Queen Camilla issued a pragmatic four-word response after being told her royal duties are "going so well," according to her close friend Gyles Brandreth. The former MP turned podcaster shared that when people compliment her on her performance, she shrugs and says, "Well, on we go."
Camilla's Transition to Royal Life
Camilla, who celebrated her 79th birthday on July 17, has grown into her royal role since marrying King Charles in 2005. Initially holding the title Duchess of Cornwall, she became Queen after the coronation in 2023. Before her royal life became all-consuming, her day-to-day was far more low-key. Friends describe her as having been perfectly content without a defined career, filling her time with activities that interested her.
Author Catherine Mayer, who also knows the Queen, told Hello! magazine: "This is a woman who really was very happy not having a career, and who liked to potter and do things that interested her, and now suddenly she has this huge role. She's lived a lot of her life in different directions to most of us."
Ramping Up Commitments at 79
Gyles Brandreth noted that while most people in their late 70s wind down, Camilla and the King have had to do the reverse. He explained: "You might think she could slow down, but they are having to quicken the pace. But I never get the impression that she is doing it reluctantly."
Brandreth also revealed that Camilla does not like to make a big deal out of her birthdays, preferring to spend time with family. He said: "I don't think she sees birthdays as a big deal, but family is very important to her, so that is her kind of celebration. When you say, 'Next year is the big one,' she pulls a face and says, 'Thank you for reminding me.' I think the truth is, she's in a good place."
Camilla's Advocacy for Reading
A recent Buckingham Palace update highlighted Camilla's continued push for literacy. A special edition of Katherine Rundell's Impossible Creatures will be handed out to all Year 6 and P6 pupils during Christmas. Each book includes a message from the Queen, who called the story a "brilliant fantasy" that introduces young readers to "a host of mythical friends and terrifying enemies."
Famous Relatives
Separate reports have linked Camilla to two famous singers. A Reddit user noted that Madonna and Celine Dion are distant cousins of Queen Camilla. Woman & Home magazine explained: "Interestingly, there are two famous pop stars that genealogical research has linked Queen Camilla to. Both Madonna and Celine Dion are descendants of the same French Canadian couple who lived in the 17th century. Camilla and the singers are also connected to actress Angelina Jolie."
