Britain’s Queen Camilla spoke about the struggle to keep Charles III’s cancer diagnosis a secret during a visit to a cancer support center days before it was officially announced.
Camilla said it was “very difficult” not to mention her husband’s diagnosis during a visit to a cancer support center run by charity Maggie’s in 2024.
Her comments were made in a short film commemorating the charity’s 30th anniversary, Britain’s PA media news agency reported.
The Queen visited the new Maggie’s Center at London’s Royal Free Hospital on January 31, 2024, but Charles’ diagnosis was not officially announced until February 5.
“I remember that the King came to see Maggie at her house right after she was diagnosed,” the Queen said. “No one could say anything at the time. It was very difficult.”
“I almost said something, but I didn’t feel like it was the right time,” she said, adding, “I just wanted to say it, but obviously I couldn’t.”
Charles announced that he was diagnosed with cancer after undergoing prostate surgery. In December last year, he revealed in an unusual update that he was responding well to treatment.
Maggie’s boss Camilla has told how she persevered with royal duties despite her “poor husband” being diagnosed with cancer.
“There was nothing to stop him. He just said, ‘This is how I am. I’m going to deal with it,'” she said.
Prince Charles, 77, returned to public royal duties in April 2024.
The king is currently undergoing treatment for an undisclosed cancer.
Maggie’s has 27 cancer support centers across the UK, supporting hundreds of thousands of cancer patients each year.
Laura Lee, the charity’s chief executive, was filmed speaking to Camilla for the documentary.
“It was a great honor to hear Her Majesty speak so powerfully of her feelings when she visited the Royal Free Center knowing of Her Majesty’s diagnosis,” she said.
“There is no doubt that the King’s candor about his diagnosis has helped others to be more open as well, and hearing her completely understandable and natural reaction as the Queen’s wife highlights why it is so important that family and friends also get the support they need,” Lee added.
