King Charles and Queen Camilla at Mansion House in London on October 18, 2023.Photo:Samir Hussein/WireImage
Samir Hussein/WireImage
Queen Camillais a main supporter ofKing Charlesfollowing hiscancer diagnosis.
“She is his strength and stay like [Prince Philip] was for the lateQueen,” a palace insidertells PEOPLEexclusively in this week’s issue. “She will be great. She will rally him, she will buoy him. She is amazing. She equips him to do the job he has to do.”
The King’swife of 18 yearswill play an important role in supporting him throughout his period of treatment while continuing with a full schedule of public duties.
As King Charles steps back from public engagements andKate Middletoncontinues her months-long recuperation followingabdominal surgery, it’s up toPrince Williamand Queen Camilla to be the face of the monarchy.
“It is hard with Kate being ill as well, but he will step up,” a source close to the royal household says of Prince William.
Although the Prince of Wales, 41,may undertakesome duties on behalf of his father, there are currently no plans to appointCounsellors of Stateto act on King Charles’ behalf.
“He wouldn’t want to put that pressure on William,” says the source. “He has always wanted to save his children from having that pressure too early and that will remain. Particularly as William has other priorities [with Kate].”
Kate Middleton and Prince William in Scarborough, England in November 2022.Chris Jackson/Getty Images
King Charles will continue to receive his “red boxes,” the monarch’s daily delivery of official files, and process state documents. It is also expected that the King will maintain his weekly audience with Prime MinisterRishi Sunak, with appropriate adjustments made if his doctors advise minimizing in-person contact.
“Yes, he’s going to step back from public duties for a considerable time, but there will be plenty of work for him — it just won’t necessarily be in a room with hundreds of people,” royal biographer Robert Hardman tells PEOPLE.
Adds the palace insider: “He will want to get on with the job. But that will depend on what treatment he is having. It may be utterly draining on him. He will need a lot of support.”
Looking to the past, Hardman notes that King Charlesfaced a gunman— unbeknownst to him or his security, armed with blank bullets — in Sydney in 1994, along with bomb threats during hisinvestitureas Prince of Wales in 1969.
PEOPLE magazine, Feb. 19.
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“He’s a fighterand has an inner steel,” says the author ofThe Making of a King: King Charles III and the Modern Monarchy.“He’s philosophical and stoical and has a deeper faith than people appreciate.”
Adds a source close to the royal household, “He is a positive person and has a really healthy attitude to looking after his body. Cancer treatment has come a long, long way. He will come through.”
source: people.com
