CAMILLA'S COMPASSION

The Queen helps cancer patients find their voice as a striking new portrait of her is unveiled

- TRACY SCHAVERIEN

As she continues to support her husband, the King, during his treatment for cancer, the Queen spoke last week of the “hundreds of questions” that patients want to ask and the need not to “pretend to be fine”.

Travelling between Scotland and Gloucestershire during a busy week, Camilla visited the cancer drop-in centre Maggie's in Cheltenham, where she met Geri Halliwell Horner, greeting the former Spice Girl with a kiss on both cheeks.

Geri, who is a supporter of the charity and was there as a guest, later said: “I’m such a big fan of the Queen. I think she’s amazing and stoic. I think she’s fantastic, a formidable force of nature. She’s watched Maggie’s grow, and it teaches us that we need each other.”