As the Princess of Wales talked today about the ‘rollercoaster’ of cancer recovery, her mother-in-law, Queen Camilla, praised the ‘invaluable’ work of Maggie’s cancer care centres.

The Queen, 77, was visiting one of its 24 centres nationwide at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, Scotland, in her role as Maggie’s President.

Greeting its inspirational founder and chief executive, Dame Laura Lee, with a warm hug, Her Majesty spoke of how ‘brilliant’ the centres were for patients and their families.

‘There is something so special about them,’ she said.

Maggie’s Fife was set up in 2006 with the help of £161 million Euromillions lottery winner Christine Harkness, who is now an honorary patron. She met the Queen today, who thanked her profusely for her support.

She was also greeted by Sarah Brown, wife of former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, and journalist Kirsty Wark, also honorary patrons of the charity.

Camilla also met with people living with cancer – like her husband, the King – to hear about how they are supported by Maggie’s, sipping from a mug of tea.

She also made a point of thanking volunteers, saying: ‘It couldn’t operate without people like you.’

Queen Camilla, President of Maggie’s, arrives to visit Maggie’s, Fife to celebrate the work of volunteers and members of staff at Victoria Hospital, Kirkcaldy

Maggie’s has long been a trailblazer for cancer care, providing free psychological, emotional and practical support for anyone living with cancer, as well as their family and friends.

The centres are built outside of the hospitals they are attached to in order to provide a comforting space away from the rigorous of diagnosis and treatment, allowing people to be supported by those who understand what they are going through.

Speaking after the visit, during which Camilla posed for a photograph with guests at the event, Dame Laura said: ‘It is always a joy to welcome Her Majesty to one of our centres, especially one she has never been to before.

‘As always, she was incredibly generous with her time and listened closely to our centre visitors as they shared their stories. We are so grateful for her continued support.’

Gregor Forbes, 37, who was diagnosed with Stage 3 Hodgkins Lymphoma in January 2022, added: ‘ She was warm, friendly and interested to hear what I had to say about my own cancer experience and how I had been supported by Maggie’s in Fife. It’s a day I will never forget.’

The Queen has been President of Maggie’s since 2008 and has now visited 18 of the 24 centres across the UK. With centres soon to open in North Wales, Northampton and Middlesbrough, there will be 27 centres in the UK by the end of 2025.

Elsewhere, King Charles appeared moved as he and Queen Camilla unveiled a memorial stone marking the spot where Queen Elizabeth’s coffin lay in Edinburgh’s historic St Giles’ Cathedral on Wednesday.

The Queen (pictured left), 77, was visiting one of its 24 centres nationwide at Victoria Hospital in Kirkcaldy, Scotland, in her role as Maggie’s President

Greeting its inspirational founder and chief executive, Dame Laura Lee, with a warm hug, Her Majesty (pictured) spoke of how ‘brilliant’ the centres were for patients and their families

The couple attended a short but meaningful service of dedication for the black slate stone, engraved with the Scottish crown and ER cypher together with the date when Her Late Majesty rested on her final journey back down to London after dying at Balmoral in 2022.

Rev Dr Scott Rennie, Minister of St Giles, told them: ‘We give thanks for our great sovereign who lived a life of deep faith, humble service and unwavering devotion to duty. 

‘We honour her legacy of constantly in times of change, of grave in moments of challenge and of steadfast commitment to the people she served.

‘As this stone becomes in time a place of memory, let it also be a sign of inspiration, calling all who pass by to live lives of self-giving love, steadfast devotion and commitment to the common good. ‘

A service of thanksgiving and vigil took place in the cathedral on September 12 and 13 2022.

The new permanent memorial is located on the floor near the Holy Table where Queen Elizabeth’s coffin lay.

No other sovereign has had such a Service of Thanksgiving in Scotland, with the breadth of Scottish society in attendance.

Following the service, a vigil was held and, over the following 23 hours, more than 33,000 people queued to pay their respects.

King Charles III and Queen Camilla unveil a memorial stone in St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh

The late Queen’s children, including the King, also held their own vigil for their mother.

While her coffin was present in the cathedral, the Royal Company of Archers, the Sovereign’s Bodyguard in Scotland, mounted guard – and some of the same officers were present today.

The engraving on the stone was carried out by Roxanne Kindersley from the renowned Cardozo Kindersley Workshop in Cambridge, who also met the King and chatted about some of her other work he had seen, he described it as ‘brilliant’.

Rev Dr Scott Rennie, minister of St Giles’, said: ‘It has been a great honour and privilege to welcome Their Majesties King Charles and Queen Camilla back to St Giles’ for such a special event as we commemorate the late Queen Elizabeth, who visited the cathedral many times, with the Dedication of the Memorial Stone.

‘It is fitting that St Giles’, which has been at the heart of Scottish civic and religious life for more than 900 years, was able to host the 33,000 people who came to pay their final respects to Queen Elizabeth.

‘St Giles’ was probably founded by David I in around 1124 so there has been a strong royal connection since the beginning.’