LONDON (AP) 鈥� Britain’s Queen Camilla has said she knew about her husband鈥檚 cancer diagnosis days before it was publicly announced and found it difficult not to talk about his condition when she visited a cancer center during that period.
King Charles III on Feb. 5, 2024, that he was being treated for an undisclosed form of cancer, breaking with the royal family鈥檚 . The king鈥檚 openness in talking about his diagnosis has been credited with persuading more men to be tested for prostate cancer and other forms of the disease.
The queen said she was 鈥渓onging鈥� to talk about Charles鈥� diagnosis when she opened a Maggie鈥檚 cancer support center at the Royal Free Hospital in London a week before the announcement but knew she couldn鈥檛. Camilla has been president of Maggie鈥檚, which runs cancer centers at 27 hospitals around the U.K., since 2008.
鈥淣obody could say anything at that time. That was quite difficult,鈥� Camilla said in a video released Wednesday to mark the charity鈥檚 30th anniversary. 鈥淚 almost said something but, you know, I felt that it wasn鈥檛 the time say.鈥�
Recent updates on the king say his health is moving in a positive direction as he continues to receive cancer treatment.
Camilla鈥檚 eight-minute video is based on a conversation between the queen and Maggie鈥檚 Chief Executive Laura Lee, who said the number of men who visit the charity鈥檚 centers has risen 12% since the king announced his diagnosis.
Maggie鈥檚 provides information, counseling and other forms of support to help cancer patients overcome their fears and continue living while undergoing treatment.
Camilla said she better understood the need for such services after Charles鈥� diagnosis.
鈥淟ook at my husband, nothing stopped him,鈥� she said. 鈥淗e just said, 鈥楾his is my way. I鈥檓 going to cope with it.鈥欌��
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