“Speaking to friends of the king in recent weeks about his health, the most common response is … ‘It’s not good,'” Tom Sykes of the Daily Beast reported Thursday.

A friend of the monarch claimed Charles “is determined to beat it and they are throwing everything at it,” adding, “Everyone is staying optimistic, but he is really very unwell. More than they are letting on.” ...

Sykes also reported that the king’s funeral plans — codenamed “Operation Menai Bridge” — are currently being reviewed.