King’s aides are updating his funeral plans on a regular basis. There’s also supposedly a code name for said plans, ‘Operation Menai Bridge’.

TMZ cite a royal insider as having claimed: “Of course he is determined to beat it and they are throwing everything at it. Everyone is staying optimistic, but he is really very unwell. More than they are letting on.”

Now, it’s only natural that funeral arrangements are in consideration given Charles’s age and current health issues, not to mention the fact that a monarch’s send-off is a grand affair that requires extensive planning anyway. Even so, the idea that Charles’s treatment isn’t going exactly to plan is a sobering thought.

Earlier this month, other reports suggested that Charles is planning to invite Prince Harry and Meghan Markle to the UK later this year in the hopes of spending more time with his grandchildren, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.

Given the tumultuous circumstances that have plagued the King’s relationship with Prince Harry in recent years – and all that Harry and Meghan have said since moving to the US – it should come as small surprise to many that Charles hasn’t seen nearly so much of Archie and Lilibet as he would have liked.

“I can see Charles desperately wanting to see the children, and extending this olive branch to Meghan and Harry,” a royal insider told Page Six. “He may decide that life is just too short. Balmoral is truly the perfect, restful place for a reunion. If he does issue an invite, then Harry and Meghan should surely agree to the visit.”