Queen Camilla will take a well-deserved break from work this week after holding down the fort since King Charles’ cancer was announced.
Her Majesty has a clear agenda and will take a private flight abroad tomorrow, while also making time for family in the coming weeks.
Camilla, 76, has taken on the extra burden since King Charles’ shock diagnosis last month, which saw him step back from his public duties.
Since Charles’ condition came to light, she has served thirteen official assignments. She continued with her own plans and only appeared at events intended for both the king and queen.
This included an engagement on Valentine’s Day, when Camilla went solo to Grosvenor House in London for an event celebrating Shakespeare, of whom the king, 75, is a lifelong fan.
Queen Camilla has completed thirteen official engagements since King Charles’ condition was announced last month
Camilla is greeted as she attends a thanksgiving service for the life of King Constantine of the Hellenes at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle, Berkshire, on February 27.
Camilla speaks to Frank Cottrell-Boyce at a reception at Buckingham Palace in London with finalists, judges and celebrity readers on February 28
Charles and Camilla attended the Sunday morning service at St Mary Magdalene Church in Sandringham last month
She will resume work on March 11 for the Commonwealth Day service at Westminster Abbey, where she will lead the royal family in place of Charles, who will instead deliver a video message to mark the occasion.
Camilla was the last major royal to emerge last week, raising some concerns about who is in charge at a time when so many key royals are out of the picture.
Royal author Ingrid Seward told The Sun on Sunday that Charles allegedly insisted his wife take a break.
She said, “He’ll make sure she’s exhausted. Camilla has had the biggest concerns about her husband’s health, but she has also been the one adjusting to the busy schedule of royal engagements and wanting to be there for him and Kate while they both had their health issues. .
“She certainly deserves some rest and relaxation.”
It comes as the Princess of Wales, 42, continues to recover from abdominal surgery at home with the support of her family, having not been seen in public since Christmas Day.
Meanwhile, William, 41, was this week forced to pull out of the Windsor tribute to his godfather, the late Greek King Constantine, due to a ‘personal matter’.
While Camilla enjoys a well-deserved rest, William, the Princess and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh are ready to take on their obligations as usual.
Camilla was the most senior royal to complete orders, with the king continuing to work behind the scenes on his red boxes and other official duties while he underwent treatment.
Camilla shakes hands with nine-year-old Skylar Copeland during a reception at Buckingham Palace in London on February 28
Camilla has taken on the extra burden since King Charles’ shock diagnosis last month
King Charles and Queen Camilla wave from the balcony of Buckingham Palace
Princess Catherine continues to recover from abdominal surgery at home, with the support of her husband Prince William
In what has become a typically busy solo schedule, Camilla last week led the royal family at the memorial service for King Constantine of Greece in Windsor, hosted a reception for the ‘500 words’ children’s creative writing competition at Buckingham Palace and met the first lady of Ukraine, Olena Zelenska, at Clarence House.
A royal source told The Sunday Times that while Camilla never expected to lead the royal family, she is “absolutely willing to do whatever needs to be done for the institution” and has been “supported” by the king since the king’s diagnosis the public support.
It was also reported that Charles was ‘proud’ of his wife for keeping the show on the road.
Her public presence has also filled the void left by the highly publicized absence of the 42-year-old Princess of Wales, who was the subject of hysterical speculation on social media last week.
Kate is still recovering from abdominal surgery in Windsor and will not resume work until after Easter.
The implosion of online theories about the princess’ health swirled last week after William, 41, withdrew from King Constantine’s service at the last minute due to a “personal matter.”
He returned to work on Thursday, visiting a synagogue in London, before visiting Wales for St David’s Day on Friday.