King Charles III’s Bloodshot Eye During French State Visit Sparks Concern

King Charles III greeted French President Emmanuel Macron and First Lady Brigitte Macron during their first state visit to the U.K. in 17 years — but it was the monarch's visibly bloodshot eye that sparked concern and comparisons to the late Queen Elizabeth II.

President Emmanuel Macron and his wife, Brigitte Macron, touched down in the United Kingdom on Tuesday, July 8. The couple was greeted by King Charles and Queen Camilla, along with other members of the royal family during their welcome ceremony.

They are said to be staying at Windsor Castle, hosted by the King and Queen, and their arrival was followed by a banquet in their honor. Videos and images of the ceremony have been circulating online, with netizens noting King Charles' frighteningly red eye.

It was reported that he had suffered a burst blood vessel and many expressed concern for the elder royal, who has been undergoing treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer.

"God save the king and he's royal eye amen [sic]," one person wrote. "Hope he's alright," another said.

"Hope King Charles recovers quickly," a commenter echoed the sentiment. Others commended His Majesty for carrying out his royal duties despite his health battles.

"He's worked so much since his diagnosis, you have to respect how dedicated he is to his role😭❤️," a viewer noted. "And he still shows up! Never makes excuses like the other lady," another remarked.

Some commenters also recalled that the late Queen Elizabeth II made headlines in 2012 when people noticed she had a bloodshot eye. A spokesperson for Buckingham Palace at the time stated that "nothing untoward" had happened to cause it, and that she was in "fine fettle."

A palace source spoke to PEOPLE in King Charles' regard on Tuesday, confirming that he had a burst blood vessel; however, it wasn't cause for major concern and was unrelated to any other health condition, including his ongoing cancer treatment.