The Queen opened Maggie's new cancer support centre at the Royal Free Hospital

Published 01 February 2024

The Queen opened Maggie’s Royal Free, a new cancer support centre at Royal Free Hospital. Maggie’s provides expert care and support, for free, in centres across the UK and online for everyone with cancer as well as their friends and families.

Earlier this week, Her Majesty The Queen opened Maggie’s Royal Free, a new cancer support centre at Royal Free Hospital. Her Majesty was introduced to Dame Laura Lee, Maggie's Chief Executive; Mr Stuart Gulliver, Chairman of Maggie’s; Daniel Libeskind, Architect of the new centre and representatives of The Royal Free London.

For over 28 years, Maggie’s has provided expert care and support, for free, in centres across the UK and online for everyone with cancer as well as their friends and families.

The Queen talking to visitors at Maggie's

Inside the new centre, Her Majesty met the architectural team who have played a key role in designing the centre to be a safe and welcoming environment. Built in the grounds of NHS cancer hospitals, Maggie’s provide a comforting space away from the hospital, allowing people to meet others who understand what they’re going through, or just take a moment to gather their thoughts.

As President of Maggie’s, The Queen has now visited 17 Maggie’s centres throughout the UK.

About Maggie’s

Maggie’s Royal Free is the 24th centre in the UK providing support for people with cancer, from treatment side effects to financial concerns. The professional team at each centre also runs groups and activities, all designed to make coping with cancer easier.

The centre offers free support to anyone living with cancer, their family and friends and is based in the grounds of the Royal Free Hospital, which is part of the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust (RFL) - one of the largest providers of cancer treatment in the UK. The work of Maggie’s complements the treatments received by people of all ages and with any type of cancer at the Royal Free Hospital and from London and the surrounding areas. The RFL receives nearly 50,000 cancer referrals annually.

Her Majesty The Queen became President of Maggie’s in 2008. As The Duchess of Cornwall, Her Majesty visited 16 Maggie’s centres throughout the UK. This will be Her Majesty’s 17th visit to a Maggie’s centre; Her Majesty has now visited all four Maggie’s Centres in London.

In June 2023, The Queen visited the UCL Institute of Immunity and Transplantation, which is based on the Royal Free Hospital site.