Queen Camilla says staying silent on King Charles's cancer was difficult

London,UPDATED: Aug 19, 2026 17:02 IST

Queen Camilla has spoken about how difficult it was to stay silent after King Charles III was diagnosed with cancer, saying she was "longing to let it out" before the news was made public. In a video released by Buckingham Palace, she recalled the period before the King's announcement and spoke about how it changed her understanding of the support needed by patients and their families.

Charles, 77, announced on February 5, 2024, that he was being treated for an undisclosed form of cancer. Camilla said the family had known about the diagnosis days earlier, before the monarch chose to go public in a break from the royal tradition of keeping health matters private. More than two years later, the King is still undergoing treatment, with Buckingham Palace saying his health is moving in a "positive direction".

Camilla made the remarks in a conversation with Dame Laura Lee, chief executive of Maggie's cancer charity, filmed at her Clarence House residence to mark the charity's 30th anniversary. Camilla is president of Maggie's and had opened one of its centres at the Royal Free Hospital in London in 2024.

"I remember coming to see a Maggie's just after the King being diagnosed. Nobody could say anything at the time. That was quite difficult," Camilla told Lee. She added, "I almost said something [at the time] but, you know, I felt that it wasn't the time to say. 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. I was just longing to let it out but obviously I couldn't."

The 79-year-old said that visit felt "much more deep" than her other visits to such healthcare centres. Speaking about the King's decision to resume public-facing duties in April 2024, she said, "Look at my husband. Nothing stopped him. He just said, 'This is my way. I'm going to cope with it'." She also said, "It had never really come back to roost at home, and suddenly your husband is diagnosed, and you think 'Goodness I've been talking to all these people and now I'm the one with some relation, who's got to help to look after my poor husband and try and understand it all'."

The seven-minute film was released to highlight the support Maggie's offers cancer patients and to promote the services it provides for relatives. The charity has 27 centres across the UK, built in the grounds of major Health Service cancer hospitals, and Camilla has said every hospital should have a Maggie's centre. While the palace has not disclosed the type of cancer the King has, he has continued to engage widely with those treating and supporting cancer patients. Maggie's said Charles's public announcement led to a 12 per cent rise in men contacting the charity after a cancer diagnosis.

"The King's openness about his diagnosis has undoubtedly helped others to be more open themselves, and to now hear the Queen's 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," Lee said. The video brings together Camilla's personal account, the King's continuing treatment and the charity's message on support for both patients and their families.

With PTI Inputs

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