(Image: Aaron Chown/PA Wire)
The Queen has spoken publicly for the first time about the emotional strain of keeping the King’s cancer diagnosis secret.
In a new short film made in collaboration between Buckingham Palace and Maggie’s to mark the 30th anniversary of Maggie’s cancer support centres, Queen Camilla described the experience as “quite difficult.”
She said she was "longing to let it out," but knew she could not reveal the news before it became public.
The film reveals that just days before the King’s diagnosis was announced, the Queen visited a Maggie’s centre while privately carrying the weight of the news.
Queen Camilla speaks on keeping King Charles' cancer diagnosis a secret
She said: "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.
"I almost said something 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."
Queen Camilla is president of Maggie’s and officially launched the charity’s new centre at the Royal Free Hospital in London on January 31, 2024.
At the time, the King had already been diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer.
His diagnosis was announced publicly five days later, on February 5.
The Queen said: "Well it wasn’t… I was just longing to let it out but obviously I couldn’t."
She spoke about her conversations with visitors at the centre that day.
She said: "I was almost questioning them.
"I didn’t want to pry too deeply.
"But normally when I went in, I was just talking to them, but I don’t know, I felt it was much more deep."
Queen Camilla also discussed supporting the King through his illness.
She 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’."
She described the King’s determination to carry on with his royal duties.
She said: "Look at my husband.
"Nothing stopped him.
"He just said ‘This is my way. I’m going to cope with it’."
Dame Laura Lee, chief executive of Maggie’s, praised the Queen’s candour.
She said: "To hear her speak so powerfully of her own emotions when visiting our Royal Free centre, while knowing about His Majesty’s diagnosis, is a huge honour.
"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."
The 77-year-old monarch continues to receive cancer treatment but has resumed public engagements.
He has previously spoken of the “personal blessing” of having his treatment schedule reduced.
Queen Camilla has said it was difficult to keep the King's cancer diagnosis a secret
(Image: Paul Grover/Daily Telegraph/PA Wire)
Maggie’s has 27 centres across the UK, located on the grounds of major NHS cancer hospitals.
The centres offer free psychological, emotional, and practical support to anyone affected by cancer.
No appointments are needed, and the services extend to families and friends of cancer patients.
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The Queen said: "It made me realise even more how important these places were."
She also called for every hospital to have a Maggie’s centre.
Dame Laura described the Queen as “powerful” and said her words would resonate with many.
She said: "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."