Queen Camilla has spoken for the first time about her private turmoil in coping with King Charles' cancer diagnosis, revealing she was "longing to let it out" but couldn't before the news was made public. In a short film made in collaboration between Buckingham Palace and Maggie's to mark the charity's 30th anniversary, she described the experience as "quite difficult" and admitted she "almost said something" but felt the time was not right.
Keeping the secret
The Queen carried on with her royal duties by visiting a Maggie's cancer support centre in 2024 when she knew of Charles's diagnosis but the public did not. She told of the difficult emotional experience of keeping her husband's shocking health news a secret before he revealed it to the rest of the world.
Camilla said: "I remember coming to see a Maggie's just after the King being diagnosed. Nobody could say anything at the time. That was quite difficult. I almost said something but, you know, I felt that it wasn't the time to say."
'Nothing stopped him'
Camilla also spoke of helping to look after her husband but recalled how the King ploughed on after his diagnosis as his way of coping. "Nothing stopped him. He just said 'This is my way. I'm going to cope with it'," she said.
Maggie's chief executive Dame Laura Lee, who was filmed in conversation with Camilla at Clarence House, praised the Queen for her courage during the 2024 engagement. Camilla, who is president of Maggie's, officially launched its new centre at the Royal Free Hospital in London on January 31 2024, while the King was recovering from treatment for an enlarged prostate.
Impact of the King's openness
It was revealed in the film that Charles had, by that time, already been diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer, with the news being announced to the nation by the palace five days later on February 5. The health of the 77-year-old monarch, who is still receiving cancer treatment, is said to be continuing in a very positive direction, with Charles announcing the "personal blessing" at the end of last year that his schedule of treatment was being reduced.
Dame Laura talked about the number of people who had been coming to its centres because of the King being open and continuing to have a productive life, and that Maggie's had seen a 12% increase in men visiting. Charles returned to public-facing engagements in April 2024, less than three months after his treatment began.
She said: "To hear her speak so powerfully of her own emotions when visiting our Royal Free centre, while knowing about His Majesty's diagnosis, is a huge honour. The King's openness about his diagnosis has undoubtedly helped others to be more open themselves and to now hear the Queen's completely understandable and natural response as a wife shines a light on why it is so important that family and friends also get the support they need."
Maggie's has 27 centres across the UK, built in the grounds of major NHS cancer hospitals, and supports hundreds of thousands of people each year. The organisation offers care for people affected by cancer, including free psychological, emotional and practical support, with no appointments necessary for the drop-in sessions.
