Davina McCall has praised King Charles and the Princess of Wales after meeting them at a Cancer Research UK reception at St James's Palace in London. The event, held on Tuesday evening, celebrated the charity's 125th anniversary and was attended by the King, Queen Camilla, the Princess of Wales, and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.
The King and Princess Kate, both of whom have been diagnosed with cancer, joined clinicians, volunteers, researchers and partners involved in the charity's work. Kate revealed last year that she is in remission from cancer, while the King's treatment schedule has been reduced following an early diagnosis and positive response to treatment.
Davina, who was diagnosed with breast cancer last year and later given the all-clear, described meeting the royals as a 'wonderful exchange'. She told the Press Association: 'I can't imagine what it must be like having going through something like cancer, and then sort of having to tell people about it, when possibly it would have been much easier and nicer to not have to share it with the world.'
The TV presenter, who also underwent surgery for a benign brain tumour in 2024, said sharing her experience publicly helped her through her illness. She told Kate it was an 'absolute honour' to meet her and discussed how talking about her cancer journey had been 'liberating'.
Also in attendance was Boyzone star Ronan Keating, who has campaigned for cancer awareness since his mother died from breast cancer in 1998. He launched the Marie Keating Foundation, which works with Cancer Research UK to fund Cancer Awareness Roadshows. Keating himself faced a testicular cancer scare in 2009 but was given the all-clear.
