Queen Camilla Is 'Shattered And Exhausted' Following King Charles' Cancer Diagnosis
"She is absolutely shattered and exhausted by the turmoil of the past two months," a friend of Camilla's reportedly told The Daily Beast. "She is 76 years old, and her husband has just been diagnosed with cancer," the friend added. "Anyone would find that a lot to deal with, without the media scrutiny that comes with her position as well."
Another friend reportedly told the pub: "Camilla has basically had to do everything in recent months, and it is no secret that it has been tiring. She has been under extraordinary pressure at a time in her life when most people are well into their retirement."
"You would never hear her moan about it because she knows it goes with the territory, but everyone is just very glad she is taking some time for herself, especially as this could go on for several more months," the friend added.
Queen Camilla Is Reportedly 'Not A Complainer' And Will 'Do Whatever Needs To Be Done For The Institution'
The Daily Beast also quoted a friend as saying that stepping in for both King Charles and Prince William, who has also taken a step back from royal duties while wife Kate Middleton is recovering from abdominal surgery, "wasn't what she anticipated but, as anyone who knows her will tell you, she is not a complainer." They added: "She is proud to support her husband. We are all just very happy that she has actually gone ahead and taken this week off."
This echoes what a separate royal source told The Times. "Although she was not expecting to find herself in the position of leading the family, the Queen is absolutely prepared to do whatever needs to be done for the institution," the source explained.
Camilla has undertaken 13 official engagements since the palace confirmed King Charles' cancer diagnosis on February 5th, including the last King of Greece's memorial service at Windsor Castle at the end of last month.
Although Camilla is the public face of the monarchy right now, she does have some help from other senior members of the royal family too, including the King's siblings Princess Anne and Prince Edward.