{"id":1156492,"date":"2026-08-18T23:38:33","date_gmt":"2026-08-18T23:38:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1156492\/"},"modified":"2026-08-18T23:38:33","modified_gmt":"2026-08-18T23:38:33","slug":"camilla-longed-to-reveal-kings-cancer-diagnosis-on-difficult-charity-visit-the-irish-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/1156492\/","title":{"rendered":"Camilla longed to reveal King\u2019s cancer diagnosis on \u2018difficult\u2019 charity visit \u2013 The Irish News"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Queen has spoken for the first time about the difficult emotional experience of keeping the King\u2019s cancer a secret before it was announced to the rest of the world.<\/p>\n

Camilla carried on with her royal duties by visiting a Maggie\u2019s cancer support centre in 2024 when she knew of Charles\u2019s diagnosis but the public did not, just days before the news was officially disclosed.<\/p>\n

In a short film made in collaboration between Buckingham Palace and Maggie\u2019s to mark the charity\u2019s 30th anniversary, she revealed her feelings about having to deal privately with the challenging news about her husband\u2019s health.<\/p>\n

\"TheThe King and Queen at the RHS Sandringham Flower Show in July (Aaron Chown\/PA) <\/p>\n

The Queen described \u201clonging to let it out\u201d, saying \u201cobviously I couldn\u2019t\u201d and called the experience two years ago \u201cquite difficult\u201d.<\/p>\n

\"Pilot<\/a>\"Permission<\/a><\/p>\n

She revealed she \u201calmost said something\u201d but felt the time was not right.<\/p>\n

Camilla also spoke of helping to look after her \u201cpoor husband\u201d but recalled how the King ploughed on after his diagnosis as his way of coping.<\/p>\n

\u201cNothing stopped him. He just said \u2018This is my way. I\u2019m going to cope with it\u2019,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Maggie\u2019s chief executive Dame Laura Lee, who was filmed in conversation with Camilla at Clarence House, praised the Queen for her courage during the 2024 engagement.<\/p>\n

\"CamillaCamilla in conversation with Dame Laura Lee, chief executive of Maggie\u2019s cancer charity <\/p>\n

Camilla, who is president of Maggie\u2019s, officially launched its new centre at the Royal Free Hospital in London on January 31 2024, while the King was recovering from treatment for an enlarged prostate.<\/p>\n

It was revealed in the film that Charles had, by that time, already been diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer, with the news being announced to the nation by the palace five days later on February 5.<\/p>\n

The health of the 77-year-old monarch, who is still receiving cancer treatment, is said to be continuing in a very positive direction, with Charles announcing the \u201cpersonal blessing\u201d at the end of last year that his schedule of treatment was being reduced.<\/p>\n

The Queen said: \u201cI remember coming to see a Maggie\u2019s just after the King being diagnosed.<\/p>\n

\"TheThe Queen meeting volunteers and visitors the Maggie\u2019s centre at London\u2019s Royal Free Hospital in January 2024 (Paul Grover\/Daily Telegraph\/PA) <\/p>\n

\u201cNobody could say anything at the time.\u00a0That was quite difficult.<\/p>\n

\u201cI almost said something but, you know, I felt that it wasn\u2019t the time to say.<\/p>\n

\u201c(I) looked at everybody who was suffering and all the relations and I think it made me realise even more how important these places were.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dame Laura told the Queen: \u201cIt was just a week before it became public and the courage that must have taken for you\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n

Camilla replied: \u201cWell it wasn\u2019t\u2026 I was just longing to let it out but obviously I couldn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"CamillaCamilla on the visit to Maggie\u2019s in 2024 (Paul Grover\/Daily Telegraph\/PA) <\/p>\n

She spoke about talking to visitors at the centre during the engagement: \u201cI was almost questioning them. I didn\u2019t want to pry too deeply.<\/p>\n

\u201cBut normally when I went in, I was just talking to them, but I don\u2019t know, I felt it was much more deep.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dame Laura talked about the number of people who had been coming to its centres because of the King being open and continuing to have a productive life, and that Maggie\u2019s had seen a 12% increase in men visiting.<\/p>\n

Charles returned to public-facing engagements in April 2024, less than three months after his treatment began,<\/p>\n

He is known for being a workaholic and the Queen has spoken before of how he \u201cwon\u2019t slow down and won\u2019t do what he\u2019s told\u201d even after his diagnosis.<\/p>\n

\"TheThe King on the day he returned to public-facing duties in April 2024 (Victoria Jones\/PA) <\/p>\n

She said in Wednesday\u2019s video which is available on YouTube: \u201cLook at my husband. Nothing stopped him. He just said \u2018This is my way. I\u2019m going to cope with it\u2019.\u201d<\/p>\n

She added: \u201cIt made me realise even more how important these places were.<\/p>\n

\u201cIt had never really come back to roost at home, and suddenly your husband is diagnosed, and you think \u2018Goodness I\u2019ve been talking to all these people and now I\u2019m the one with some relation who\u2019s got to help to look after my poor husband and try and understand it all.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Queen recorded the seven-minute film to highlight the vital support Maggie\u2019s offers cancer patients, and to promote the services they provide for relatives and especially to men who may be more reluctant to seek help.<\/p>\n

She called on every hospital to have a Maggie\u2019s centre.<\/p>\n

Dame Laura described Camilla, who has been president of the charity since 2008, as speaking \u201cpowerfully of her own emotions\u201d and displaying her \u201cnatural response\u201d as a wife, as the chief executive also praised the King for his openness.<\/p>\n

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Since our first centre opened in 1996, we’ve been offering free psychological, emotional and practical support to people with cancer and their family and friends. You don’t need an appointment, and our support is always free. Find your nearest centre: https:\/\/t.co\/dC7DWyj7sf<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/1zeWQqeIcj<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Maggie’s Centres (@MaggiesCentres) January 6, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n

She said: \u201cTo hear her speak so powerfully of her own emotions when visiting our Royal Free centre, while knowing about His Majesty\u2019s diagnosis, is a huge honour.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe King\u2019s openness about his diagnosis has undoubtedly helped others to be more open themselves and to now hear the Queen\u2019s completely understandable and natural response as a wife shines a light on why it is so important that family and friends also get the support they need.\u201d<\/p>\n

Maggie\u2019s has 27 centres across the UK, built in the grounds of major NHS cancer hospitals, and supports hundreds of thousands of people each year.<\/p>\n

The organisation offers care for people affected by cancer, including free psychological, emotional and practical support, with no appointments necessary for the drop-in sessions.<\/p>\n