Her Majesty The Queen marks 30 years of Maggie’s expert care at Cheltenham centre

In her speech on a visit to our Cheltenham centre, Her Majesty commended Maggie's for creating places where people “needn’t pretend to be fine, where they can receive expert support, sympathy and a cup of tea…”

Maggie’s provides free, tailored practical and psychological support for people at all stages of cancer, as well as their family and friends.

Dame Laura Lee DBE, our chief executive, welcomed Her Majesty back to the centre, which she opened in 2010.

New supporter of the cancer charity Geri Halliwell-Horner was also in attendance at the visit today. 

Other guests included Christine Facer Hoffman, who explained aspects of her garden design to Her Majesty, and key supporters and donors, including the lead benefactors of the centre’s new extension, The Julia Rausing Trust. 

Maggie did more than she could possibly have imagined for all

During the speech, Her Majesty, who has been Maggie’s President since 2008, extolled the charity’s founder, Maggie Keswick Jencks, hailing the way her vision for a different type of cancer care has helped “all who find themselves in the ‘war zone’ of cancer.”

In her speech, The Queen said of Maggie: “Maggie never claimed to know everything. As she wrote in her article, “A View From The Front Line”, “I am down here in the war zone, trying to figure out my map”.

"But, in preparing the blueprint for that first centre in Edinburgh, she did more than she could possibly have imagined for all who find themselves in the “war zone” of cancer, trying to figure out their map.”

Maggie Keswick Jencks developed the blueprint for the first Maggie’s centre while she was living with advanced cancer. 

Following her death in July 1995, Dame Laura Lee DBE, Maggie’s chemotherapy nurse, who is now the charity’s Chief Executive, worked with Maggie’s family to ensure her vision became a reality. 

Growing our support

Our first expert support centre in Edinburgh opened in 1996. 

There are now 27 across the UK and four internationally, with plans to grow so that every part of the country has a Maggie’s centre.

The Queen also recalled visiting Maggie Keswick Jencks’ London fashion boutique called AnnaCat in the 1960s, remembering Maggie as “warm, funny and generous.”

Her Majesty then went on to thank “the whole Maggie’s community” for “all that you do to ensure that visitors to your centres are able to find what Maggie called, “the joy of living”.

Our ambition of 60 centres across the UK

Dame Laura Lee DBE has been at the forefront of driving the charity’s growth over the last 30 years, determined that everyone living with cancer should be able to access Maggie’s transformational care.

The Queen praised the charity chief executive for being a “powerhouse”, saying “I try to keep up with the ever-increasing number of Maggie’s Centres being built around the country, but she works at such a speed that I spend my time playing catch-up (I doubt I ever will)!”

Dame Laura Lee DBE said: “We are always delighted to welcome our President, Her Majesty The Queen, to our centres and to do so today at the start of our 30^th anniversary year is very special.

“Her heartfelt words about the importance of our expert care and the impact of Maggie’s vision on those facing cancer are touching and powerful.

"We are so honoured she has chosen to share them with us.

“I am so incredibly grateful to Her Majesty for all the support she has so generously given since she became our President in 2008.

“I know her words will help encourage more people to come to us for support and find ways of experiencing the joy of living despite a daunting cancer diagnosis.

“As we now look towards the next three decades of Maggie’s, with the aim of realising our ambition of having 60 centres across the UK so no one faces cancer alone, it is wonderful to know she is with us every step of the way.”

Maggie's, Cheltenham

Maggie’s in Cheltenham, which has recently been extended in order to support more people living with cancer.

Her Majesty has visited 18 of the 27 Maggie’s centres across the UK, many more than once.

While at the centre, Her Majesty also unveiled a portrait by distinguished artist Eileen Hogan, who has also painted His Majesty The King, and gave the painting as a gift to Maggie’s.

This portrait in oil and wax on board  started life as a study painting for a portrait of Her Majesty The Queen, a private commission by His Majesty the King, and shows The Queen working at her desk. With further development by Eileen Hogan the painting became a portrait in its own right.

Her Majesty also met people living with cancer who have been supported by the Cheltenham centre, including mum and daughter Nikki and Caitlin Warrington.

We had been looking for help and found Maggie’s

Caitlin, 23, was first diagnosed with a rare form of ovarian cancer at the age of 14 in 2017.

Since then, she has had two recurrences in 2018 and 2021.

Today, she is living with the unknown as well as the side effects of her cancer treatment, including early onset menopause.

They have both been supported by Maggie’s in Cheltenham since 2021.

Mum Nikki, 53, said: “We had been looking for help and we found Maggie’s. 

Caitlin went to speak to one of the cancer support specialists while I sat at the kitchen table with another. 

They asked me how I was doing and I burst into tears, it all came out. I am incredibly grateful we found the centre; I don’t know what we would have done without their support.

“It was wonderful to meet Her Majesty The Queen and share what Maggie’s means to us. 

She was incredibly warm and engaged, she really listened to us."

Maggie's 30th anniversary

As part of our 30th anniversary, there will be an exhibition at the V&A Dundee. Maggie’s: Architecture that Cares tells the story of how Maggie's came to be a network of unique centres across the UK and beyond, with healing architecture and design to support people after a cancer diagnosis.

Keep checking Our Story for updates on our 30th anniversary plans.

How Maggie's can help

Whatever kind of cancer, whatever stage you're at, Maggie's is here with you.

Our expert staff are here to listen to your concerns and find the help you need wherever you are – over the phone and online.

• Just come in 
• Call us on 0300 123 180 or arrange a callback
• Email us at enquiries@maggies.org 
• Our phone lines and centres are open  Monday to Friday, 9 am to 5 pm