The King delivered a moving message about his cancer journey on Friday evening – sharing that he’s able to reduce his cancer treatment in the New Year.
Speaking from the Morning Room at Clarence House, the monarch talked about his recovery journey as part of the campaign Stand Up To Cancer 2025, with Cancer Research UK. The King, who is patron of Cancer Research UK as well as Macmillan Cancer Support, underlined the importance of regular screening and talked about how it enables early diagnosis, which is key to beating it. Read the full transcript here.
“I know from my own experience that a cancer diagnosis can feel overwhelming. Yet I also know that early detection is the key that can transform treatment journeys, giving invaluable time to medical teams – and, to their patients, the precious gift of hope. These are gifts we can all help deliver,” he said.
“Throughout my own cancer journey, I have been profoundly moved by what I can only call the ‘community of care’ that surrounds every cancer patient – the specialists, the nurses, researchers and volunteers who work tirelessly to save and improve lives. But I have also learned something that troubles me deeply – at least nine million people in our country are not up to date with the cancer screenings available to them. That is at least nine million opportunities for early diagnosis being missed.
When bowel cancer is caught at the earliest stage, around nine in ten people survive for at least five years. When diagnosed late, that falls to just one in ten. Early diagnosis quite simply saves lives. Now, I have heard this message repeatedly during my visits to cancer centres across the country. I know, too, what a difference it has made in my own case, enabling me to continue leading a full and active life, even while undergoing treatment.
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. 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 fifty per cent of us who will be diagnosed with the illness at some point in our lives.
This is why I am so encouraged to learn about the new national Screening Checker that is available online. This simple tool allows you to check whether you are eligible for breast, bowel or cervical cancer screening. It demystifies the process, answers your questions, and guides you towards taking that crucial step.
This December, as we gather to reflect on the year past, I pray that we can each pledge, as part of our resolutions for the year ahead, to play our part in helping to catch cancer early. Your life – or the life of someone you love – may depend upon it.”
Charles was diagnosed with cancer in February 2024 after a prostate issue and although he was initially open about his prostate condition, he didn’t specify what cancer he had, other than palace officials confirming he’s had weekly cancer treatment since. The King, has however, made cancer awareness a core part of his work, including meeting patients and medics and hosting a reception at Buckingham Palace, where he described his cancer journey as a, “daunting and at times frightening experience. 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.
We wish him the very best.
It’s our favourite event of the year – as Queen Camilla hosts her annual Christmas party for very special children, at Clarence House. Now in its 20th year, Camilla continued her tradition with Helen and Douglas House and Roald Dahl’s Marvellous Children’s Charity for seriously-ill children. She welcomed a group of children to Clarence House, where they enjoyed a tea party, decorated the Christmas tree and met Santa and his reindeer.
We also loved Camilla’s set visit to Rivals on Monday, celebrating television production, youth opportunity in the creative industries, and the legacy of author Dame Jilly Cooper – the Queen’s dearest friend for many decades who sadly died in October this year, aged 88.
Camilla took a tour of the Rivals Disney+ studio, currently filming in Bristol and chatted away with cast members including Alex Hassell, who plays Rupert Campbell-Black – the lothario character said to be inspired by Camilla’s first husband Andrew Parker Bowles. The Queen said to Alex, “It’s so funny seeing you dark because you always imagine Rupert as blond.” During their chat, she revealed, “I remember watching it last year when I was ill, I had pneumonia. I promise you, I binge-watched it and felt much better afterwards.”
The Prince of Wales was at Windsor’s Combermere Barracks on Thursday, acting like a right royal Santa dishing up Christmas pudding and pints to the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards at their Christmas party. William is the regiment’s colonel and obviously relishes hanging out with them. “Happy Christmas to the Welsh Guards! Proud to be Colonel of the Regiment – and to serve pudding to the Junior Ranks this year!” he posted on social media. “A huge thank you to the soldiers and families of the Welsh Guards for everything you do.” Visiting the Welsh Guards has become something of an annual tradition for William, a connection dating back to his 2003 gap year when William joined them in Belize.
Claudia Winkleman had a lot to dance about in her chic white The Kooples suit, which she wore to receive an MBE from King Charles at Windsor Castle. The Strictly Come Dancing and The Traitors presenter was recognised in the King’s Birthday Honours for services to broadcasting. Along with a couple of pics, Claudia posted on Instagram, “An incredible morning and an enormous honour. I’m speechless.”
Although she is stepping down from her Strictly duties, co-hosting her last show this Christmas Day, we will see Claudia back on our TV screens on 1 January at 8pm on BBC1 with the return of The Traitors. So exciting! We’re staying faithful to Clauds.
This December we hope you enjoy the latest Woman Royal Special. As well as writing your weekly newsletter, Kerry and Maria love contributing to best-selling UK and international media titles, which is why we were delighted to be a part of another cracking Woman Royal Special. If you missed it on sale in newsagents and supermarkets, you may get lucky online, here.
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