'Difficult' to keep King's cancer diagnosis a secret, Queen says
The Queen has spoken publicly for the first time about the "difficult" emotional experience of having to keep the King's cancer diagnosis a secret.
Queen Camilla has shared in her first interview about the challenge of concealing King Charles III's cancer diagnosis during its early stages. As president of a cancer charity, Camilla recalls feeling "difficult" to avoid mentioning the King's treatment while on official engagements with patients and their families. On January 2024, the Queen inaugurated a new Maggie's cancer support centre at the Royal Free Hospital in London, but she had not yet been officially informed about the King's condition.
The Queen held back from disclosing the information, stating, "Nobody could say anything at the time, that was quite difficult." She described the hospital visit a week before the public announcement as being "almost" too revealing for her. The King's cancer diagnosis was disclosed on February 5, 2024. Despite the ongoing treatment, Buckingham Palace has affirmed that his health remains on a positive trajectory.
Camilla revealed that the King's approach to coping with his diagnosis has always been to continue with his official duties, saying, "Nothing stopped him. He just said, 'This is my way. I'm going to cope with it.'" During the visit, the Queen expressed empathy towards the families she met, noting that the experience resonated deeply with her.
The King's openness about his diagnosis has reportedly led to a 12% increase in men reaching out to Maggie's centers with a cancer diagnosis, and his honesty has encouraged others to be more open as well.
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