Queen Camilla Reunites with Former Spice Girl for a Moving Charity Visit

Hi Cherie. Hello. How are you? It's a pleasure to meet you. It's very nice to see you. It's lovely. Yes. I'm the Mayor of Cheltenham, David. Very nice to see you. It's very special. There we are. I know. Couldn't be worse. I know. That's a shocker. Well, we're inside. Yeah, it's lovely. How are you? Lovely to see you. Hey! I'm nice to see you. Lovely to see you. This is your first visit? Yeah. Amazing. It's a wonderful place. Hello. How are you? Very good. Very nice to see you. And you. I'm terrible. I know. It's so wonderful. I'm going to give you a stick. Hello. How are you? I'm fine. We all seem to bring the rain. I know. We don't, but how are you? Lovely to see you. Thank you so much for coming. So thank you. Hello, everyone. And so it's now my great privilege to invite Her Majesty to say a few words. Ladies and gentlemen, as sub-prime president of Maggie's, it's a huge pleasure to be back with you at this Chulten Centre, which as Laura reminded me was 16 years ago I opened, to celebrate the 30th anniversary of this remarkable charity. I first met Maggie many years ago in the Swinging Sixties when I ventured into her beautiful and cool boutique, Addicant. I remember her then as being warm, funny and generous. And it was with those characteristics that she confronted her cancer diagnosis in 1988 at the age of 47. She understood for herself and for others the importance of feeling in control rather than a helpless victim. She knew how vital it is to have access to information about treatment and the various options available. Above all, Maggie was convinced that people living with cancer crave a beautiful, comforting environment, as they face the unknown. A place where they needn't pretend to be fine, where they can receive expert support, sympathy and a good cup of tea. And where laughter can come as naturally as tears, because sometimes that's what's wanted. Maggie never claimed to know everything. As she wrote in her articles, a view from the front line, I am down here in the war zone, trying to figure out my map. And to your supporters, members of staff and your brilliant volunteers, thank you all for all you do to ensure that visitors to these centres are able to find what Maggie called the joy of living. Thank you. Yeah. Where is she? Oh, yes, of course it's this one. Delicious. Delicious. Bill. Hello. How are you? Hello. So you all, have you all used this centre? Oh, yes, absolutely. When did you start using it? It was last, when I got my diagnosis, I spoke to Macmillan's. I already knew about Maggie's because of my job, but initially we spoke to Macmillan's and they just told me. You get there as quickly as possible. And they've been fantastic. Absolutely. It's due to Maggie's, you know, sort of, that helps us, money side of it, mental side of it, or it's just a place to just come and chill. And also you can come and talk to people. Yes. Everybody's suffering from the same thing, so you can sit and chat. Yes, we mentioned it earlier, it's a place where I want to get out of the way. And if there's people here, they don't take offence if you go and sit down, because they're going through it themselves, and sometimes, you know. ...anniversary year, so thank you. But before you can leave, you know, we've always got something else up our sleeves, I'd like to invite Your Majesty to unveil a very special painting, that is a painting of Eileen Hogans, who is here with us today. Hello, Eileen. Eileen's a distinguished artist, and for many years has focused on people and gardens as the principal subjects of her paintings. And this portrait was a private commission by His Majesty the King, and shows the Queen working at her desk. I heard about the fitting, and I thought you were working very hard. But this painting has been generously donated to Maggie's by Eileen, so thank you for the beautiful gift, Eileen. Before you leave, Your Majesty, I would love it if you could unveil the painting. Right. Apparently, it's just... Oh, they kind of want to unveil it with Eileen. Oh, Eileen, okay. La-la-la-la! Oh, wow! Eileen's work. She's an amazing artist. It is beautiful. And it's so... I think we've got... So I'm... I was... We've now made it to the long term.