Queen Camilla is the Royal Family's 'superhero' while Kate and King Charles recover - analysis by Cameron Walker

Queen Camilla is the Royal Family's 'superhero' while Kate and King Charles recover - analysis by Cameron Walker

WATCH NOW: Queen Camilla steps out on engagement in Cambridge on Friday

GB News
Cameron Walker

By Cameron Walker


Published: 03/02/2024

- 05:00

Updated: 03/02/2024

- 08:51

The Queen has undertaken an engagement every day this week

The Royal Family was hit with an unexpected crisis last month when the King and the Prince and Princess of Wales announced they would be temporarily stepping back from public duties.

The Princess of Wales was in hospital for almost two weeks following major abdominal surgery and is expected to recover at home in Windsor until Easter.


Her husband, the Prince of Wales, announced he would also be stepping back to support his wife and look after their children.

Putting family first is the Prince of Wales's number one priority, it is understood, but he is expected to carry out public engagements again, once the princess's care and recovery are settled.

Queen Camilla

Queen Camilla out on an engagement in Cambridge on Friday

Getty

His Majesty The King also spent three nights in hospital last month, recovering from treatment for an enlarged prostate, before being discharged.

King Charles is also not carrying out public engagements at the moment, but it is understood he is well enough to carry out private constitutional duties like working through his official red boxes, signing important papers and reading Cabinet minutes.

The double royal health scare highlights the fragility of the slimmed-down monarchy, which has become even slimmer in recent years.

Very sadly, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh, are no longer with us and most working members of the Royal Family are well into their sixties, seventies and eighties.

A void has also been left by Prince Harry and Meghan's decision to step back as working royals and move to California, and Prince Andrew was forced out in disgrace.

Queen Camilla met Johannes Radebe [second from right] and Tasha Ghouri [right] on Friday

PA

The superhero of the week is arguably Queen Camilla, who has carried out a public appearance or engagement every single day - which is incredibly rare unless she is on a foreign royal tour.

Her Majesty has been widely praised for stepping up and holding the fort in the absence of all other senior royals, although a royal source has confirmed it was always the plan for the Queen to carry out all her solo engagements this week, and it is a coincidence that she has had a full diary.

A wide range of charities and organisations, that rely on the Royal Family's support, have most likely benefitted from the publicity spotlight Queen Camilla has provided.

On Tuesday, Her Majesty celebrated the centenary of Queen Mary's Dolls House at Windsor Castle, a gift from the nation to Queen Mary following the First World War, by contributing to its new Modern-Day Miniature Library, "providing a snapshot of contemporary literature in Britain".

Her Majesty is well-known for her work on literacy and highlighting its importance in creating life opportunities.

Queen Camilla

Queen Camilla is the 'superhero' of the Royal Family this week

PA

Queen Camilla

Queen Camilla opened a new cancer support centre at the Royal Free Hospital in London

PA

As President of Maggie's Centres Cancer Care, the Queen opened a new cancer support centre at the Royal Free Hospital in London on Wednesday, where she spent time with patients.

Excited members of the public also got the chance to meet Queen Camilla in Bath on Thursday, where she was celebrating the 850th anniversary of St John's Foundation - which provides shelter and support to the local community.

To round off her busy week, Her Majesty visited one of Britain's largest volunteering charities, the Royal Voluntary Service, to visit a newly opened community centre in Cambridge.

Queen Camilla appears to be putting duty first, and now His Majesty The King is successfully recovering at home, setting a good example to younger generations of the Royal Family.

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