By Molly Claire Goddard
8:56am PST, Dec 18, 2025
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Before King Charles III revealed his cancer diagnosis in 2024, Queen Camilla was against him sharing the news with the public. "It can now be revealed that when the King learnt he had cancer nearly two years ago, his wife initially believed his diagnosis should remain private, as she feared the toll public scrutiny of his health might take on his recovery,"
The Times reported. "His hesitancy stemmed from a concern for her husband's privacy, fearing that 'once the door on it had been opened, it could never be closed.'"
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Luckily, Queen Camilla had a change of heart. "King Charles was determined from the outset to pursue 'openness and transparency,' and Camilla has taken comfort in how buoyed her husband has been by the public response to his candor about his illness," the publication reported.
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During Channel 4's Stand Up To Cancer
special, King Charles III gave a positive update regarding his cancer battle. "Indeed, today I am able to share with you the good news that thanks to early diagnosis, effective intervention and adherence to 'doctors' orders, my own schedule of cancer treatment can be reduced in the New Year," he said. "This milestone is both a personal blessing and a testimony to the remarkable advances that have been made in cancer care in recent years. Testimony that I hope may give encouragement to the 50 percent of us who will be diagnosed with the illness at some point in our lives."
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King Charles III's honesty is rare since royals are typically private. "It's really unusual to see such a senior member of the royal family speak so openly about their health," His Majesty's former butler Grant Harrold told The Mirror. "While it's not unusual to see royals support health-related events, like Stand Up To Cancer, it's unusual to see them referring to their own health battles. Prince Philip never spoke about his health. The late Queen Elizabeth II never spoke about hers."
