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King Charles and Catherine, Princess of Wales, have been widely praised for their bravery during their cancer diagnosis and treatment, with their openness credited for supporting thousands of lives.
Both the King and the Princess have spoken candidly about their experiences, and in January 2025 Catherine shared that she had entered remission. In December 2025, the King revealed he could begin reducing his treatment and encouraged the public to undergo medical testing, stressing that early detection can be life-saving.
Amy Hirst, a senior health information officer at Cancer Research UK, also told GB News that the royal family’s willingness to speak publicly about the disease has had a meaningful impact, helping to raise awareness and destigmatising cancer.
She explained that cancer can impact anyone and praised both the King and the Princess for openly sharing their experiences despite intense public attention.
She said: Cancer can affect anyone. The bravery of the princess and the King, coming forward with that story, knowing that they’ve got a lot of eyes on them – it’s so brave.
She also highlighted how their openness provides reassurance and encourages people to pay attention to potential warning signs and seek medical advice when something feels wrong.
As she added: We really appreciate that hope and honesty. It’s that really important reminder for people to listen to their bodies when something doesn’t look or feel quite right.
She stressed that speaking more openly about cancer is vital, while also noting that significant advances in research continue to offer optimism.
She said: And the more we talk about cancer, the better, and we have made a lot of progress in research. There is hope.
Ms Hirst also addressed the King’s emphasis on the importance of early diagnosis, explaining that the screening programmes he highlighted continue to be widely used by the public.
She explained that seeking medical checks at an early stage significantly improves the chances of successful treatment, adding that while most concerns do not turn out to be cancer, identifying the disease early can have a crucial impact if it is present.
She said: Getting checked early means treatments are more likely to be successful, so it’s really important. In most cases, it won’t be cancer, but if it is, spotting it early means it could make all the difference.
She also noted that the screening tool promoted by the King remains available and continues to be monitored, helping people determine whether they qualify for cancer screening and providing guidance to overcome common obstacles to getting checked.
As she explained: The screening checker is still up, so we’ll keep on monitoring it. That’s screenchecker.com, so hopefully people still are able to find that.
She added that the platform offers practical information and advice, including support from well-known figures, to encourage more people to participate in screening.
She said: It just helps people understand if they might be eligible for cancer screening and gives people really helpful tips and advice from a team of celebrities to help tackle common barriers.
She concluded by saying that royal backing for these initiatives has been extremely meaningful and has helped thousands of lives.
The Princess of Wales released a heartfelt message for World Cancer Day, speaking openly about the emotional and physical challenges that come with confronting the illness, including feelings of fear and exhaustion.
Catherine said: On World Cancer Day, my thoughts are with everyone who is facing a cancer diagnosis, undergoing treatment or finding their way through recovery.
She also reflected on how the illness affects not only those diagnosed, but also the loved ones who support them throughout the journey.
As she added: Cancer touches so many lives. Not only patients, but the families, friends and caregivers who walk beside them.
She further noted that recovery is rarely straightforward, involving difficult periods alongside moments of courage and connection.
In her words: As anyone who has experienced this journey will know, it’s not linear. There are moments of fear and exhaustion. But also moments of strength, kindness, and profound connection.
Her message also emphasized the importance of compassion, support and optimism, encouraging those affected to remember they do not face the journey alone.
She continued: Today is a reminder of the importance of care, understanding and hope. Please know you are not alone.
After the release of King Charles’s emotional video message in December, the Monarch shared that he felt deeply touched by the public response it received.
The Palace later stated it was delighted by the scale and sensitivity of the worldwide media reaction, adding that it was most grateful for the many kind comments we have received for the King, both from those working in cancer care and from the general public.
The statement further explained that the King was greatly moved by how positively the message was received, particularly because it helped highlight the value of cancer screening programmes.
As the Palace noted: I know His Majesty will be greatly encouraged and deeply touched by the very positive reaction his message has generated. He will be particularly pleased at the way it has helped to shine a light on the benefits of cancer screening programmes.
It was also reiterated that the King has long believed sharing parts of his personal experience could serve a wider public benefit if it helped others.
The Palace added: It has long been the King’s view that if some public good can come from sharing elements of his personal diagnosis and treatment journey, then it would be his pleasure and duty to do so.
The message concluded by affirming that the King’s thoughts and sincere wishes remain with everyone affected by cancer, as well as those who support them.
As the statement finished: His thoughts and warmest wishes will remain with all those affected by cancer and those who care for them.
