Queen Camilla drives six hours to concert as she steps up to help King Charles

This comes as Camilla, 76, is expected to be undertaking the majority of royal engagements while her husband seeks cancer treatment.

King Charles, 75, was diagnosed with a form of cancer earlier this week after undergoing prostate surgery in January.

Her Majesty had arranged to attend the event before her husband's diagnosis was made known.

Camilla accompanied the King from London to Sandringham on Tuesday after his first round of treatment.

The Queen was told on Wednesday that bad weather conditions would prevent her from flying from Norfolk to the concert by helicopter as planned.

However, a royal source told The Telegraph that rather than pull out, Camilla opted to travel more than 200 miles by road, despite the weather warnings.

This was because she had promised the King she would carry on with her programme of official engagements.

The source claimed: “The flight was cancelled due to the weather so she elected to go by road, which is one hell of a journey – at least six hours in these conditions.

“She did not want to let down the King, having assured him that she would continue with her schedule of official engagements.”

The Queen is expected to return to Sandringham to support her husband throughout the weekend.

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King Charles will return to London next week to continue his outpatient hospital treatment.

The Queen gave an update on the King's health this evening.

She said: "He is doing extremely well under the circumstances.

"We are very touched by all of the letters and messages."