The King, Queen and Princess of Wales have attended a reception marking the 125th anniversary of Cancer Research UK. Charles, who is patron of the charity, hosted the event at St James's Palace in London, where they met researchers, clinicians, volunteers and partners involved in the charity's work on prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
Immersive installations showcased the charity's work and visual representations of how technological innovation is transforming research into the disease. Kensington Palace announced Kate's attendance on Tuesday morning. The princess was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer in early 2024, underwent chemotherapy, and revealed she was in remission in January 2025. She returned to international travel last month with a solo working trip to Italy.
The King, who is still receiving treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer, previously said he was 'so proud' of Kate for her courage in speaking out about her diagnosis. The Duke and Duchess of Gloucester also attended the reception, with the duke serving as joint president of Cancer Research UK.
The charity's work traces back to its predecessor organisations, the Imperial Cancer Research Fund (founded 1902) and the Cancer Research Campaign (founded 1923). The latest NHS England statistics revealed that 72.8% of patients began treatment within 62 days of urgent referral in March, below the 75% target. However, 79.4% of patients urgently referred were diagnosed or had cancer ruled out within 28 days, above the 75% target.
