KING & COUNTRY

He's 'radiating positivity' before tour Down Under

- RUSSELL MYERS

KING Charles has turned to his love of nature to help him battle back from cancer and chemotherapy, we can reveal today.

It comes as the monarch is said to be "radiating positivity" while he prepares for a nine-day royal tour of Australia and Samoa, starting on October 18.

Royal sources say 75-year-old Charles is thriving from following a renewed health regime in which he is "immersing himself" in the great outdoors.

They cite his desire to "get lots of fresh air and encourage family visits" as a main factor in his continued recovery.

And one insider said the "workaholic" King has had to be "persuaded to be mindful of pacing his diary".

Charles has been spending time at his Birkhall home on the Balmoral estate in Aberdeenshire in recent weeks, planning his first major international tour since his diagnosis. Our source said:

"The King, by nature, is a workaholic. If he's not on public engagements, he is working on the next set while staying across his government papers or responding to correspondence. He hasn't really slowed down despite the protests from those around him, but it has been important to him to remain to be seen.

"Even during his treatment he was keen to make sure things were in place for him to make a full-time return.

"Now things are moving in a very positive direction, which has enabled him to make long-term plans."