Queen Camilla has opened up about the impact of King Charles's cancer diagnosis for the first time.
In a new video with the charity Maggie's to mark its 30th anniversary, the royal, 79, recalled the "difficult" emotional experience of keeping the King's illness a secret.
She carried on with her royal duties by opening the Maggie's centre at the Royal Free Hospital in London on 31 January 2024, when she knew of Charles’s diagnosis, but the public did not, just days before the news was officially disclosed.
Speaking to Maggie's executive, Dame Laura Lee, she said: "I remember coming to see Maggie’s just after The King had been diagnosed. Nobody could say anything at the time. That was quite difficult.
© Buckingham Palace"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."
Her Majesty continued by saying: "I was just longing to let it out but obviously I couldn’t."
Camilla, who has been president of Maggie’s since 2008, officially launched the new centre while the King was recovering from treatment for an enlarged prostate.
Speaking about meeting cancer sufferers during the visit, she said: "I was almost questioning them. I didn't want to pry too deeply. Normally, going in, I would just talk to them. But it was much more deep."
© Getty ImagesThe film was made by Buckingham Palace in conjunction with Maggie's and also included clips of the Queen's visit to the centre in Cheltenham earlier this year.
Is King Charles still undergoing cancer treatment?
Buckingham Palace announced that the King had cancer on 5 February 2024, five days after Camilla's visit.
The health of the 77-year-old monarch, who is still receiving cancer treatment, is said to be continuing in a very positive direction, with Charles announcing the "personal blessing" at the end of last year that his schedule of treatment was being reduced.
Charles returned to public-facing engagements in April 2024, less than three months after his treatment began.
© PA Images via Getty ImagesHe is known for being a workaholic, and the Queen has spoken before of how he "won’t slow down and won’t do what he’s told" even after his diagnosis.
She said in Wednesday’s video, which is available on YouTube: "Look at my husband. Nothing stopped him. He just said, 'This is my way. I’m going to cope with it'."
Speaking of her "poor husband", she added: "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."
Queen Camilla's powerful work with Maggie's
The Queen recorded the seven-minute film to highlight the vital support Maggie’s offers cancer patients, and to promote the services they provide for relatives and especially to men who may be more reluctant to seek help. She called on every hospital to have a Maggie’s centre.
Dame Laura described Camilla as speaking "powerfully of her own emotions" and displaying her "natural response" as a wife, as the chief executive also praised the King for his openness.
© Buckingham PalaceShe 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."
Maggie’s has 27 centres across the UK, built in the grounds of major NHS cancer hospitals, and supports hundreds of thousands of people each year.
The organisation offers care for people affected by cancer, including free psychological, emotional and practical support, with no appointments necessary for the drop-in sessions.
