King Charles and Queen Camilla sometimes sleep in separate rooms because of a health condition that affects the monarch's breathing at night, according to a new book by royal author Robert Jobson. In The Windsor Legacy: A Royal Dynasty, Jobson reveals that the King suffers from sleep apnoea, a condition where breathing repeatedly stops during sleep.
To manage the condition, Charles uses a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine, which delivers steady air pressure to keep his airways open. The device was introduced to him by former US Vice President Al Gore during a visit to Highgrove. Jobson writes that Charles's life and energy levels improved dramatically after he started using the machine, but it does mean that he and Camilla sometimes sleep apart.
Sleep apnoea can cause extreme fatigue and poor concentration if left untreated. Prince Harry previously highlighted his father's struggle with fatigue in a 2018 BBC documentary, noting that Charles would sometimes fall asleep at his desk with papers stuck to his face. Jobson adds that the King often jokes about reaching a “worryingly decrepit stage” of life, but those close to him recognise the serious side behind the humour.
The King's health has been under scrutiny since he was diagnosed with an unspecified form of cancer in February 2024. He withdrew from public events for treatment but resumed duties in April 2025. Buckingham Palace declined to comment on the sleep apnoea claims.
