Queen Camilla is “very compassionate and knowledgeable” about the impact of cancer and will play a “supporting role” for King Charles and Prince William during her husband’s treatment, a charity boss has claimed.
Last night, Buckingham Palace announced that King Charles, 75, had been diagnosed with cancer and would be stepping back from public duties during his treatment.
Appearing on BBC Breakfast this morning, Dame Laura Lee, chief executive of Maggie’s cancer charity, said the Queen was “in good spirits” when she saw her last week.
Queen Camilla, 76, has been president of Maggie’s cancer charity for 15 years and attended the opening of its new center at the Royal Free Hospital Centre. in London last Wednesday.
Dame Lee said: “So the Queen knows the impact of cancer very well and is very compassionate and empathetic in terms of understanding the impact and the supportive role she will certainly offer the King during this time.”
Pictured: Dame Laura Lee (right) greeted Queen Camilla as she arrived at the opening of Maggie’s new cancer center in north-west London last week.
Discussing how Charles’ diagnosis may affect other members of the firm, Dame Lee continued: “I think she understands that cancer is a very specific experience for each individual, but it’s also the family that is going through it.
“So he will think about how best to support the king, but he will also think about the rest of the family, Prince William, and also about supporting the king in his wishes to remain fully active and working during treatment.”
Recalling Camilla’s visit last week, Dame Lee highlighted how the Queen took the time to speak to a group of people who have been affected by cancer in some way.
She explained: ‘She has been and visited many of our Maggie’s centres, so it was a day in the making for her to come and help us celebrate and open the centre.
“So obviously we know this information about King Charles after that visit, but during it he sat down, as he does in all our centres, with a group of people affected by cancer, who talked about their own stories, how They had overcome the challenges of cancer and how important support was to them.’
As well as this, Dame Laura said a cancer diagnosis can be an “adjustment process” and praised King Charles for sharing his diagnosis.
He added: “So it’s telling others that you’re going through this, that they’re not alone.” He’s with them on that.
“But he’s also giving his family time so they can understand what he’s going through and what’s in store for him in the future.”
Dame Laura Lee said during an interview on BBC Breakfast that Queen Camilla will play a “supporting role” to King Charles (pictured Christmas Day 2023)
Pictured: Queen Camilla is seen speaking to the public benefiting from the new cancer centre.
Maggie’s is a charity supporting cancer patients and their families and has 24 centers in hospitals across the UK.
The charity was founded by Maggie Keswick Jencks and her husband Charles Jencks after she received a second cancer diagnosis in 1993.
After being taken to a windowless hallway to process the news, the couple came up with the idea of ​​creating centers to offer support to people with cancer and opened the first one in Edinburgh in 1996.
During her visit to the new center in north-west London, Queen Camilla met the donors, including Sir Gerald Ronson, who inquired about the King’s health following his treatment for an enlarged prostate.
‘How’s the boss?’ he said.
“He’s getting better, doing the best he can,” she replied.
Dori Dana-Haeri, who led fundraising for the new center, said she was “very happy” that Charles, 75, was okay.
Queen Camilla nodded and said, “Thank God.”
The King is “improving” and “doing the best he can” after his three-night stay in hospital, the Queen said last week. She is pictured with Viscountess Marcia Blakenham.
Speaking to people affected by cancer, Camilla said during her visit to the centre: “It’s an amazing place. You can literally come and relax, right?
Marilyn Bello, 51, from north London, was diagnosed with stage 4 lung cancer in 2020 and told the Queen she had been attending Maggie’s during chemotherapy and had met many new friends, “people who They understand you.”
She thanked him for his work but the Queen replied: “It’s not me you should be thanking.”
He added: “It’s good that you can come if you want, you don’t have to make an appointment.”
Prince Harry’s father called him personally to tell him the devastating news about his cancer and the Duke of Sussex hopped on a plane so he could be in the UK later today.
A luxury Range Rover believed to be carrying British royalty was seen arriving at the LAX VIP terminal last night and there are claims it boarded the first flight and could be in London by lunchtime.
Royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams said: “I’m sure Harry will put the past aside right now over this serious issue.” “For the royal family, including the Sussexes, it is very important that everyone goes in the right direction.”
The King spent last night at his London home after beginning outpatient cancer treatment, as family and friends revealed the monarch remains “hugely positive” following his explosive diagnosis.