Queen recalls struggle to remain silent after monarch’s diagnosis
Queen Camilla has spoken about the difficulty of keeping King Charles III’s cancer diagnosis private when she visited a cancer support charity shortly after he was diagnosed.
Buckingham Palace announced the King’s diagnosis in February 2024, but has never revealed the type of cancer he is being treated for.
‘Nobody could say anything’
In a short film produced with cancer support charity Maggie’s, Camilla recalled visiting one of its centres soon after Charles was diagnosed.
“Nobody could say anything at the time. That was quite difficult,” she told Maggie’s chief executive Laura Lee during a conversation at Clarence House.
Camilla said she wanted to reveal what was happening but knew the timing was not right.
“I was just longing to let it out but obviously I couldn’t,” she said.
Charity’s importance
Camilla, who is president of Maggie’s, said visiting the centre while knowing her husband was undergoing treatment made her appreciate the organisation’s work even more.
Maggie’s operates 27 centres across the UK, providing support to cancer patients and their families.
The Queen said seeing patients and their relatives highlighted the importance of having places where people can receive support during difficult periods.
Charles continues public duties
King Charles, 77, gradually returned to public duties within months of beginning treatment, which has continued for several years.
In a televised speech last December, he said early diagnosis, effective treatment and following medical advice had allowed his treatment schedule to be reduced in 2026.
Camilla said Charles had refused to allow his diagnosis to prevent him from carrying out his public responsibilities.
“Nothing stopped him,” she said, adding that the King had decided to face the illness in his own way.
