Queen Camilla has shared that she knew about King Charles III's cancer diagnosis days before it was officially announced, describing the challenge of keeping the secret during a public engagement at a cancer charity.
King Charles III broke with the royal family's long-standing tradition of keeping health matters private when he announced on February 5, 2024, that he was undergoing treatment for an undisclosed form of cancer. A week prior to that public disclosure, Camilla visited a Maggie's cancer support center at the Royal Free Hospital in London. Having served as the president of Maggie's since 2008, she found herself in the difficult position of wanting to speak openly about her husband's condition while knowing she could not yet do so.
"Nobody could say anything at that time. That was quite difficult," Camilla remarked in an eight-minute video released on Wednesday to mark the charity's 30th anniversary. "I almost said something but, you know, I felt that it wasn’t the time say."
The video features a conversation between the Queen and Maggie's Chief Executive Laura Lee, who noted that the King's openness has had a measurable impact. Since Charles shared his diagnosis, the number of men visiting the charity's centers has increased by 12%. The King's public disclosure has been widely credited with encouraging more men to seek testing for prostate cancer and other forms of the disease.
Maggie's operates support centers at 27 hospitals across the United Kingdom, offering information, counseling, and practical help to support cancer patients through their treatment. Camilla noted that the diagnosis of her husband deepened her understanding of the vital services the charity provides.
"Look at my husband, nothing stopped him," Camilla said of the King's determination. "He just said, ‘This is my way. I’m going to cope with it.’"
Recent updates on King Charles's health indicate that his recovery is moving in a positive direction as he continues to receive cancer treatment.
