Queen Camilla is "not spending her birthday the way she'd choose", according to a source, as the royal is set to accompany King Charles on a major outing.
The State Opening of Parliament is occurring on today, which coincides with the Queen's 77th birthday.
A close friend of Camilla's said: "It’s not the tip-top way she would choose to be spending her birthday, but you won’t ever hear a single word of complaint.
"About anything, really. For someone who wasn’t born into the Royal Family, she’s got an extraordinarily strong sense of duty and the temperament to cope."
Camilla 'not spending birthday the way she'd choose' as she accompanies King CharlesGettyQueen Camilla has been caring for the King, who announced earlier this year he had been diagnosed with a form of cancer.
King Charles, 75, was originally hospitalised for corrective surgery to treat an enlarged prostate.
The source continued to tell The Mail: "When [Camilla] visited His Majesty in hospital after he first went in for prostate surgery, she was quite relaxed.
"Concerned, of course, but it was a pretty standard procedure and there was actually quite bit of laughter at his bedside."
King Charles and Queen Camilla attending the State Opening of Parliament in 2023
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After finding out the King had cancer, Camilla undertook a long-planned engagement opening a Maggie’s cancer care centre in London, while Charles began his course of treatment.
The insider added: "The public had no idea what she was going through. She was speaking to patients, survivors and even the families of those who had lost their lives to this awful disease in front of the cameras.
"And she couldn’t . . . she didn’t . . . even blink. That takes serious guts."
Another said: "In private people had never seen her so worried. Forget who they are for a second. Look at it from a human level.
The Royal Family shared a new picture of the Queen to celebrate her 77th birthday
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Queen Camilla is expected to wear a Bruce Oldfield dress and a diamond diadem today
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"Her beloved husband was facing a very serious condition. The battle of his life. It was hugely tough."
Camilla was thought to be supportive when Charles decided to return to royal duties in April.
A source claimed: "His Majesty is never one to sit still and do nothing. He always wants to work and even cancer wasn’t going to stop him.
"But it’s fair to say that his wife hasn’t always been of the same opinion."
