Aug. 23, 2026
Camilla Opens Up About Charles’s Cancer as Andrew Rejects Balmoral and Sarah Eyes Portugal
Queen Camilla gives a remarkably personal account of the moment King Charles was diagnosed with cancer and reveals how difficult it was to keep the news secret during a public engagement. Plus, Andrew reportedly turns down an invitation to Balmoral and is spotted in the South of France, Sarah Ferguson is said to be getting a little too comfortable around Eugenie’s Portugal home, Sophie recalls Queen Elizabeth fleeing the tension of an Olympic hockey shootout, and Meghan brings “Peak Summer” to As Ever customers as American families head back to school.
Become a supporter of this podcast: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/palace-intrigue-harry-meghan-the-crown-royal-family-news-and-gossip--4522904/support.
Palace Intrigue is a daily British royal family podcast covering King Charles, Meghan Markle, Prince Harry, Kate Middleton and the House of Windsor. New episodes every day. Follow on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Part of the Caloroga Shark Media network.
WEBVTT
1
00:00:03.200 --> 00:00:12.679
Calorogus Shark Media that hello and welcome to Palace Intrigue Game,
2
00:00:12.720 --> 00:00:16.440
your host. Mark France's Queen Camilla has spoken with unusual
3
00:00:16.600 --> 00:00:20.079
candor about the moment King Charles was diagnosed with cancer,
4
00:00:20.480 --> 00:00:23.320
saying her husband was determined from the start to face
5
00:00:23.359 --> 00:00:26.359
the illness in his own way. In a new film
6
00:00:26.440 --> 00:00:30.679
marking the thirtieth anniversary of Maggie's Cancer charity, Camilla recalled
7
00:00:30.800 --> 00:00:34.000
Charles's reaction after learning he had the disease. She said,
8
00:00:34.240 --> 00:00:36.560
look at my husband. Nothing stopped him. He just said,
9
00:00:36.920 --> 00:00:39.000
this is my way. I'm going to cope with it.
10
00:00:39.479 --> 00:00:42.159
Charles has been undergoing treatment for an undisclosed form of
11
00:00:42.240 --> 00:00:46.200
cancer since early twenty twenty four. Camilla also described how
12
00:00:46.280 --> 00:00:50.520
suddenly personally subject became after years of visiting cancer patients
13
00:00:51.039 --> 00:00:53.960
and their families through her work with Maggie's. She said,
14
00:00:54.320 --> 00:00:56.880
it has never really come back to roost at home
15
00:00:56.920 --> 00:00:59.840
and suddenly your husband is diagnosed and you, thank goodness,
16
00:01:00.079 --> 00:01:02.399
been talking to all these people and now I'm the
17
00:01:02.439 --> 00:01:04.719
one with the same relation who's got to help to
18
00:01:04.760 --> 00:01:08.000
look after my poor husband and try and understand it all.
19
00:01:08.840 --> 00:01:11.200
One of the most striking parts of Camilla's account concerns
20
00:01:11.200 --> 00:01:14.159
and engagement she carried out in January twenty twenty four.
21
00:01:14.959 --> 00:01:17.719
On January thirty first, she opened a new Maggie's Cancer
22
00:01:17.760 --> 00:01:21.200
Support center, the Royal Free Hospital in London. At that point,
23
00:01:21.480 --> 00:01:24.599
Camilla already knew Charles had cancer. The public did not.
24
00:01:25.280 --> 00:01:28.200
Camilla said, I remember coming to Maggie's just after the
25
00:01:28.280 --> 00:01:32.000
King being diagnosed. Nobody could say anything at the time.
26
00:01:32.079 --> 00:01:35.760
That was quite difficult. I almost said something, but you know,
27
00:01:35.840 --> 00:01:38.120
I felt that it wasn't that time to say. I
28
00:01:38.120 --> 00:01:40.439
looked at everybody who was suffering in all the relations
29
00:01:40.439 --> 00:01:42.920
and I think it made me realize even more how
30
00:01:42.959 --> 00:01:48.159
important these places were. Speaking with Maggie's chief executive, Dame
31
00:01:48.280 --> 00:01:51.200
Laura Lee, Camilla admitted just how difficult it was to
32
00:01:51.280 --> 00:01:53.799
keep the news private. I was just hoping to let
33
00:01:53.840 --> 00:01:57.359
it out, but obviously I couldn't. That knowledge also changed
34
00:01:57.400 --> 00:02:00.519
the way Camilla interacted with patients and relatives. During the visit.
