LONDON (AP) — Queen Camilla of Britain revealed that she was aware of her husband King Charles III's cancer diagnosis days before it was made public. She expressed how challenging it was not to discuss his condition while visiting a cancer center during that time.
On February 5, 2024, King Charles III announced that he was undergoing treatment for an undisclosed type of cancer. This announcement marked a significant shift in the royal family's longstanding tradition of maintaining privacy regarding health issues. Charles's willingness to address his diagnosis publicly has reportedly encouraged more men to seek testing for prostate cancer and other related ailments.
The Queen recounted her experience of wanting to speak about the diagnosis when she opened a Maggie’s cancer support center at the Royal Free Hospital in London just a week prior to the public announcement. Queen Camilla has served as president of Maggie’s since 2008, overseeing the charity that manages cancer support centers across 27 hospitals throughout the United Kingdom.
“Nobody could say anything at that time. That was quite difficult,” Camilla stated in a video released on Wednesday, celebrating the charity’s 30th anniversary. “I almost said something but, you know, I felt that it wasn’t the time to say.”
Recent reports indicate that King Charles's health is improving as he continues his cancer treatment. The eight-minute video featuring Camilla captures a conversation between her and Laura Lee, the Chief Executive of Maggie’s. Lee noted that since the king's announcement, the number of men visiting the charity’s centers had surged by 12%.
Maggie’s provides crucial information, counseling, and various forms of support designed to help cancer patients navigate their fears while undergoing treatment. The Queen acknowledged how much she has come to appreciate the importance of these services in light of her husband’s health struggles.
“Look at my husband, nothing stopped him,” she remarked. “He just said, ‘This is my way. I’m going to cope with it.’”
