Queen Camilla has been King Charles’ “rock” for many years. But these past few months, her presence has been even more crucial as the monarch has undergone treatment for the cancer he was diagnosed with in January.
Camilla took on increasingly more royal duties as her husband was recovering, and according to a new report, her friends had never seen her so worried as during the period shortly following Charles’ diagnosis.
The fact that the King decided to reveal his cancer diagnosis to the world was praised by many. According to reports, visits to a web page offering advice on the possible signs and symptoms of cancer in the 24 hours following Charles’ statement increased by more than 50%. But was everyone on board with the idea that the monarch should announce his cancer diagnosis? Well, as per a new claim, Camilla wasn’t.
King Charles and Queen Camilla’s reign did not begin as they might have wished. Their feud with Prince Harry and Meghan Markle undoubtedly complicated things, but what happened in January earlier this year changed everything for the Royal Family.
King Charles’ cancer diagnosis
Midway through January it was announced that Kate Middleton had undergone abdominal surgery. Less than an hour later, on February 5, Buckingham Palace announced that King Charles had been diagnosed with an unspecified form of cancer.
“The King is grateful to his medical team for their swift intervention, which was made possible thanks to his recent hospital procedure. He remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible,” the statement from Buckingham Palace read.
“His Majesty has chosen to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer.”
Charles’ decision to reveal his cancer diagnosis may have saved lives. As reported by the Associated Press, Cancer Research UK recorded a 33% increase in visits to its website as people searched for information regarding the signs and symptoms of cancer.
“I would like to express my most heartfelt thanks for the many messages of support and good wishes I have received in recent days,” King Charles said in a statement some days after the first statement on his health.
“As all those who have been affected by cancer will know, such kind thoughts are the greatest comfort and encouragement.”
“It is equally heartening to hear how sharing my own diagnosis has helped promote public understanding and shine a light on the work of all those organisations which support cancer patients and their families across the UK and wider world,” Charles added.
“My lifelong admiration for their tireless care and dedication is all the greater as a result of my own personal experience.”
Queen Camila was praised for stepping up during King Charles’ cancer treatment
While King Charles was receiving cancer treatment, Camilla had to step up in terms of her responsibilities. The Queen Consort was forced to completely transform her image when she entered the Royal Family, and today she has become a beloved member of the Firm, respected and accepted by royal fans worldwide.
While it’s well known that Camilla doesn’t love life in the spotlight, she has put all her energy towards serving The Crown. It’s reported that she doesn’t like giving speeches, but since King Charles’ public appearances have been restricted of late, she’s filled in for him.
Appearing on GB News in February, royal expert and author Angela Levin stated that Camilla had left her comfort zone.
“She has gone to as many engagements as possible that King Charles would have done, which is a huge load, but she’ll do it with grace,” Levin said.” She would do her absolute best to stand by him.”
Of Camilla’s dislike regarding public speaking, Levin said: “She’s learned all that and I think it’s a marvelous thing that she’s done,” adding that Camilla truly is King Charles’ “rock” through this difficult time.
“She’s absolutely there when she’s needed,” Levin concluded.
Angela Levin wasn’t the only one who praised Camilla for her efforts and handling of the situation.
Queen Camilla ‘put on a brave face’
On popular royal podcast Royally Obsessed, co-hosts Roberta Fiorito and Rachel Bowie also praised the queen.
“I feel like on the heels of Camilla taking on solo engagements daily last week…to see Camilla step up, keep calm and carry on, and knowing what she’s also managing with her own kind of reactions and mental health over what’s going on with her husband, it’s the whole difference between duty and family,” Roberta Fiorito said, as reported by Express.
“You have to continue what you have to do for the crown, but you also have to process your emotions over Charles’s cancer diagnosis.”
Meanwhile, Bowie added that Camilla had put on a brave face, insisting that it must have been hard to “bite her tongue about the real issues that were going on.”
“I think that has to be so incredibly hard, and such a heavy, heavy burden, to do while in public, too. It’s a lot to balance all at once,” Bowie said on Royally Obsessed.
