In a quiet yet eye-opening turn of events, King Charles recently made an unannounced stop at a renowned wellness center in India that promotes therapies for cancer support.
The Soukya Spa in Bengaluru, run by acclaimed naturopath Dr. Issac Mathai, claims to provide “supportive and palliative cancer care,” alongside other treatments that blend classical homeopathy and holistic practices.
A Controversial Choice
This visit has stirred attention not only for its secrecy but also because it appears to sidestep a longstanding royal protocol against combining private trips with official ones.
King Charles and Queen Camilla, who were returning from an official tour of Australia and Samoa, reportedly stopped at Soukya without notifying the press. A palace spokesperson described the detour as “private,” though some see it as part of the king’s well-known commitment to alternative medicine.
The visit came to light only after local Indian media reported on the royal couple’s stay, prompting palace sources to confirm the three-night visit. According to reports in The New Indian Express, the couple’s daily itinerary involved morning yoga, “rejuvenation treatments,” meditation, and walks on Soukya’s lush campus grounds.
Holistic Healing or Risky Departure?
Charles’ visit also renews focus on his personal approach to health, which has often been a mix of mainstream and complementary therapies. Diagnosed with cancer in February, the king has reportedly relied on weekly conventional treatments, understood to be radiotherapy, which had been temporarily paused for his overseas tour.
However, there is no indication that Charles received alternative cancer therapies during this particular visit. A close friend of the king’s told The Daily Beast: “He has always taken a holistic approach to health, and it has served him well over the past year. He is doing fantastically well.”
This isn’t Charles’ first visit to Soukya; he’s stopped there nine times previously, showing a longstanding loyalty to Dr. Mathai, a doctor praised internationally for his work in natural medicine. Dr. Mathai, who attended Charles’ coronation, is a vocal advocate for integrated treatments that blend Western and traditional medicine.
In a previous interview with The Times of India, he stated: “I won’t say we have cured cancer, but along with radiotherapy and chemotherapy, alternative medicine is prescribed for effective pain management.”
Royal Advocate or ‘Witchcraft’ Enthusiast?
This visit brings up old controversies tied to Charles’ advocacy for complementary medicine. Charles has championed alternative approaches for decades, famously clashing with the British Medical Association (BMA).
Back in 1982, in a speech at the BMA, he urged scientists to explore faith healing, claiming it could address the “patient’s physical and social environment, as well as his relation to the cosmos.” In a strong rebuke, the BMA declared in 2010: “Homeopathy is witchcraft,” underscoring the enduring divide between Charles’ holistic beliefs and the medical establishment.
In today’s political climate, some may applaud Charles’ boldness, while others question the prudence of mixing royalty and alternative medicine. As one supporter noted, “The king has always done things his own way, and maybe that’s what we need.”