King Charles and Queen Camilla welcomed community groups working to raise awareness about cancer and support those living with the disease in a special reception at Buckingham Palace.
On April 30, the King, 76, and Queen, 77, stepped out to host the event at Buckingham Palace in London. They were joined by Prince Richard, the Duke of Gloucester and his wife, Birgitte, the Duchess of Gloucester. The couple are full-time working royals, and Prince Richard is a first cousin of the late Queen Elizabeth.
The royals came together for the reception organized to recognize community-based initiatives working to support those living with cancer and raising awareness of preventative steps that can be taken to reduce the risk of the disease.
The King, who was diagnosed with cancer in 2024, shared a message to guests attending the palace reception, thanking them for their work, pointing out that over 1,000 new cancer cases are diagnosed each day in the U.K.
“Each diagnosis, each new case, will be a daunting and at times frightening experience for those individuals and their loved ones. But as one among those statistics myself, I can vouch for the fact that it can also be an experience that brings into sharp focus the very best of humanity,” he said. “It has certainly given me an even deeper appreciation of the extraordinary work undertaken by the remarkable organisations and individuals gathered here this evening, many of whom I have known, visited and supported over the years. And it has reinforced what I have long observed during these visits — that the darkest moments of illness can be illuminated by the greatest compassion.”
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Queen Camilla and King Charles host reception at Buckingham Palace for cancer charities on April 30, 2025
Related: A Complete Timeline of King Charles’ Cancer Diagnosis and Treatment
He continued, “As patrons of many such organisations, The Queen and I have seen at first-hand how you not only fund vital research and deliver exceptional healthcare but also create spaces where patients and their families find sanctuary, understanding and practical assistance when they need it most. What strikes us repeatedly is the profound impact of human connection — whether in the careful explanation from a specialist nurse, the hand held by a hospice volunteer, or the shared experience in a support group. These moments of kinship create what I might call a ‘community of care,’ one that sustains patients through the most difficult of times.”
King Charles told volunteers, healthcare professionals and researchers from groups the King and Queen back as patrons, including Macmillan Cancer Support, Breast Cancer Now, Maggie’s and Children’s Hospice South West that they have “my whole family’s deepest admiration and gratitude.”
“While every patient’s journey may be different, together you are ensuring that a cancer diagnosis need never mean facing the future without hope and support,” he added.
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King Charles hosts reception at Buckingham Palace for cancer charities on April 30, 2025
Guests at the event included well-known U.K. names, including Adele Roberts, Ashley Cain, Richard E. Grant and the parents of the late Deborah James, a celebrated BBC podcast host who died in 2022 at age 40 after being diagnosed with bowel cancer.
Displays throughout the reception included work by Move Dance Feel, a group uniting women affected by cancer through dance, Rainbow Boxes, which provides practical items as people begin cancer treatment and Wigs for Heroes, another support for people receiving cancer treatment.
The King and Queen also heard a performance by the group ITV Change + Check Choir, which is comprised of 26 women who all identified symptoms of breast cancer after seeing the awareness campaign on Scottish television presenter Lorraine Kelly’s popular program, Lorraine.
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Queen Camilla and King Charles host reception at Buckingham Palace for cancer charities on April 30, 2025
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The royal family was affected by cancer diagnoses announced in 2024, as both King Charles and Kate Middleton shared that they were receiving treatment for the disease. The palace announced in February 2024 that the King was diagnosed with cancer and commenced treatment, which continues into this year.
“His treatment has been moving in a positive direction and as a managed condition, the treatment cycle will continue into next year,” palace sources said shortly before Christmas.
Princess Kate, 43, announced in March 2024 that she was also undergoing treatment for cancer, later sharing in September that completed chemotherapy and revealing in January that she is in remission.
The King and Kate’s exact diagnoses remain undisclosed.
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King Charles hosts reception at Buckingham Palace for cancer charities on April 30, 2025
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Queen Camilla spoke about how the King’s work uplifts him amid his treatment while speaking to reporters during their trip to Italy in early April.
“I think he loves his work, and it keeps him going. And I think it’s wonderful, you know, if you’ve been ill and you are recovering, you’re getting better and now he wants to do more and more and more. That’s the problem,” the Queen said, the BBC reported. “That’s what he’s driven by — helping others.”
When asked about the idea of her husband reducing his workload, she shot down the thought with a cheeky retort: “Dream on.”
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