35
00:02:01.120 --> 00:02:04.760
She said she found herself almost questioning them while trying
36
00:02:04.799 --> 00:02:08.199
not to intrude. I didn't want to pry too deeply. Normally,
37
00:02:08.280 --> 00:02:10.439
when I went in, I was just talking to them,
38
00:02:10.439 --> 00:02:13.039
but I don't know, it felt it was much more deep.
39
00:02:13.439 --> 00:02:16.400
Dame Laura told Camilla that keeping the engagement under those
40
00:02:16.400 --> 00:02:20.560
circumstances must have required considerable composure. It was just a
41
00:02:20.560 --> 00:02:22.759
week before it became public, and the courage that must
42
00:02:22.800 --> 00:02:25.840
have taken for you. Camilla's response was simple, I was
43
00:02:25.919 --> 00:02:28.439
just longing to let it out, but obviously I couldn't.
44
00:02:28.840 --> 00:02:31.719
Child had originally entered hospital in January twenty twenty four
45
00:02:31.800 --> 00:02:35.360
for treatment of an enlarged prostate. The cancer was discovered
46
00:02:35.439 --> 00:02:38.240
during that period. Although the Palace has never disclosed exactly
47
00:02:38.240 --> 00:02:40.879
what type of cancer the King has, Maggie's says the
48
00:02:41.000 --> 00:02:44.759
King's openness about his diagnosis has also had a measurable effect.
49
00:02:45.199 --> 00:02:48.599
Dame Laura said the King's openness about his diagnosis has
50
00:02:48.719 --> 00:02:52.639
undoubtedly helped others to be more open themselves and to
51
00:02:52.759 --> 00:02:56.960
now hear the Queen's completely understandable natural Response's wife shines
52
00:02:57.000 --> 00:02:59.599
a light on why it is so important that family
53
00:02:59.599 --> 00:03:03.639
and friends also get the support they need. Maggie's operates
54
00:03:03.719 --> 00:03:08.159
twenty seven centers around Britain, generally located near NHS cancer hospitals.
55
00:03:08.280 --> 00:03:12.360
The centers provide free emotional, psychological and practical support to
56
00:03:12.479 --> 00:03:16.919
patients and their families without requiring appointments. Dan Laura described
57
00:03:16.960 --> 00:03:19.639
their role this way. We're not saving them medically, but
58
00:03:19.680 --> 00:03:25.919
we're saving them psychologically and emotionally. Andrew Mountbatten Windsor has
59
00:03:26.000 --> 00:03:29.240
reportedly turned down an invitation from King Charles to join
60
00:03:29.280 --> 00:03:32.520
the royal family at Bowmorral this summer. The Sun reports
61
00:03:32.520 --> 00:03:35.159
that Charles offered his younger brother the chance to spend
62
00:03:35.280 --> 00:03:38.400
time with the family during the traditional gathering in the
63
00:03:38.479 --> 00:03:41.199
Scottish Highlands, but according to a friend of Andrew, the
64
00:03:41.240 --> 00:03:43.479
former Duke of York believes he would simply be treated
65
00:03:43.520 --> 00:03:48.520
as an outsider. The source said, Andrew feels he's been abandoned.
66
00:03:48.639 --> 00:03:51.039
He feels like he is no longer part of the family.
67
00:03:51.840 --> 00:03:54.479
He was invited, but has got no great desire to
68
00:03:54.520 --> 00:03:56.680
be a bow Moral as he has nothing to gain
69
00:03:56.719 --> 00:03:59.400
and would be treated as an outcast. What's the point
70
00:03:59.439 --> 00:04:01.840
he feels going all the way there for a much
71
00:04:01.919 --> 00:04:04.840
needed holiday and being treated as an elephant in the room.
