Princess Eugenie has dec lared King Charles is "doing well" in his battle against cancer

Asked how her uncle is doing, she told ITV News: "Thank you for asking. He's doing well. He'd also be very proud today because the Elephant Family is very close to his heart too."

Elephant Family was established in 2003 by Queen Camilla's late brother Mark Shand, and its outdoor art exhibition helps raise awareness and funds for their conservation work, with egg sculptures designed by the likes of Anya Hindmarch, James McQueen, Allegra Hicks and Rob Ryan on display in the London borough of Chelsea until 14 April.

Eugenie felt it was "so important" to be at the launch event because the organisation is important to her whole family, and she hailed its late founder - who died after falling and hitting his head in 2014 - as a "dear friend".

The princess, who is patron of the charity, told reporters: "It was so important to be here because I have worked with the Elephant Family for so many years now and they are a charity so close to my heart, close to my family's heart.

"Mark Shand who started the charity was a dear friend and what they are in doing in saving elephants and making people aware about what's going on is so important for the world to know.

"The Legacy that they have created and the excitement around egg hunts or bamboo elephants in Hyde Park, it brings elephants to London which I have never seen before, so bridging that gap with what happens in the wild, which you might not see every day, can actually come to a city so we can learn about what goes on."

Eugenie's update about the king echoed similar comments made by his wife Camilla during her own public appearance on Thursday.

During a solo visit to Belfast, she told well wishers: "He's doing very well. He was very disappointed he couldn't come."

Someone joked about men "not being the best patients, and the queen quipped: "I try to keep him in order."

During her visit, Camilla visited The Arcadia, before visiting other family run shops including Coffey's Butcher and Knotts Bakery, where she was given bags of local produce to take away with her.

In the butchers - which is run by three generations of the family - she was impressed by the "great selection" on offer.

She said: "It's wonderful, it's all very tempting. It's lovely to see you thriving."

After being given some of the shop's specialities - including beef sausages, Belfast pickle and vegetable rolls, she teased: "I shall take these back to my husband, he will really make the most of them."