Amid the royal family’s recent health concerns, the Prince of Wales has found great solace in Queen Camilla’s support, helping the pair to strengthen their relationship
WORDS: REBECCA RUSSELL PHOTOS: GETTY
MUTUAL SUPPORT
He may come from a world of immense privilege but the Prince of Wales has been dealt a cruel hand in his personal life. With the deaths of his mother and grandmother, the estrangement from his brother, his father’s cancer diagnosis and now his wife battling the same disease, the list of people Prince William can turn to for personal support is limited.
But, after an initial tumultuous few years, there is one family member that 41-year-old William can look to for guidance – simply because they find themselves in the same difficult boat.
“Recent events have obviously brought Prince William and Queen Camilla much closer,” former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond tells OK!. “They have been left, almost literally, nursing the crown while the King and the Princess recover.”
Speaking about how the relationship between the pair will have been strengthened since the King and Kate were both being treated at the London Clinic in January, Jennie says, “Times of adversity often bring people much closer together. For all the progress that has been made in cancer treatment, it is still a scary thing. And while Camilla and William put on a brave face for the world (and no doubt for their spouses too), there may be times when they confide in one another about how they are dealing with it all. When the late Queen died, William spoke of how she had been at his side at ‘the happiest moments’ and ‘saddest days of his life’. Now, Camilla is sharing some of those times with him and it must surely cement their relationship.”
Reflecting on what life is like for someone in such a high-pressure, public-facing role, Jennie adds, “There are so very few people that a senior royal can trust absolutely and Camilla must now be one of that number for William. And I’m sure it is a two-way street with William offering moral support to Camilla as well.”
Of course, the relationship between the pair has not always been plain sailing, particularly following the breakdown of the King’s first marriage to Diana, Princess of Wales. But even though they were not introduced for many years, William has thoroughly warmed to Camilla and now sees her for what she is – his father’s best friend, his sounding board and someone who is perfectly placed to pour oil on troub