72
00:04:05.800 --> 00:04:09.960
Buckingham Palace declined to comment. Meanwhile, author Andrew Lowney claims
73
00:04:09.960 --> 00:04:11.759
the former Duke of York has been traveling abroad and
74
00:04:11.800 --> 00:04:15.240
was recently spotted in the South of France. Writing on substack.
75
00:04:15.280 --> 00:04:19.199
Lowney said Andrew has not been stuck Forlornly and Marsh
76
00:04:19.279 --> 00:04:22.839
Farm over the summer. He attains his passport and regularly
77
00:04:22.879 --> 00:04:25.920
travels abroad with the knowledge of the King. Andrew has
78
00:04:25.920 --> 00:04:27.879
been in the south of France, where he was spotted
79
00:04:27.920 --> 00:04:31.360
in a red baseball cap and white trousers, timberland chews
80
00:04:31.360 --> 00:04:34.600
and ray band glasses and accompanied by two forty something women,
81
00:04:35.079 --> 00:04:36.959
one blonde and the other with red hair. It is
82
00:04:36.959 --> 00:04:41.399
said he is looking for property in the region. Closer
83
00:04:41.480 --> 00:04:43.720
is reporting a new bit of family tension involving Sarah
84
00:04:43.720 --> 00:04:47.120
Ferguson and Princess Eugenie. According to the report, Sarah Ferguson
85
00:04:47.120 --> 00:04:49.560
has already traveled to Portugal to be near the family
86
00:04:49.759 --> 00:04:52.759
and has become increasingly fond of the area around Melida's.
87
00:04:53.439 --> 00:04:56.360
One source claims Sarah would love to be given the keys.
88
00:04:56.759 --> 00:04:59.079
The idea, according to Closer, is that Sarah could stay
89
00:04:59.079 --> 00:05:02.439
at the house regularly, help with the grandchildren and use
90
00:05:02.480 --> 00:05:05.360
it as a quieter base when Eugenie and jack are elsewhere.
91
00:05:05.480 --> 00:05:07.680
And while Jackie said to be sympathetic to his mother
92
00:05:07.680 --> 00:05:10.399
in law, the source claims there was a difference between
93
00:05:10.439 --> 00:05:13.439
welcoming Sarah for visits and effectively having her move in.
94
00:05:14.240 --> 00:05:17.000
The insiders said having Sarah effectively move in as a
95
00:05:17.000 --> 00:05:24.759
whole different matter, more palsy, just a moment. The Duchess
96
00:05:24.759 --> 00:05:27.240
of Edinburgh has shared a funny memory of Queen Elizabeth
97
00:05:27.279 --> 00:05:30.680
getting so tense during Team GB's women's hockey gold medal
98
00:05:30.759 --> 00:05:33.160
match at the Rio Olympics that she had to leave
99
00:05:33.199 --> 00:05:36.839
the room. Sophie appeared on a special BBC Radio five
100
00:05:36.920 --> 00:05:40.720
Live program marking ten years since Britain's dramatic victory over
101
00:05:40.759 --> 00:05:44.680
the Netherlands in the twenty sixteen Olympic final. Sophie, who
102
00:05:44.720 --> 00:05:47.439
was patron of England and GB Hockey, record watching the
103
00:05:47.480 --> 00:05:50.199
match at Balmorral with Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip. She
104
00:05:50.240 --> 00:05:52.879
said the Queen couldn't cope with the pressure. She had
105
00:05:52.879 --> 00:05:56.199
to take herself away again. Sophie said. Prince Philip meanwhile,
106
00:05:56.199 --> 00:05:59.079
seemed almost as entertained by her reaction as by the
107
00:05:59.120 --> 00:06:02.160
match itself. I think he was watching my reaction more
108
00:06:02.160 --> 00:06:04.720
than he was watching the television, because I was literally
109
00:06:04.800 --> 00:06:07.800
living and breathing every moment. I was leaping up and
110
00:06:07.839 --> 00:06:10.480
screaming and everything, and the drawing room was right next door.
