Why Queen Camilla worried King Charles's cancer announcement would backfire

Queen Camilla reportedly believed King Charles’s cancer diagnosis should have remained private, fearing that public scrutiny could have taken a toll on his recovery.

King Charles sent shockwaves across the world in February 2024 when he announced that he had been diagnosed with cancer.

While the 77-year-old monarch has never disclosed the exact type of cancer, he has chosen to speak openly about his condition. However, that openness did not come without concern from Queen Camilla.

According to The Times, Queen Camilla initially felt uneasy about the King making his diagnosis public, worried that intense media attention and speculation could negatively impact his wellbeing.

The newspaper reported: “When the King learnt he had cancer nearly two years ago, his wife initially believed his diagnosis should remain private, as she feared the toll public scrutiny of his health might take on his recovery.”

Sources added that Camilla’s hesitation stemmed from concerns about privacy, and the fear that once the subject was public, it could never truly be closed again.

“Once the door on it had been opened, it could never be closed,” the report said.

Historically, monarchs have been reluctant to speak openly about their health, with medical matters often treated as strictly private. Despite this, King Charles was reportedly determined to handle his diagnosis differently.

According to The Times, the Queen has taken comfort in the overwhelming public support Charles has received since announcing his illness, something that has personally lifted his spirits.

The paper wrote: “Charles was determined from the outset to pursue ‘openness and transparency’ and Camilla has taken comfort in how buoyed her husband has been by the public response to his candour about his illness.”

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