Queen Camilla’s visits Maggie’s Fife, a renowned cancer support centre in Kirkcaldy and hosts reception for Queen’s Nursing Institute of Scotland
Queen Camilla visited Maggie’s Centre in Fife, where she spent time with individuals living with cancer, continuing her longstanding support as the charity’s president. Queen Camilla has visited 17 of the charity’s 24 centres. During this latest visit, she was also joined by long-time Maggie’s supporters, campaigner Sarah Brown and broadcaster Kirsty Wark.
As President of the charity since 2008, her visit underscored her enduring commitment to providing comprehensive support for those affected by cancer. The Queen was greeted warmly by staff, volunteers, and centre users, demonstrating her dedication to connecting with individuals directly impacted by the disease. A particular focus of her visit was the young people’s group, highlighting a growing recognition of the unique challenges faced by younger individuals undergoing cancer treatment.
Welcoming The Queen to the centre were Maggie’s Honorary Patrons Sarah Brown, Kirsty Wark and Chris Hartness, as well as Centre Head of Maggie’s Fife, Debbie McCrae, and Chief Executive of Maggie’s, Dame Laura Lee DBE. Dame Laura said:
It is always a joy to welcome Her Majesty to one of our centres, especially one she has never been to before. As always, she was incredibly generous with her time and listened closely to our centre visitors as they shared their stories. We are so grateful for her continued support.”
Mrs Brown, wife of former prime minister Gordon Brown, said:
I think it’s really special for the Queen to come to the Maggie’s here in Kirkcaldy. I know that there has been a warm welcome for both the King and the Queen coming to Fife and I’m so pleased she was able to make time to come to the Maggie’s. This, I think, is one of the real gems. I was here at the opening a long time ago and I’ve seen it grow to become such an important part of the community. There are people here with cancer who need it, and their families, but also people are fundraising for it and they just feel so connected to it.”
Mrs Brown said the Queen seemed interested to hear about the young people’s group at the centre. She added: “I was very struck by her hearing about the young people’s group here because that is an area of concern in that field, that there are more and more young people with cancer and trying to understand why that is and what’s happening in our lives, and that was definitely something she homed in on and understood it was a concern.
Following her engagement at Maggie’s Fife, Queen Camilla travelled to the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh, where she hosted a reception for the Queen’s Nursing Institute of Scotland. This engagement further showcased her support for vital healthcare services, specifically acknowledging the critical role of community nurses and midwives in addressing health inequalities across Scotland. The day’s activities, despite the inclement weather, reflected her consistent dedication to both health and community initiatives throughout her royal duties.
