At St. James’s Palace tonight, the King and the Princess of Wales personally congratulated those spearheading the country’s fight against cancer.
In honor of Cancer Research UK’s 125th anniversary, Queen Camilla and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester attended a reception with Charles, 77, and his daughter-in-law Catherine, 44, who share the unfortunate link of being diagnosed with the disease.
In 2024, the Princess and His Majesty received their diagnoses just weeks apart.
Catherine said that she had chemotherapy, which ended in the late summer of that year, while the King is still receiving an unidentified type of treatment.
She declared in January 2025 that she was joyfully in remission, but she also discussed the severe physical toll it had inflicted on her and cautioned that her return to public duties would be gradual.
The royals met researchers, medical professionals, volunteers, and partners who work with Cancer Research UK to prevent, diagnose, and treat cancer during the reception.
Prominent backers of the organization, such as other cancer survivors Singer Ronan Keating, who lost his mother to cancer, and his wife Storm were also present, along with Davina McCall, Hannah Fry, and Adele Roberts.
Immersion displays representing the charity’s work, including its influence in the past, present, and future, were part of the event.
At a special reception at St. James’s Palace tonight, Princess Catherine personally congratulated those spearheading the country’s fight against cancer.
Catherine, 44, and King Charles have the unfortunate connection of having the same illness.
Researchers, physicians, volunteers, and partners engaged in Cancer Research UK’s activities greeted the Princess of Wales.
The King and Queen looked to illustrations of how advances in technology are changing cancer research.
Cancer Research UK’s work dates back to the establishment of its predecessor organizations, the Imperial Cancer Research Fund and the Cancer Research Campaign, which were created in 1902 and 1923, respectively. The reception was given to mark the organization’s 125th anniversary year.
Since then, the nonprofit has contributed to a revolution in the understanding, prevention, detection, and treatment of cancer.
Over the past 50 years, the UK’s cancer survival rate has doubled thanks to these advancements, and currently, 8 out of 10 patients receiving cancer medications in the UK receive a medication created by or in collaboration with Cancer Research UK.
Since 2024, Cancer Research UK has had the King as its patron. In order to showcase some of the cutting-edge research funded by Cancer Research UK, His Majesty’s patronage was announced in conjunction with a visit to University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre.
The charity is jointly presided over by Princess Alexandra and the Duke of Gloucester.
Another cancer survivor At the reception, Davina McCall was one of the people spotted conversing with the Princess of Wales.
The 125th anniversary year of Cancer Research UK began with a reception.
Davina McCall smiled as she greeted Queen Camilla and King Charles at the reception.
Kate donned a midi dress by Rodarte that cost £1,600 and included a detachable floral charm.
She also had a conversation with the widow of “bowel babe” Dame Deborah James, who was recognized by Prince William for her outstanding advocacy and fundraising efforts while having incurable bowel cancer.
In a special ceremony held at her parents’ house in May 2022, Dame Deborah got her insignia from the future king. She passed away a few weeks later.
Sebastian Bowen, her spouse, said to the Princess, “I’ve been thinking about you guys a lot.”
Deborah was commended by Catherine for the “impact of her work,” and she listened carefully as Mr. Bowen described how it had been “bittersweet” to surpass fundraising goals for clinical trials and research into the illness that his wife had hoped to accomplish.
Additionally, he seemed to express gratitude to William for an apparent sympathetic discussion he had with the couple’s two kids.
“He’s good like that,” the princess retorted.
TV host Davina McCall, meanwhile, described her interaction with the Princess of Wales at the Cancer Research UK reception as “really wonderful.”
Dr. Ian Walker, the charity’s executive director of policy, information, and communications, introduced Ms. McCall to the princess on Tuesday night.
“It was a really wonderful exchange, and they (the King, Queen, and princess) are all wonderful,” Ms. McCall remarked. “I can’t imagine what it must be like to go through something like cancer and then sort of have to tell people about it, when maybe it would have been much easier and nicer to not have to share it with the world.”
“And I have to admit, I didn’t really want to have to do that myself after my brain tumor.”
“But it really helped me get through it by sharing it, and other people relating, or feeling like I could help,” she later said.
Ms McCall underwent surgery in 2024 to remove a benign brain tumour.
She had surgery to remove a lump after receiving a breast cancer diagnosis in October of last year, but she announced in April that she was “all clear.”
