The King and the Princess of Wales personally thanked those who are leading the nation’s battle against cancer at St James’s Palace on Tuesday night.
Charles, 77, and his daughter-in-law Catherine, 44, who share the unenviable bond of a diagnosis of the disease, were joined at a reception by Queen Camilla and the Duke and Duchess of Gloucester in honour of Cancer Research UK’s 125th anniversary.
His Majesty and the Princess were diagnosed within weeks of each other in 2024.
While the King is still undergoing an undisclosed form of treatment, Catherine revealed she underwent a period of chemotherapy which finished in the late summer of that year.
In January 2025 she announced that she was happily in remission but has spoken of the huge toll it has taken on her physically and warned her return to public duties would be slow and measured.
During the reception the royals met researchers, clinicians, volunteers and partners involved in Cancer Research UK’s prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cancer.
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
At one point during the busy reception, Queen Camilla walked over and hugged the Princess of Wales.
The King and Queen later viewed visual representations of how technological innovation is transforming cancer research, including using AI to spot signs of the disease.
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.’
Mr Bowen said afterwards: ‘I told her I was incredibly touched that they as a family had been so supportive and thought about them all the time.
‘It was deeply touching and moving for me and my family to have had the opportunity to meet them and ongoing support and given to the fund both privately and publicly.’
Dame Deborah’s father Alistair James also spoke to the royals.
After chatting to Camilla he said: ‘She congratulated everything we had achieved with the fund.’
He also met the princess and said afterwards: ‘It is the first time I’ve met Catherine she was genuine and warm. I’ve met William and I have a lot of respect for both of them.’
Fellow cancer survivor Davina McCall was among those seen speaking with the Princess of Wales at the reception
The reception was held to launch Cancer Research UK’s 125th anniversary year
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’.
After Charles asked her about her cancer, Davina was heard saying ‘I’m so grateful’ and told him ‘anything is possible’.
She also chatted at length to Kate and on meeting the princess said ‘it’s such an honour’.
Ms McCall said: ‘It was a great honour to meet the Princess of Wales, I’m an enormous fan of everything she does and stands for, and for her role in speaking out about her journey and how hard that is. She is very brave.’
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
Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester and Birgitte, Duchess of Gloucester, were seen speaking animatedly with Davina McCall
The Princess of Wales shares an amusing moment with guests at the reception
The Princess of Wales shares a moment of empathy with a guest at Tuesday night’s event
Hannah Fry, who appeared on Channel 4’s Stand Up To Cancer last year when the King revealed in a landmark statement that his treatment was being reduced, also chatted to Charles at length.
The scientist and broadcaster had the all clear after being diagnosed with cervical cancer.
She said afterwards: ‘We spoke about Stand Up To Cancer which I did last year and what a massive difference that made.
‘To hear somebody like him who has been through it and survived cancer has same experience as so many people across the county for him to give words of encouragement to take part in screening programme is massive.
‘On a simple personal level I think there is something really profound about a family who are at the top of society going through same the rest of us, something very humanising and being willing to talk to people on their level makes a big difference.’
DJ and broadcaster Adele Roberts, diagnosed with stage-two bowel cancer and now cancer-free, also attended.
In a lighter moment, pop star Ronan Keating could be overheard saying to Kate: ‘Please say hi to William’.
His wife Storm Keating, added ‘he’s such a gent’, before Ronan said: ‘Yeah, we love him.’
Kate then made the pair laugh when she replied: ‘So do I.’
