Queen Camilla is ‘proud’ to take on more duties in a packed diary of royal events as King Charles and Princess Kate receive their treatment for cancer.
The Princess of Wales’ diagnosis and preventative chemotherapy mean it is likely she will not be making many public appearances for the next few months – and a date has also not been given for the King’s return to his full duties.
The Queen, 76, is ‘resilient’ and will do anything that is asked of her to help the Royal Family, aides reportedly said.
She will be assisted in plugging gaps in the diary by the Princess Royal and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh.
Camilla has just this week gone on one of her most important trips without her husband, visiting Belfast in Northern Ireland for a series of engagements that had been arranged before the King was diagnosed with cancer.
Queen Camilla has said she is ‘proud’ to take on more duties in a packed diary of royal events as King Charles and Princess Kate receive their treatment for cancer. Pictured: Queen Camilla meets members of the public as she visits Douglas, Isle of Man on March 20, 2024 in
King Charles III and Queen Camilla depart The London Clinic in central London where he had undergone prostate surgery on January 29
And next Thursday she will be the first ever royal consort to hand out Maundy money on a monarch’s behalf at the Royal Maundy service, in attendance as Charles’ representative.
Queen Camilla is ‘proud, resilient and devoted’ and will ‘step up’ to serve the country and the King, a royal source told The Telegraph.
The source added that she was ‘juggling’ her priorities as she wants to support Charles as much as she can, while still fulfilling her duties.
The Royal Family sending Camilla to Belfast on her own reveals they are placing a lot of trust in her, as Northern Ireland is an incredibly sensitive place for the monarchy to visit.
The King has been the main focus during previous trips to Northern Ireland with his wife supporting him.
The Queen’s visit to Belfast appears to have gone well, and led to support and well-wishes from locals.
She was even photobombed by an adorable 23-month-old as she visited local shops in Belfast.
The royal who kicked off day two of her Northern Ireland trip on Thursday, could not help but smile as little Fitzwilliam Corrie-Salmon posed up a storm in front of the camera while his father, co-owner of Knotts Bakery, chatted with the King’s wife.
The toddler sported a tiny tuxedo as he grinned for the photos, coming right up to the lens.
William Corrie watched his son on with Camilla, both looking equal parts amused and delighted.
‘We have a natural for the cameras,’ she announced, grinning as she watched him.
The Queen visited the Isle of Man the day before and stayed at Hillsborough Castle alone – the royals’ official residence in Northern Ireland – on Wednesday night before her tour of Belfast.
These visits usually feature engagements with both the King and Queen as well as parts of the day where they attend some on their own.
Camilla attended her own solo engagements, rather than the King’s, The Telegraph reported.
But she has made it clear that Charles would have loved to attend in person and that he was unhappy to miss the trip he was looking forward to.
The Queen will be assisted in plugging gaps in the diary by the Princess Royal (left) and the Duke (right) and Duchess of Edinburgh
Queen Camilla was photobombed by an adorable one-year-old as she visited local shops during a visit to Belfast on Thursday
The Princess of Wales told in a video message how she has been diagnosed with cancer
The Queen will be hosting a reception at Clarence House on Thursday with authors and neuroscientists which celebrates the results of The Queen’s Reading Room study which links reading fiction books and wellbeing.
The study showed evidence of a link between reading fiction and better mental health, brain health and social connection.
She will then visit the farmers’ market in Shrewsbury, Shropshire on Wednesday. She will also attend the Shrewsbury Flaxmill Maltings, which is the first iron-framed building in the world and has been recently restored. It is used as a space for volunteer groups.
She will then be present at the Maundy Service in Worcester Cathedral on Wednesday. Her Majesty, on behalf of The King, will distribute the Royal Maundy during the Service.
This will be the first time a consort has done this on behalf of the monarch. When Queen Elizabeth II was unable to attend, she was never represented by Prince Philip, but instead by Charles, then the Prince of Wales, her mother and her aunt Princess Mary.
Princess Anne and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh will also be taking on a big share of royal duties in the coming months to help in the absence of Charles and Kate, as well as Harry and Meghan.
The Princess Royal is planned to attend nine engagements next week and the Duke of Edinburgh will be visiting Aberdeenshire on Monday.
The Prince of Wales, who will be supporting his wife and children over the Easter break, is currently set to return to public duties after the holiday but he wants to help Kate as much as possible as she undertakes her treatment.