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, marking the charity's 125th anniversary, was particularly significant for the monarch and Kate, both of whom have been diagnosed with cancer. Kate revealed last year she was in remission, while the King's treatment schedule has been reduced following an early diagnosis and positive response.
The television presenter, who was diagnosed with breast cancer last year and later given the all-clear, described the royals as 'wonderful'. She told the Press Association: 'It was a really wonderful exchange, and they are all wonderful. 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.'
Davina, who also underwent surgery for a benign brain tumour in 2024, said sharing her experiences publicly had been 'liberating'. She told Kate it was an 'absolute honour' to meet her. The royals were introduced to charity representatives, clinicians, volunteers, and researchers working on cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
Also in attendance was Boyzone star Ronan Keating, whose mother Marie died from breast cancer in 1998. He founded the Marie Keating Foundation to promote cancer awareness and early detection, and has faced a testicular cancer scare himself. The event was hosted by Queen Camilla and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester, joint president of Cancer Research UK.