Exactly how King Charles is faring today, around six months after his shock cancer diagnosis, is not known. However, a royal insider has revealed that the monarch might open up about what specific type of cancer he is battling. Speaking to The Sun, the source said that Charles maintains a positive outlook during his undoing treatment and has received a “better than expected” report.
“Never say never. There are no current plans to reveal the cancer,” the royal insider told The Sun. “But if he felt that the time was right…”
Queen Camilla was ‘against’ King Charles disclosing his cancer diagnosis, expert claims
Queen Camilla has been highly supportive of her husband during this very tough time. But while she put on a brave face when appearing in public, it was a different story in private. The Daily Mail spoke to some of Camilla’s friends in celebration of her 77th birthday in July, and she was anxious about her husband’s well-being.
“In private, people had never seen her so worried. Forget who they are for a second. Look at it from a human level. Her beloved husband was facing a very serious condition. The battle of his life. It was hugely tough,” one person close to Camilla said.
Another friend added: “The public had no idea what she was going through. She was speaking to patients, survivors and even the families of those who had lost their lives to this awful disease in front of the cameras. And she didn’t even blink. That takes serious guts.”
Although Charles wanted to – and later decided to – share his cancer diagnosis publicly, a new bombshell claim reveals that not everyone in his close circle believed it to be a good idea. Robert Jobson, author of the 2023 book Our King: Charles III: The Man and the Monarch Revealed, claimed to The Independent that Queen Camilla initially opposed the decision to disclose King Charles’ condition.
“Queen Camilla had initially been against disclosing his condition, but the King overruled her, as he felt it was a chance to take a lead, and in doing so to encourage men experiencing similar symptoms to seek timely medical attention,” Jobson said.
The author continued by claiming that the monarch overruled his wife, feeling that he could ‘take the lead’ in encouraging other men who experienced similar symptoms to seek medical attention before it was too late.
King Charles wanted to avoid “fake news”
“There was a significant increase in searches related to enlarged prostate on the National Health Service website following the monarch’s revelation. The NHS England page on benign prostate enlargement had more than 26,000 visits in the 48 hours after the announcement, compared to a daily average of just 1,400,” Jobson continued.
Still, he wouldn’t disclose Queen Camilla’s real reason for disagreeing with Charles. However, the author claimed that Charles wanted to avoid “fake news.”
“He was lauded for doing so, with commentators saying he had ushered in a new era of transparency in matters of health and the Royal Family,” Jobson added.
Today, King Charles has returned to royal duty. The king and queen have often appeared together since the cancer was revealed.
Less than two months after Charles revealed his condition, he, alongside his wife, greeted a big crowd of people who had gathered to meet them outside St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle for the annual Easter Mattins Service. That King Charles is happy to be working again is easy to see.
Of course, his enthusiasm could pose problems, too. Body language expert Judi James told the Daily Mail that Camilla might even face difficulties trying to tell her husband to slow down.
“[Camilla’s] problem could be persuading Charles to slow down a little,” the expert said. “His enthusiasm was evident, and he seemed to be in no hurry to get back into the car after the visit,” James concluded.
Camilla “subtly stepping up to help protect” King Charles, body language expert says
The body language expert analyzed King Charles and Camilla’s visit to the University College Hospital Macmillan Cancer Centre on April 30, saying that Camilla tried her best to help her husband avoid over-performing during his recovery.
“On the way out he bent to chat to the small girl holding his flowers and seemed in no hurry to cut the chat short,” James said. “This was when we could see Camilla gently, but quite firmly for her, patting him on the arm and the back and pointing to perhaps signal he needed to get back into the warmth of the car and rest a little.”
James added that Queen Camilla’s support for her husband was revealed through her body language.
“Camilla’s body language signals she is subtly stepping up to help protect and even steer her stoic and, I suspect, stubborn husband,” the expert added.
“As they waved to the fans their arms were close, and her hand was even a little higher than his at times to suggest she is keen to offer him some of her own strength via proximity and postural echo.”