‘Dream on’: Queen Camilla shuts down talk of King Charles slowing down amid health battle

King Charles may be in the midst of cancer treatment, but Queen Camilla says he’s busier than ever and has no plans to ease up.

The public first learnt of the King’s health concerns in early 2024 when he was hospitalised for a procedure related to benign prostate enlargement. Following further tests, doctors discovered the presence of cancer, prompting King Charles to begin a course of regular treatment to manage the condition.

Though the diagnosis was understandably a significant concern, the King’s determination to return to public duties soon after beginning treatment was reassuring and it wasn’t long before he was fulfilling his royal duties once again.

While speaking to the press during their recent tour of Italy, Camilla dismissed the idea of her husband taking on a lighter workload with a dry “dream on,” adding that work is what keeps him going.

“I think he loves his work and it keeps him going. And I think it’s wonderful, you know, if you’ve been ill and you are recovering, you’re getting better and now he wants to do more and more and more. That’s the problem,” she said as per the BBC.

“That’s what he’s driven by – helping others.”

In addition to reflecting on her husband’s commitment to work, Camilla recently shared the secret behind their enduring relationship.

During the same royal tour, Queen Camilla took a moment to speak with reporters in Rome, reflecting on two decades of life with her husband and what has helped keep their bond so strong.

“Twenty years, who could believe it was 20 years? What is the secret? I don’t know… well… I suppose it’s just sort of friendship, really,” she said as per Hello! Magazine.

“Laughing at the same things, getting on with life. I suppose doing this, takes up most of the time.”

To mark the milestone, the royal couple recently shared three official portraits on social media, offering fans a glimpse into their celebrations.

Charles and Camilla were photographed with wide smiles at Villa Wolkonsky, the official residence of Edward Llewellyn, the UK’s ambassador to Italy and San Marino.

In one of the images, the couple stands in the villa’s beautiful grounds, with Camilla wearing a stylish white and beige coat by Anna Valentine. The other images feature the pair near the iconic Neronian arches, remnants of the Aqua Claudia, a Roman aqueduct that once supplied the city of Rome with water.

Camilla added a touch of history to her ensemble, wearing the Fabergé lily of the valley brooch—a gift from Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev to the late Queen Mother during his 1956 official visit to the UK.

“As we begin our first visit to Italy as King and Queen, we are so looking forward to celebrating our twentieth wedding anniversary in such a special place – and with such wonderful people! A presto, Roma e Ravenna!” the royal couple wrote alongside the images.

 

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Fans were quick to offer heartfelt messages to the pair, with many congratulating the couple on reaching such a major milestone.