King Charles Returns to Public-Facing Work After Hospitalization for Cancer Treatment Side Effects

King Charles is back on royal duty just days after he was hospitalized due to side effects of his cancer treatment.

The King, 76, carried out an investiture ceremony of worthy and well-deserving members of communities across the U.K. at Windsor Castle on Tuesday, April 1.

It was his first official appearance after he was briefly admitted to the London Clinic on March 27. At the time, the palace said that “the King experienced temporary side effects that required a short period of observation in [the] hospital.”

Later that day, he returned to his London residence, Clarence House, and attended to his state papers. However, the King has taken it slow since, canceling a series of engagements in Birmingham scheduled for March 28.

On the advice of medical staff, he is pacing himself before he and Queen Camilla head to Italy on April 7. Some engagements for the end of this week have been moved, palace officials confirmed.

On March 31, palace aides confirmed to PEOPLE that the King had a “restful” weekend at his country home Highgrove House in Gloucestershire, England.

It is expected that this week he will carry out a series of duties that take him from the investiture at Windsor Castle to Buckingham Palace and on outings in London. He will also hold his weekly in-person meeting with British Prime Minister Keir Starmer.

King Charles and Camilla, 77, will arrive in Rome on April 7 for a week of outings in Italy. However, it was announced on March 25 that the royals will no longer be meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican.

The meeting was postponed by mutual agreement due to the Pope’s continuing recovery following his recent 38-day hospital stay.

The religious leader, 88, has been advised to rest. King Charles and Queen Camilla are believed to have sent him their best wishes for his recuperation.