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King Charles' home hosts World Cancer Day event

Rhiannon Yhnell,West of Englandand
Maisie Lillywhite,Gloucestershire
News imagePA Groups of older people sit around round dining tables as they enjoy afternoon tea in a large dining room as people swing dance in the centre of the roomPA
Volunteers and staff from cancer charities were entertained by swing dancers as they enjoyed afternoon tea at Highgrove House

A royal residence marked World Cancer Day by inviting charities supporting people affected by the disease for lunch.

Highgrove House staff welcomed charities from across Gloucestershire to King Charles III's home, near Tetbury, for afternoon tea and music.

Among the attendees was Jo Sutherland, founder of Charlie's Community Support in Gloucester, who said she hoped the King talking about his own experience with cancer would "encourage more men to talk about the journey".

Michelle Downie, head of operations at The King's Foundation, said the event was "a wonderful opportunity" to celebrate local charities.

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In 2024, the King announced he had been diagnosed with cancer in February 2024, and shared in December 2025 that early diagnosis and "effective intervention" meant his treatment could be reduced.

The lunch event marked the start of Highgrove's Winter Warmers series, which brings the community together with food, music, puzzles and quizzes, Downie said.

"Cancer is obviously very dear to us, so being able to have this opportunity to host the local charities is wonderful," she said.

"The swing band are local, the dancers are from Cheltenham; they've all donated their time for free, which is lovely."

News imageA woman with shoulder-length brown hair smiles with her mouth open as she stands in a wooden doorway leading to an opulent dining room full of people enjoying afternoon tea. She is wearing a red dress with colourful flowers on it.
Michelle Downie said members of the community had given their time to entertain volunteers and staff from charities across Gloucestershire

Sutherland, who attended the event with volunteers from Charlie's, said it was "absolutely wonderful" to be invited to the event.

Support groups and holistic therapies are offered to people living with cancer at Charlie's, and Sutherland said cancer "doesn't discriminate".

"When we started our group 12 years ago, not many men would come forward, so it's really important that we encourage more men to talk.

"For [the King] to come forward and speak about it would just encourage more men to come forward, hopefully," she said.

News imageA lady with greying blonde hair smiles and looks at the camera as she sits around a table enjoying an afternoon tea with other women. She is wearing a red tartan blazer with a red necklace. She has brown and blue tortoiseshell glasses on top of her head.
Sue Thomas said it was important Gloucestershire's cancer charities continued to work together

Maggie's is a Cheltenham-based charity which describes itself as offering support for "everyone who has cancer – and everyone who loves them".

Sue Thomas, a volunteer, said the invitation was "a lovely recognition of all the work" put in.

"The charities that are here today, we do work together," Thomas said.

"We all do slightly different things... we're really delighted to be here but, more than that, just to help people that need that lovely, calming help."

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