Queen Camilla is the king’s “strength and permanence,” as Prince Philip was to the late Queen Elizabeth II, a palace source said amid the monarch’s cancer diagnosis.
The source said PEOPLE that the 76-year-old will “cheer up” Charles, 75, throughout his cancer treatment.
‘She is his strength and his stay as (Prince Philip) was to the late Queen. She will be great. She’ll cheer him up, she’ll cheer him up. She is amazing. “She equips him to do the job she needs to do,” the source said.
Charles, who acceded to the throne just 17 months ago, was being treated for a benign enlarged prostate when doctors found a “form of cancer” last week.
During her first public engagement since her diagnosis was announced, Camilla said the King, who underwent his first treatment earlier this week, was “doing very well under the circumstances”.
Queen Camilla is the king’s “strength and permanence”, as Prince Philip was to the late Queen Elizabeth II, a palace source said.
It comes after King Charles yesterday broke his silence over his cancer diagnosis and offered his “heartfelt thanks” to the British public for their “many messages of support and good wishes”.
The monarch has not spoken publicly since it emerged a week ago that he suffers from a “form of cancer”, discovered by doctors while he was being treated for his benign enlarged prostate.
In a letter published by Sandringham House, where he has been staying since leaving the London Clinic on January 29, he said he was “encouraged” to know that his experience is inspiring others across the country to get checks.
The letter, signed by Charles R, reads: ‘I would like to express my sincere gratitude for the many messages of support and good wishes I have received over the past few days.
‘As all those who have been affected by cancer will know, those kind thoughts are the greatest comfort and encouragement.
‘It is equally encouraging to hear how sharing my own diagnosis has helped to promote public understanding and shed light on the work of all those organizations supporting cancer patients and their families across the UK and around the world.
“My lifelong admiration for their tireless care and dedication is even greater as a result of my own personal experience.”
Buckingham Palace confirmed that the King does not have prostate cancer, saying only that he has a “form of cancer.”
Charles, who acceded to the throne just 17 months ago, was being treated for a benign enlarged prostate when doctors found a “form of cancer” last week. Pictured is Camilla attending her first public engagement since the King’s announcement.
King Charles III departs with Queen Camilla after receiving treatment for an enlarged prostate at the London Clinic on January 29, 2024 in London.
He was diagnosed after “another cause for concern was noted” and was investigated while receiving treatment for his benign enlarged prostate.
The King is also believed to be holding face-to-face meetings in London next week despite his ongoing cancer treatment.
You will spend about a day in the capital, as your trip will likely coincide with your medical appointments.
But the King is well enough to hold a limited number of face-to-face meetings, sources say.
Charles has postponed all his public-facing duties, but continues behind-the-scenes work on his red boxes of state documents.
The letter comes after his estranged son, Prince Harry, 39, visited him following Tuesday’s shock announcement.
The duke, 39, flew to London on a ten-hour British Airways commercial flight from Los Angeles to Heathrow on Tuesday, arriving at the royal residence at 2:42 p.m.
He then spent about 45 minutes chatting with his father, in what is believed to be his first proper contact in 15 months.
It was their first formal in-person meeting since the late Queen Elizabeth II’s funeral in September 2022.
The father and son had a “brief reunion” before the King and Camilla were driven to Buckingham Palace, where a helicopter was waiting to take them back to Sandringham.
For his return trip to the United States, Harry was spotted in Heathrow’s exclusive Windsor Suite as he prepared to fly back that afternoon.
It is believed that the royal did not see his estranged brother and heir to the throne, Prince William, or his sister-in-law Kate.