Queen Camilla has shared how her husband King Charles reacted to his cancer diagnosis, revealing his four-word response: "I'm going to cope."
The monarch has kept much of his cancer journey private over recent years. In February 2024, Buckingham Palace announced that he had been diagnosed with "a form of cancer" after undergoing a procedure to treat an enlarged prostate the month prior. Charles paused public-facing engagements following his diagnosis before returning to duties in April 2024.
King Charles's treatment and recovery
He maintained a demanding schedule at home and overseas while undergoing treatment. In December, the King delivered an encouraging update on his health, announcing that the frequency of his treatment could be "significantly reduced", although the Palace has not described him as being in remission or cured.
Buckingham Palace said at the time that Charles had "responded exceptionally well to treatment," and his recovery had reached a "very positive" stage, with that guidance remaining unchanged.
Queen Camilla speaks about the diagnosis
Speaking about the diagnosis for the first time, Queen Camilla said King Charles responded, "I'm going to cope." In a short film to mark the 30th anniversary of Maggie's cancer charity, the Queen acknowledged that her personal experience had changed her perspective on the disease.
The Queen, who has been president of Maggie's since 2008, said: "Look at my husband, nothing stopped him."
She added: "It had never really come back to roost at home. And suddenly your husband is diagnosed, and you think, 'Goodness, I've been talking to all these people, and now I'm the one with some relation… who's got to help to look after my poor husband and try and understand it all.'"
Opening of Maggie's cancer support centre
The Queen opened a new Maggie's cancer support centre at the Royal Free Hospital in north-west London on January 31, 2024. The event took place just two days after the King had been discharged from hospital and five days before Buckingham Palace announced that he had cancer.
She said: "I remember coming to see Maggie's just after the King was diagnosed. Nobody could say anything at the time. That was quite difficult."
She added: "I almost said something, but you know, I felt that it wasn't the time to say. I looked at everybody who was suffering and all the relations, and I think it made me realise even more how important these places were."
