She initially believed keeping the diagnosis private would protect his recovery
Queen Camilla reportedly urged King Charles to keep his cancer diagnosis private at first, worried that public attention could interfere with his recovery.
According to a new report, the Queen Consort felt secrecy was the safest option when she first learned about her husband’s condition. A source told The Times that Camilla feared once the news became public, it would be impossible to control the level of scrutiny.
“It can now be revealed that when the King learned he had cancer nearly two years ago, his wife initially believed his diagnosis should remain private,” the insider said. “She feared the toll public scrutiny of his health might take on his recovery.”
Another report echoed those concerns, claiming Camilla was anxious that “once the door on it had been opened, it could never be closed.”
However, both the King and Queen have since come to see the decision to be open as a positive one. The source noted that sharing the diagnosis helped raise awareness about cancer and had a noticeable impact on Charles personally.
“Both of them now unequivocally think that being so open has been hugely positive,” the insider explained, adding that the public support lifted the King’s spirits. Camilla is said to have taken comfort in seeing how encouraged her husband has been by the response to his honesty about his illness.
