A senior royal aide has revealed the secret behind King Charles and Queen Camilla's ability to maintain their demanding schedule. The pair recently returned to the UK after a nine-day tour of the Caribbean and South America.
The King took part in local Junkanoo celebrations, travelled to Georgetown, Guyana, for a State Visit, and was joined by the Queen for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Antigua and Barbuda.
Stamina, Stoicism and Humour
At 77 and 79 years old respectively, Charles and Camilla continue to maintain a high-tempo schedule. The King carried out over 40 separate public engagements in hot conditions during the recent trip, while the Queen always supports him for major state visits, summits, and high-profile events.
The aide told Hello! magazine: "I think the secret for both of them...is firstly stamina, because they are intense visits; secondly stoicism because not everything goes right, but it's how you deal with them in the moment that matters; and finally a sense of humor."
Dealing with the Unexpected
Discussing a moment the King was caught in a rainstorm, the aide added: "Even as the heavens opened, you'll have seen The Queen having a little fond smile underneath her own umbrella...and [The King] was determined to carry on with the parade."
They continued: "All tropical storms can pass in an instant, as indeed that one did, and it's the good humor that gets them both through it."
A Strong Relationship
"I know at the end of each day, and sometimes at the end of each engagement, they have a good laugh together about where things have gone," the royal aide explained. "It may have gone a bit wonky, but fundamentally underpinning it is that strength of their relationship and their determination to keep cracking on despite age and circumstance."
Aides and family members do occasionally remind Charles to moderate the pace of his schedule, especially given he is undergoing outpatient cancer treatment. Camilla previously noted that he would recover even better if he "behaved himself" and slowed down.
When the King first announced his cancer diagnosis, the palace said that he planned to take time off from public duties while he underwent treatment. However, he still conducted a busy schedule of meetings and continued his duties.
