There is a question that everyone asks in British society and in the corridors of power, but no one will ever ask directly: how is King Charles really doing? According to some British tabloids, things are not going well at all and the sovereign is much worse off than his staff suggests. The Daily Beast discusses this in an article today, and other tabloids also seem to be speculating on the same hypotheses.

Charles is reportedly not reacting well to anti-tumor treatments, and Buckingham Palace has already made changes to the official protocol for the sovereign’s funeral, known as “Menai Bridge”. Insiders are saying that the situation has worsened, and an old family friend told the Daily Beast, “Of course he is determined to beat the cancer. Everyone remains optimistic, but he is really very sick. More than they let on.”

Not only are plans for Charles’ funeral being updated regularly, but tabloids are also reporting on a document circulating in Whitehall that examines what went right after the Queen’s funeral and what could be improved for the next monarch’s funeral. The government department responsible for state funerals, the Cabinet Office, has refused to comment on claims that the Operation Menai Bridge document (Charles’ funeral plan) is regularly updated, emphasizing that not commenting on such plans is routine.