Queen Camilla Brings Royal Glamour to Maggie's Cheltenham with Geri Halliwell-Horner
Queen Camilla added a touch of star power to a royal engagement on Wednesday afternoon, as she was joined by former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell-Horner for a tour of the Maggie's Cheltenham cancer support centre in Gloucestershire. The visit marked the organisation's significant 30th anniversary milestone, with the Queen arriving under a clear umbrella to shield from the rain as she embarked on her official duties.
A Warm Welcome and Personal Connections
Upon arrival, Camilla was introduced to various guests including the mayor of Cheltenham before warmly embracing Halliwell-Horner. The Queen greeted the former popstar with genuine enthusiasm, asking: "How nice to see you. Is this your first visit?" Halliwell-Horner responded positively, describing the experience as "amazing" and later expressing her admiration for the monarch, whom she called "stoic, fantastic – a formidable force of nature."
The Queen, who has served as president of Maggie's since 2008, met with NHS staff, centre personnel, and individuals living with cancer to understand how the charity has supported them through their journeys. During the engagement, she unveiled a portrait of herself created by artist Eileen Hogan and learned about the recently revamped garden at the centre.
Commemorating Three Decades of Cancer Support
In a short speech to approximately fifty guests comprising staff, supporters, and beneficiaries, Camilla expressed her pleasure at returning to the Cheltenham centre. She reflected on her first encounter with the late founder Maggie Keswick Jencks in the 1960s, describing her as "warm, funny and generous." The Queen highlighted how Maggie had confronted her own cancer diagnosis at age 47 with remarkable character.
"She understood – for herself and for others – the importance of feeling in control, rather than a helpless victim," Camilla told the gathering. "She knew how vital it is to have access to information about treatment and the various options available. Above all, Maggie was convinced that people living with cancer crave a beautiful, comforting environment as they face the unknown."
Personal Encounters and Shared Experiences
The royal visit took on particularly poignant dimensions given recent royal health developments. Just over a month prior, King Charles III – who was diagnosed with cancer in 2024 – shared positive news that his treatment schedule was being reduced in the new year, describing it as a "personal blessing." Meanwhile, the Princess of Wales announced she was in remission at the start of 2025 after her own cancer diagnosis nearly two years earlier.
During the engagement, Camilla joined Halliwell-Horner for tea and chocolate biscuits with two individuals who have undergone cancer treatment with Maggie's support. Twenty-three-year-old Caitlyn Warrington from near Cheltenham shared her experience of being first diagnosed with a rare ovarian cancer at fourteen, before relapsing at sixteen and eighteen. The Queen told Caitlyn and her mother Nikki that Maggie's was "a life-changing place."
Charity's Impact and Royal Support
Speaking after the visit, Halliwell-Horner – who was invited as a guest due to her support for Maggie's – described the experience as "delightful" and praised the charity's work as "absolutely amazing." She noted that she was relatively new to the organisation, having recently attended a carol concert to learn more about its operations.
Miss Warrington paid tribute to the Queen for visiting Maggie's, calling it "really lovely" and emphasising how "raising awareness as well as having someone like that show support means a lot." The Queen has now visited eighteen of Maggie's twenty-seven centres nationwide since becoming president sixteen years ago.
Maggie's Legacy and Ongoing Mission
The first Maggie's centre opened in the grounds of Edinburgh's Western General Hospital in 1996, offering comprehensive care for people impacted by cancer. The charity provides free psychological, emotional, and practical support through drop-in sessions that require no appointments, creating accessible spaces where, as Camilla noted during her speech, "laughter can come as naturally as tears, because sometimes that's what's wanted."
The royal engagement occurred on the same day that Camilla's stepson, the Duke of Sussex, began giving evidence in London as part of his High Court battle against the publisher of the Daily Mail over alleged unlawful information gathering – though this separate matter remained distinct from the charitable focus of the Queen's visit to Gloucestershire.