111
00:06:10.600 --> 00:06:13.000
I suddenly was sort of conscious of this presence, and
112
00:06:13.000 --> 00:06:15.360
Her Majesty had come through, and she was standing in
113
00:06:15.360 --> 00:06:18.240
the doorway watching and it was getting so pressured. She
114
00:06:18.319 --> 00:06:20.800
was watching the penalties. She couldn't cope with the pressure.
115
00:06:20.879 --> 00:06:24.560
She had to take herself away again, couldn't cope with it.
116
00:06:24.680 --> 00:06:27.439
I was standing there leaping up and down, leaping up
117
00:06:27.480 --> 00:06:29.920
and down. My father in law was laughing at me.
118
00:06:30.519 --> 00:06:32.519
Sophie had actually missed part of the match because she
119
00:06:32.519 --> 00:06:35.160
had to join the royal family for dinner. A member
120
00:06:35.199 --> 00:06:37.720
of staff who was also a hockey fan, kept quietly
121
00:06:37.800 --> 00:06:41.199
passing her updates. Sophie recalled, we were sitting at the
122
00:06:41.279 --> 00:06:43.199
end of dinner and I was twitching, and eventually Her
123
00:06:43.199 --> 00:06:45.360
Majesty sat there and said, oh, for goodness sake, just go,
124
00:06:45.879 --> 00:06:48.759
so I ran through to the library. Tim GB went
125
00:06:48.800 --> 00:06:51.639
on to beat the defending Olympic champions from the Netherlands
126
00:06:51.680 --> 00:06:55.360
and a penalty shootout, winning Britain's first Olympic gold medal
127
00:06:55.439 --> 00:06:59.839
in women's hockey. When many children in the US returning
128
00:06:59.839 --> 00:07:01.800
to school next week, Megan Markle has sent a new
129
00:07:01.800 --> 00:07:04.360
message about peak summer, which for many Americans was about
130
00:07:04.360 --> 00:07:07.120
a month ago. The Duchess wanted as Ever customers to
131
00:07:07.160 --> 00:07:10.000
remember some of the brand's summer products. In the newsletters
132
00:07:10.000 --> 00:07:12.680
and Tuesday, the Duchess focused on iced tea and honey
133
00:07:12.720 --> 00:07:14.959
as part of what she described as the slower pace
134
00:07:15.040 --> 00:07:18.439
of late summer. The message read, peak summer is a
135
00:07:18.439 --> 00:07:21.560
picture of iced tea, a quiet moment nowhere else to
136
00:07:21.639 --> 00:07:26.160
be our herbal peppermint tea transforms beautifully when brewed ahead
137
00:07:26.199 --> 00:07:30.319
and poured over ice, bright, cooling and wonderfully refreshing from
138
00:07:30.360 --> 00:07:34.000
the first sip to the last. Welcome companion to outdoor tables,
139
00:07:34.160 --> 00:07:37.519
picnic blankets, and kitchen counters all summer long. Serve it
140
00:07:37.560 --> 00:07:39.480
simply 'or finish it with fresh mint, a twist of
141
00:07:39.560 --> 00:07:43.120
centrist in the touch of lavender honey. However you pour it,
142
00:07:43.120 --> 00:07:46.480
it's a gentle reminder of our love for slow summer days.
143
00:07:47.120 --> 00:07:51.839
The newsletter highlighted several as Ever products, including peppermint, lemon, ginger,
144
00:07:51.879 --> 00:07:55.519
and hibiscus teas, along with the brands Lavender, Honey and
145
00:07:55.600 --> 00:08:00.199
Honey duo and promotional images of iced tea and you
146
00:08:00.199 --> 00:08:02.600
have it if you'd like to email us and addresses
147
00:08:02.600 --> 00:08:05.680
the Palaces Intrigue at Gmail and dot com. If you're
148
00:08:05.759 --> 00:08:08.399
on Spotify, leave us a comment. If you're on Apple
149
00:08:08.439 --> 00:08:10.800
ghit that button up there that says listen uninterrupted and
150
00:08:10.839 --> 00:08:13.399
get the show commercial free for just five bucks a month.
