Last night, both King Charles and the Princess of Wales extended personal gratitude to leaders in the fight against cancer during an event at St James’s Palace.
At the reception, held in celebration of Cancer Research UK’s 125th anniversary, King Charles, aged 77, and his daughter-in-law Catherine, 44, who have both faced a cancer diagnosis, were accompanied by Queen Camilla and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester.
The King and Princess received their diagnoses just weeks apart in 2024.
While King Charles is still undergoing unspecified treatment, Catherine shared that she completed a course of chemotherapy by late summer of the same year.
By January 2025, Catherine joyously announced her remission, though she acknowledged the significant physical toll the illness had taken, cautioning that her return to public engagements would be gradual.
Throughout the evening, the royal family engaged with researchers, clinicians, volunteers, and partners who are pivotal to Cancer Research UK’s efforts in cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.
High profile supporters of the charity including fellow cancer survivors Davina McCall, Hannah Fry and Adele Roberts were in attendance, as well as singer Ronan Keating, who lost his mother to cancer, and his wife, Storm.
The reception included immersive installations showcasing the work of the charity, including the charity’s past impact, current work and future innovation.
Princess Catherine personally thanked those who are leading the nation’s battle against cancer at a special reception at St James’s Palace tonight
Catherine, 44, shares the unenviable bond of a diagnosis of the disease with King Charles
The Princess of Wales was welcomed by researchers, clinicians, volunteers and partners involved in the work of Cancer Research UK
The King and Queen viewed visual representations of how technological innovation is transforming cancer research.
The reception was held held to launch Cancer Research UK’s 125th anniversary year, its work stretching back to the founding of the charity’s predecessor organisations (The Imperial Cancer Research Fund and the Cancer Research Campaign, founded in 1902 and 1923 respectively).
Since then, the charity has helped to transform how cancer is understood, prevented, detected and treated.
This progress has contributed to a doubling of cancer survival in the UK over the past 50 years and today 8 in 10 people who receive cancer drugs in the UK receive a drug developed by or with Cancer Research UK.
The King has been Patron of Cancer Research UK since 2024. His Majesty’s patronage was announced to coincide with a visit to University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre to highlight some of the innovative research supported by Cancer Research UK.
The Duke of Gloucester and Princess Alexandra are joint presidents of the charity.
Kate wore a £1,600 midi dress by Rodarte with a detachable flower charm.
She also spoke to the widow of ‘bowel babe’ Dame Deborah James, who was honoured by Prince William for her incredible fundraising and campaigning in the face of incurable bowel cancer.
Dame Deborah received her insignia from the future king in May 2022 in a special ceremony at her parent’s home and died just weeks later.
Her husband Sebastian Bowen told the Princess: ‘I’ve been thinking about you guys a lot’.
Catherine praised Deborah for the ‘impact of her work’ and listened intently as Mr Bowen told her how it had been ‘bittersweet’ to smash fundraising targets for research and clinical trials into the disease that his wife had dreamed of achieving.
He also appeared to thank William for a sympathetic conversation he apparently had with the couple’s two children.
The princess replied: ‘He’s good like that.’
Fellow cancer survivor Davina McCall was among those seen speaking with the Princess of Wales at the reception
Th reception was held to launch Cancer Research UK’s 125th anniversary year
Davina McCall beamed as she met King Charles and Queen Camilla at the reception
Singer Ronan Keating, who lost his mother to cancer, was seen alongside his wife, Storm, speaking with the King
Meanwhile TV presenter Davina McCall said her exchange with the Princess of Wales at the Cancer Research UK reception was ‘really wonderful’.
Ms McCall was introduced to the princess by Dr Ian Walker, executive director of policy, information and communications at the charity, on Tuesday evening.
Ms McCall said: ‘It was a really wonderful exchange, and they (the King, Queen and princess) are all wonderful.
‘I can’t imagine what it must be like having going through something like cancer, and then sort of having to tell people about it, when possibly it would have been much easier and nicer to not have to share it with the world.
‘And I’ve got to say, after my brain tumour, I didn’t massively want to have to do that myself.’
She later added: ‘But it really helped me get through it by sharing it, and other people relating, or feeling like I could help.’
Ms McCall underwent surgery in 2024 to remove a benign brain tumour.
She was diagnosed with breast cancer in October last year and had surgery to remove a lump but said in April that she had now received the ‘all clear’.
