A British cardiologist who advises Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s MAHA Action has said “it’s highly likely that the COVID vaccines have been a factor, a significant factor in the cancer of members of the royal family.”
Dr. Aseem Malhotra spoke at the Reform U.K. party conference in Birmingham on Saturday when he said he had been asked to relay a view from an oncologist that links King Charles III and Kate Middleton’s cancer diagnoses to the virus vaccine.
Newsweek has contacted the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the royal family and Malhotra via email, for comment.
Why It Matters
Claims that COVID-19 vaccines caused cancer in prominent public figures can affect public confidence in vaccination programs and influence uptake, which public-health authorities say prevent disease and serious illness.
It comes after Kennedy last month canceled all federal funding for 22 mRNA vaccine development projects in the U.S., saying they “fail to protect effectively against upper respiratory infections like COVID and flu.”
Multiple doctors and scientists have spoken out against this decision, with many arguing in favor of mRNA, including Dr. Lucky Tran, a molecular biologist, who said the rhetoric was harmful with scientists “developing mRNA-based cancer vaccines that could save so many lives.”
What To Know
Malhotra made his remarks at Reform U.K.’s annual conference while discussing alleged harms from mRNA COVID-19 vaccines; he said he was relaying the opinion of an expert he described as “one of Britain’s most eminent oncologists.”
“He thinks it’s highly likely that the COVID vaccines have been a factor in the cancer of members of the royal family,” said Malhotra.
The king’s diagnosis was announced by Buckingham Palace in February 2024, and the Princess of Wales announced she was undergoing treatment in March 2024 and later reported remission in January 2025
Mainstream health bodies and cancer researchers have rejected a causal link between COVID-19 vaccines and cancer.
Cancer Research U.K. told the British newspaper, The Guardian: “There is no good evidence of a link between the COVID-19 vaccine and cancer risk. The vaccine is a safe and effective way to protect against the infection and prevent serious symptoms.”
What People Are Saying
British Health Secretary Wes Streeting said in a post on X: “With falling numbers of parents getting their children vaccinated, and a resurgence of disease we had previously eradicated, it’s shockingly irresponsible for [Reform leader Nigel] Farage to give a platform to these poisonous lies. He should apologize and sever all ties with this dangerous extremism.”
Reform U.K. told British newspaper The Times: “Dr. Aseem Malhotra is a guest speaker with his own opinions who has an advisory role in the U.S. government. Reform U.K. does not endorse what he said, but does believe in free speech.”
What Happens Next
Health officials have warned that continued dissemination of unverified medical claims could depress vaccination rates; ministers said they would monitor the consequences for public confidence. The criticism of Malhotra’s statements is likely to prompt renewed calls for media and political platforms to scrutinize health claims.
Independent scientific review and public statements by major health authorities remain the benchmark for assessing vaccine safety. At present, major agencies including the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the U.K. National Health Service maintain that there is no established evidence that COVID-19 vaccines cause cancer.
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