Queen Camilla Admits She Struggled to Keep King Charles’ Cancer Secret: ‘Quite Difficult’

Queen Camilla has revealed the heartbreaking pressure she faced while keeping King Charles III‘s cancer diagnosis under wraps.

Speaking in a new video marking the 30th anniversary of Maggie’s cancer charity, of which she is president, Camilla, 79, opened up about the emotional strain of knowing her husband, 77, had cancer while continuing to meet patients and their families in public.

“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 to understand it all,” she explained, adding that she couldn’t share the news. “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.”

Chief executive of Maggie’s, Dame Laura Lee, then reflected on how difficult it must have been for the queen to open a new Maggie’s cancer support centre at the Royal Free Hospital in London in January 2024, while keeping her husband’s secret.

“I was just longing to let it out, but obviously I couldn’t,” Camilla replied.

The king’s cancer diagnosis was finally made public on February 5, 2024.

More than two years later, Charles continues to receive treatment. As per a BBC report, Buckingham Palace says his health is moving in a “positive direction.”

In the seven-minute conversation, which was recorded at Clarence House, Camilla also stressed that the king wished to continue with royal duties as much as possible even when receiving treatment.

“Nothing stopped him,” she said. “He just said, ‘This is my way. I’m going to cope with it.'”

The king has never publicly revealed what type of cancer he has, but he has continued to champion cancer care and support others facing the disease. For Camilla, those early days remain an especially emotional chapter in their journey.