Camilla opens up on having to keep King Charles’ cancer diagnosis a secret: ‘I was longing to let it out’

The Queen has reflected publicly for the first time on the emotional strain of keeping the King’s cancer diagnosis private prior to the official announcement.

Attending a public engagement at a Maggie’s cancer support facility in 2024, Camilla carried out her duties in full knowledge of Charles’s condition , just days before the news was released to the world.

Her thoughts on managing the troubling diagnosis behind closed doors were shared in a short film produced jointly by Buckingham Palace and Maggie’s to mark the charity’s 30th anniversary.

Describing the experience two years ago as "quite difficult", the Queen admitted to "longing to let it out", before adding: "obviously I couldn’t".

She acknowledged that she "almost said something", yet determined that the timing was not right.

Camilla also reflected on supporting her "poor husband", observing how the King chose to focus on his work following his diagnosis as his personal method of dealing with the situation.

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

Maggie’s chief executive Dame Laura Lee, who engaged in conversation with Camilla at Clarence House for the video, commended the Queen for her fortitude during that 2024 visit.

Serving as president of Maggie’s, Camilla officially launched the charity's new centre at London's Royal Free Hospital on January 31 2024, at a time when the King was recovering after undergoing treatment for an enlarged prostate.

As revealed in the video, Charles had already been diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer by the time of the event, ahead of the formal palace statement issued five days later on February 5.

The health of the 77-year-old monarch, who is still receiving cancer treatment, is reported to be continuing in a very positive direction. Towards the end of last year, Charles noted it was a "personal blessing" that his schedule of treatment was being reduced.

Reflecting on the visit, the Queen stated: "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."

During the recorded discussion, Dame Laura remarked to the Queen: "It was just a week before it became public and the courage that must have taken for you…"