‘She just gets on with it’: Queen Camilla’s son praises his mum’s spirit amid recent health challenges

It has been a tough few weeks for Queen Camilla and King Charles III. After their triumphant tour of Australia and Samoa, the King resumed treatment for cancer and they both returned to public duties in the UK. Then Camilla caught a serious chest infection which forced her to withdraw from a number of official engagements.

While the 77-year-old Queen did attend the lunch and dinner banquet for the Qatari state visit, she’s had to pull out from many official engagements including the Royal Variety Performance, the Gladiator II premiere and the Remembrance Day service at the Cenotaph, which deeply disappointed her, according to her son Tom Parker Bowles.

The 49-year-old writer was chatting to host Freddy Clode on The Go To Food podcast where talked about the Queen’s current condition.

When Clode asked if the Queen will be well by Christmas, Parker Bowles said he was not sure but was not overly concerned for her condition.

“I think so, I think, yeah, these things go around…these bugs,” Parker Bowles said.

“I think…she did the (Australia and Samoa tour) and she caught some kind of awful bug and then before she was well again, worked too hard as she’s one to do.”

In another interview with The Telegraph the British food writer said “she went back to work before she should have done but she’s fine.”

“She’s tough. She hates that she missed Remembrance Sunday. That’s a big day for her. She just gets on with it,” he said.

“She’s always been like that. Sometimes you don’t know where she is and you’ll look at the telly and she’ll be in Ireland.

“Nothing’s changed (since she became Queen) except she’s now Your Majesty, rather than Your Highness, and she works a lot harder.”

As Christmas nears, Camilla continues to support King Charles in his duties, even if that is more behind closed doors.

One of those duties it seems, is to spread some festive cheer and that’s just what the royal couple have done with their 2024 royal Christmas card, which features a charming photograph taken in the garden of Buckingham Palace.

Captured by renowned photographer Millie Pilkington in April, the image showcases the couple standing side by side, smiling as they enjoy the sunny day.

Queen Camilla exudes elegance in a blue wool crepe dress by Fiona Clare, while King Charles looks relaxed and dignified, with his hand in his pocket, wearing a grey suit and a coordinating blue tie.

The accompanying message reads: “Wishing you a very Happy Christmas and New Year.”

 

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The royal Christmas card was met with an outpouring of admiration, with fans praising the “lovely image” and expressing their affection for the couple.

“Absolutely love the photo of their Majesties,” one wrote.

“Lovely image, and sure to be pride of place at the recipients Christmas Celebrations.”

“My favorite King and Queen together!!” commented another.

“Merry Christmas to His Majesty King Charles III and Queen Consort Camilla 👑 I know it’s been a heavy year for the royal family, and I pray for happier times in 2025.”