151
00:08:13.600 --> 00:08:16.600
We appreciate your support. I'm Mark Francis. My thanks to
152
00:08:16.680 --> 00:08:19.519
John McDermott. This is Palace intrigue and good terms.
1
00:00:03.200 --> 00:00:12.679
2
00:00:12.720 --> 00:00:16.440
3
00:00:16.600 --> 00:00:20.079
4
00:00:20.480 --> 00:00:23.320
5
00:00:23.359 --> 00:00:26.359
6
00:00:26.440 --> 00:00:30.679
7
00:00:30.800 --> 00:00:34.000
8
00:00:34.240 --> 00:00:36.560
9
00:00:36.920 --> 00:00:39.000
10
00:00:39.479 --> 00:00:42.159
11
00:00:42.240 --> 00:00:46.200
12
00:00:46.280 --> 00:00:50.520
13
00:00:51.039 --> 00:00:53.960
14
00:00:54.320 --> 00:00:56.880
15
00:00:56.920 --> 00:00:59.840
16
00:01:00.079 --> 00:01:02.399
17
00:01:02.439 --> 00:01:04.719
18
00:01:04.760 --> 00:01:08.000
19
00:01:08.840 --> 00:01:11.200
20
00:01:11.200 --> 00:01:14.159
21
00:01:14.959 --> 00:01:17.719
22
00:01:17.760 --> 00:01:21.200
23
00:01:21.480 --> 00:01:24.599
24
00:01:25.280 --> 00:01:28.200
25
00:01:28.280 --> 00:01:32.000
26
00:01:32.079 --> 00:01:35.760
27
00:01:35.840 --> 00:01:38.120
28
00:01:38.120 --> 00:01:40.439
29
00:01:40.439 --> 00:01:42.920
30
00:01:42.959 --> 00:01:48.159
31
00:01:48.280 --> 00:01:51.200
32
00:01:51.280 --> 00:01:53.799
33
00:01:53.840 --> 00:01:57.359
34
00:01:57.400 --> 00:02:00.519
35
00:02:01.120 --> 00:02:04.760
36
00:02:04.799 --> 00:02:08.199
37
00:02:08.280 --> 00:02:10.439
38
00:02:10.439 --> 00:02:13.039
39
00:02:13.439 --> 00:02:16.400
40
00:02:16.400 --> 00:02:20.560
41
00:02:20.560 --> 00:02:22.759
42
00:02:22.800 --> 00:02:25.840
43
00:02:25.919 --> 00:02:28.439
44
00:02:28.840 --> 00:02:31.719
45
00:02:31.800 --> 00:02:35.360
46
00:02:35.439 --> 00:02:38.240
47
00:02:38.240 --> 00:02:40.879
48
00:02:41.000 --> 00:02:44.759
49
00:02:45.199 --> 00:02:48.599
50
00:02:48.719 --> 00:02:52.639
51
00:02:52.759 --> 00:02:56.960
52
00:02:57.000 --> 00:02:59.599
53
00:02:59.599 --> 00:03:03.639
54
00:03:03.719 --> 00:03:08.159
55
00:03:08.280 --> 00:03:12.360
56
00:03:12.479 --> 00:03:16.919
57
00:03:16.960 --> 00:03:19.639
58
00:03:19.680 --> 00:03:25.919
59
00:03:26.000 --> 00:03:29.240
60
00:03:29.280 --> 00:03:32.520
61
00:03:32.520 --> 00:03:35.159
62
00:03:35.280 --> 00:03:38.400
63
00:03:38.479 --> 00:03:41.199
64
00:03:41.240 --> 00:03:43.479
65
00:03:43.520 --> 00:03:48.520
66
00:03:48.639 --> 00:03:51.039
67
00:03:51.840 --> 00:03:54.479
68
00:03:54.520 --> 00:03:56.680
69
00:03:56.719 --> 00:03:59.400
70
00:03:59.439 --> 00:04:01.840
71
00:04:01.919 --> 00:04:04.840
72
00:04:05.800 --> 00:04:09.960
73
00:04:09.960 --> 00:04:11.759
74
00:04:11.800 --> 00:04:15.240
75
