King Charles and the Princess of Wales will personally thank those leading the nation's battle against cancer at St James's Palace tonight. The 77-year-old monarch and his daughter-in-law Catherine, 44, who share the unfortunate bond of a cancer diagnosis, were joined at a reception by Queen Camilla and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester in honour of Cancer Research UK's 125th anniversary.
Shared Experience of Cancer
His Majesty and the Princess were diagnosed within weeks of each other in 2024. While the King is still undergoing an undisclosed form of treatment, Catherine revealed she underwent a period of chemotherapy which finished in the late summer of that year. In January 2025, she announced that she was happily in remission but has spoken of the huge toll it has taken on her physically and warned her return to public duties would be slow and measured.
Reception Highlights
During the reception, the royals will meet researchers, clinicians, volunteers and partners involved in Cancer Research UK's prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer. High-profile supporters of the charity, including fellow cancer survivors Davina McCall, Hannah Fry and Adele Roberts, were present, as well as singer Ronan Keating, who lost his mother to cancer, and his wife, Storm.
The reception will include immersive installations showcasing the work of the charity, including its past impact, current work and future innovation. Princess Catherine will personally thank those leading the nation's battle against cancer at the special reception at St James's Palace tonight. The King and Queen will view visual representations of how technological innovation is transforming cancer research.
125th Anniversary Launch
The reception is being held to launch Cancer Research UK's 125th anniversary year, its work stretching back to the founding of the charity's predecessor organisations—The Imperial Cancer Research Fund and the Cancer Research Campaign, founded in 1902 and 1923 respectively. Since then, the charity has helped to transform how cancer is understood, prevented, detected and treated. This progress has contributed to a doubling of cancer survival in the UK over the past 50 years, and today, 8 in 10 people who receive cancer drugs in the UK receive a drug developed by or with Cancer Research UK.
The King has been Patron of Cancer Research UK since 2024. His Majesty's patronage was announced to coincide with a visit to University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre to highlight some of the innovative research supported by Cancer Research UK. The Duke of Gloucester and Princess Alexandra are joint presidents of the charity.
