Since the announcement of Charles III's cancer, all eyes have been on the Royal Medical Household, the medical team available 24 hours a day, serving the health of the king and his family.
And more particularly towards the one who directs it: a man named and controversial Dr Michael Dixon, 71 years old, a long-time friend of the King of England who became his personal physician upon his accession to the throne.
Controversial because he is a strong advocate of homeopathy.
This has earned him strong mistrust within the scientific community.
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Shadow Man
In late October 2023, when Charles III boarded a government plane at RAF Brize Norton to begin his four-day state visit to Kenya, he was accompanied by his usual guard of police officers, aides press and photographers.
Among them, in a suit and bow tie, was also Dr. Michael Dixon.
Personal physician to the monarch: the position was created by Elizabeth II in 1973, and comes with many responsibilities.
Not only is this very special doctor in charge of the health of the Sovereign and the Royal Family, attending the births and deaths of the Windsors, and leading a team of doctors at Buckingham Palace, but he may also be called upon to represent the Crown in discussions with the government, as was the case during the coronavirus pandemic.
Before Michael Dixon, the last three heads of the medical house were Sir Huw Thomas, professor of gastrointestinal genetics at Imperial College London, Sir John Cunningham, professor of nephrology at University College London, and Sir Richard Thompson, former president of the Royal College of Physicians.
Michael Dixon is a less orthodox choice than his predecessors.
Although he practiced medicine in the National Health Service (NHS) for almost half a century, he is one of the strongest advocates of alternative medicine, including homeopathy.
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Defender of alternative medicine
As the
Times
notes , Charles III's intimate physician once wrote: "Data exists which indicates that the effects of homeopathy can be real", citing here Indian herbal remedies, "ultra-diluted » with alcohol, which could kill cancer cells in the breast.
Dr Dixon is convinced, homeopathy has not said its last word.
The
Times
also quotes another of his controversial statements: “It is false to say that science has proven that homeopathy is nothing more than a placebo.”
Through the College of Medicine (the name of a lobby group, not a professional body), Dixon also championed non-traditional treatments made available to the NHS and funded by the taxpayer.
For example, he extols the virtues of mental field therapy
(which roughly promises harmony of energies, Editor's note)
, aromatherapy and reflexology.
The kind to declare: “Evidence-based medicine is not the panacea it is made out to be.”
He has also written articles which claim that Christian healers, although "old-fashioned", may be able to help the chronically ill.
A position aligned with the convictions of King Charles III himself, who has repeatedly expressed his interest in alternative medicine.
In 2019, the then Prince of Wales told an audience at Clarence House: "I'm afraid to count how long I've known [Michael], but I have nothing but the greatest admiration for everything he has managed to do over all these years.”
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A disturbing CV
Apart from this questioning pro-alternative medicine position, other gray areas exist around Michael Dixon.
His CV states that he is President of the College of Medicine, Visiting Professor at University College London (UCL) and holds honorary appointments in the medical faculties of the Universities of Exeter and Birmingham.
Problem: as the Times
dug deeper,
it began to doubt the veracity of this information.
UCL, the universities of Exeter and Birmingham notably denied to the English daily any official affiliation with Dr Dixon.
Enough to sow doubt on his professional credibility.
What is certain, however, is that he is the son of Tony Dixon, a torpedo bomber pilot who participated in the sinking of the Bismarck, the German battleship, in 1941.
As a child, he was tossed from side to side and ended up in a boarding school.
Although he dreamed of being a doctor at a very young age, he nevertheless first studied philosophy at Oxford, before moving into medicine at Guy's Hospital in London.
He married an artist and returned to Cullompton, in his native Devon, where he became a general practitioner.
In 1991, when he had been practicing for ten years, he was said to be “depressed” by the lack of help he felt he was providing to his patients.
For him, doctors are just locked in a shackles of pills and prescriptions, with no real solution.
It was at this time that he became interested in alternative medicine.
One thing led to another and he attracted the attention of the Prince of Wales.
The two men understand each other and form a sincere bond.
So much so that Charles appointed Michael Dixon “medical director” of the “Prince's Foundation for Integrated Health” (FIH), the foundation he created in 1993 to promote alternative medicine.
In 2015, Charles awarded his friend the Royal Victorian Order, an honorary title which rewards distinguished or personal services rendered to the sovereign or the royal family.
The official record at the time describes Dr Dixon as being a "medical advisor to the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall", not as Charles' personal physician.
He will become one upon the ascension to the throne of Elizabeth II's eldest son, who therefore discreetly places him at the head of the Royal Medical Household.
For its part, the Palace defends itself in the face of the controversy, qualifying Dr. Dixon's beliefs: “He does not believe that homeopathy can cure cancer.
Its position is that complementary therapies can be used alongside conventional treatments, provided they are safe, appropriate and evidence-based.”
Nevertheless, since the shock announcement of Charles III's cancer diagnosed at the London Clinic, Dr. Dixon's every move has been scrutinized.
Was he part of the medical team present during his operation?
The mystery remains.