Princess Kate Opens Up in Emotional Exchange With TV Presenter at Cancer Reception
Davina McCall opened up about her “wonderful” conversation with Princess Kate as the pair reflected on their respective cancer journeys.
On Tuesday, Princess Kate joined King Charles and Queen Camilla at St. James’s Palace for a deeply personal engagement centered on cancer awareness. It is the first time Kate and Charles have appeared together for such an event since they both went public with their diagnoses in 2024. Among the attendees, TV host Davina McCall was also present, who shared a very meaningful exchange with the Princess of Wales.
The ceremony took place to commemorate the 125th anniversary of Cancer Research UK, and the royals spent time meeting researchers, clinicians, volunteers, and charity partners working across cancer prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. McCall was also present among them and said that she had a “wonderful exchange” with Kate.
During the event, the pair spoke about McCall’s own cancer experience, with the TV presenter sharing that speaking publicly about it had been “liberating.” She later described her meeting with Kate as a great experience. “It was a really wonderful exchange, and they [the King, Queen, and Kate] are all wonderful,” she said.
McCall added, “I can’t imagine what it must be like having gone 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.” She revealed, “And I’ve got to say, after my brain tumor, I didn’t massively want to have to do that myself.” She further explained that sharing her experience publicly had helped her get through the difficult period, as many people connected with her story, and she felt she could help others.
Davina McCall has dealt with multiple health scares recently. After undergoing surgery to remove a benign brain tumor in 2024, the broadcaster was diagnosed with breast cancer that October. Following surgery for the diagnosis, she announced in April that she was officially given the "all clear."
Kate, on the other hand, revealed her cancer diagnosis back in 2024 in a prerecorded video message after weeks of public speculation about her health. She shared that she had undergone abdominal surgery and that doctors had initially believed the condition was non-cancerous. But tests carried out after the operation found that “cancer had been present.” However, the future Queen later underwent preventive chemotherapy, and, in January 2025, she announced that she was in remission.
Recently, Kate took an official overseas trip for the first time since her diagnosis. She made a two-day solo visit to Reggio Emilia in Italy as part of her long-running work. Her mission is focused on supporting children under five and improving early childhood education.