00:04:15.280 --> 00:04:19.199
76
00:04:19.279 --> 00:04:22.839
77
00:04:22.879 --> 00:04:25.920
78
00:04:25.920 --> 00:04:27.879
79
00:04:27.920 --> 00:04:31.360
80
00:04:31.360 --> 00:04:34.600
81
00:04:35.079 --> 00:04:36.959
82
00:04:36.959 --> 00:04:41.399
83
00:04:41.480 --> 00:04:43.720
84
00:04:43.720 --> 00:04:47.120
85
00:04:47.120 --> 00:04:49.560
86
00:04:49.759 --> 00:04:52.759
87
00:04:53.439 --> 00:04:56.360
88
00:04:56.759 --> 00:04:59.079
89
00:04:59.079 --> 00:05:02.439
90
00:05:02.480 --> 00:05:05.360
91
00:05:05.480 --> 00:05:07.680
92
00:05:07.680 --> 00:05:10.399
93
00:05:10.439 --> 00:05:13.439
94
00:05:14.240 --> 00:05:17.000
95
00:05:17.000 --> 00:05:24.759
96
00:05:24.759 --> 00:05:27.240
97
00:05:27.279 --> 00:05:30.680
98
00:05:30.759 --> 00:05:33.160
99
00:05:33.199 --> 00:05:36.839
100
00:05:36.920 --> 00:05:40.720
101
00:05:40.759 --> 00:05:44.680
102
00:05:44.720 --> 00:05:47.439
103
00:05:47.480 --> 00:05:50.199
104
00:05:50.240 --> 00:05:52.879
105
00:05:52.879 --> 00:05:56.199
106
00:05:56.199 --> 00:05:59.079
107
00:05:59.120 --> 00:06:02.160
108
00:06:02.160 --> 00:06:04.720
109
00:06:04.800 --> 00:06:07.800
110
00:06:07.839 --> 00:06:10.480
111
00:06:10.600 --> 00:06:13.000
112
00:06:13.000 --> 00:06:15.360
113
00:06:15.360 --> 00:06:18.240
114
00:06:18.319 --> 00:06:20.800
115
00:06:20.879 --> 00:06:24.560
116
00:06:24.680 --> 00:06:27.439
117
00:06:27.480 --> 00:06:29.920
118
00:06:30.519 --> 00:06:32.519
119
00:06:32.519 --> 00:06:35.160
120
00:06:35.199 --> 00:06:37.720
121
00:06:37.800 --> 00:06:41.199
122
00:06:41.279 --> 00:06:43.199
123
00:06:43.199 --> 00:06:45.360
124
00:06:45.879 --> 00:06:48.759
125
00:06:48.800 --> 00:06:51.639
126
00:06:51.680 --> 00:06:55.360
127
00:06:55.439 --> 00:06:59.839
128
00:06:59.839 --> 00:07:01.800
129
00:07:01.800 --> 00:07:04.360
130
00:07:04.360 --> 00:07:07.120
131
00:07:07.160 --> 00:07:10.000
132
00:07:10.000 --> 00:07:12.680
133
00:07:12.720 --> 00:07:14.959
134
00:07:15.040 --> 00:07:18.439
135
00:07:18.439 --> 00:07:21.560
136
00:07:21.639 --> 00:07:26.160
137
00:07:26.199 --> 00:07:30.319
138
00:07:30.360 --> 00:07:34.000
139
00:07:34.160 --> 00:07:37.519
140
00:07:37.560 --> 00:07:39.480
141
00:07:39.560 --> 00:07:43.120
142
00:07:43.120 --> 00:07:46.480
143
00:07:47.120 --> 00:07:51.839
144
00:07:51.879 --> 00:07:55.519
145
00:07:55.600 --> 00:08:00.199
146
00:08:00.199 --> 00:08:02.600
147
00:08:02.600 --> 00:08:05.680
148
00:08:05.759 --> 00:08:08.399
149
00:08:08.439 --> 00:08:10.800
150
00:08:10.839 --> 00:08:13.399
151
00:08:13.600 --> 00:08:16.600
152
00:08:16.680 --> 00:08:19.519
