Queen Camilla and the Prince of Wales attending the annual Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey in London. Picture date: Monday March 11, 2024. PA Photo. See PA story ROYAL Commonwealth. Photo credit should read: Henry Nicholls/PA Wire (Image: No credit) Get the latest entertainment news sent straight to your inbox with our weekly Showbiz newsletter More Newsletters Subscribe Please enter a valid email Something went wrong, please try again later. More Newsletters We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info Thank you for subscribing! We have more newsletters Show me See Our Privacy Notice See Our Privacy Notice × Group 28 Get the latest entertainment news sent straight to your inbox with our weekly Showbiz newsletter Invalid email Something went wrong, please try again later. Sign Up No thanks, close We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info × Group 28 Thank you for subscribing! We have more newsletters Show Me No thanks, close See our Privacy Notice
Prince William has reportedly become 'much closer' to
Queen Camilla , despite their relationship being described as "complicated ", according to insights from a royal expert . William has faced many personal difficulties , including losing his mother and grandmother, his brother
Prince Harry moving away, and now facing both his dad's and wife's battles with cancer, and he has few family members he can look to for comfort. After some challenging times, though, there seems to be one person in the family who the future king can seek support from due to facing similar issues as they're both "putting on a brave face" amidst these tough situations, reports the Mirror . Read More Related Articles Prince William and Kate 'asked Harry and Meghan to bring their children to visit' Read More Related Articles Prince Harry will have 'some explaining' to do if he doesn't come back to
UK in May "Recent events have obviously brought Prince William and Queen Camilla much closer," noted Jennie Bond, a former
BBC Royal correspondent. "They have been left, almost literally, nursing the crown while the King and the Princess recover." Talking to OK! magazine, she discussed how the bond between Prince William and Camilla may have grown stronger during their shared time at the
London Clinic in January. She said: "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." She also suggested that despite their brave public faces, Prince William and Camilla might confide in each other about their experiences. Jennie recalled when Prince William spoke about the late Queen being there for him during his happiest and saddest moments. Now, he shares some of those times with Camilla, which could strengthen their relationship. Jennie further reflected on the pressures of being a senior royal and the importance of trust. She added: "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." The relationship between Prince William and Camilla hasn't always been smooth, especially after the end of his father's first marriage to Princess Diana. However, over time, William has come to appreciate Camilla for who she truly is - his father's best friend and confidante. Jennie went on: "As an adolescent, William took his time to accept Camilla as 'the other woman' in his father's life." She added: "His feelings towards her were complicated, having witnessed his mother's unhappiness in marriage. But maturity brought with it the realisation that Camilla makes his father extremely happy... and the Prince knows now that she is the love of his life." The Sussexes' and Waleses' have had a very public feud in recent years (Image: Getty Images) The King, 75, and Queen, 76, have known each other for over five decades and are preparing to celebrate their 19th wedding anniversary on April 9. This royal love story is accompanied by the Queen's swift decision to take on more responsibilities. Just last week, she was spotted at a Farmer's Market in Shrewsbury and stood in for the King at the Maundy Thursday service at Worcester Cathedral. "I think there is now a real warmth and affection between Camilla and William; they are both putting on a brave face to the world as they get on with their jobs when I am sure they would rather be at home looking after their partners and/or children, says Jennie. Ingrid Seward, editor of Majesty magazine, agreed as she said: "Camilla is as stoic as she is forgiving. Kate's illness has brought her closer to William who once disliked her intensely. Even up to her marriage to his father, William and Harry begged 'pa' not to marry Camilla. Thank goodness he did. "Her cheerfulness and open-hearted approach to people and events are exactly what the monarchy needs right now. William can see that and he must be very grateful to her. Not only is she keen on keeping his father calm but she is, in her way, keeping the country calm too. Always smiling and giving a cheery report on the progress of Charles and her stepdaughter-in-law. She is exactly what we all need right now." The Princess of Wales shared her cancer diagnosis news on March 22, and Buckingham Palace released a message from the King. He said he's "so proud of Catherine for her courage in speaking as she did" and has "remained in the closest contact with his beloved daughter-in-law throughout the past weeks". The palace also said both royals "will continue to offer their love and support to the whole family through this difficult time". Jennie was touched by this statement: "I was moved by the fact that he didn't say close, but closest. There's no doubt that cancer has cemented an already strong relationship. It's very touching to think of Charles toddling down the corridor to see Kate when they were both in hospital. And it is understood that the king was left very emotional after their one-on-one lunch at
Windsor Castle the day before her broadcast was shown. "There are so few people in whom a senior royal can confide, certain that everything they say will be secure. I'm sure they have both found it comforting to be able to discuss their emotions as well as the chemotherapy treatment and how it has made them feel. "Of course, Kate has her own dad to turn to, so she's not looking for a father figure, but I think she has forged a genuinely affectionate relationship with Charles. And he makes no secret of the fact that he is enormously proud of her. After all, remember how Diana said Charles had always wanted a daughter. And he loves the grandchildren and now sees much more of them either at Windsor or Sandringham. "It must be particularly tough for the children to know that both their grandfather and their mother are ill. But I'm sure Charles, like Catherine, tries to shield them from that as much as he can in their tight knit little group." While King Charles wasn't around as often as he might have wanted for his own kids, he's been a major source of support for his son and daughter-in-law, marking a new period for the family. Thanks to his encouragement to take whatever time they needed away from the public eye, the couple has been able to care for each other and provide a safe haven for raising Prince George, 10, Princess Charlotte, 8, and Prince Louis, 5. Prince William has faced many heartbreaking moments in his life, and it's likely he finds comfort in Camilla's understanding. "He must feel that fate is cruel: to lose your mother when you are 15, to find the love of your life and the solid happiness of marriage and children... and then to have it shattered in this way must be shocking," says Jennie. "Add to that the loss of your only sibling through a painful estrangement, and your father diagnosed with cancer William must feel that the stars are aligned against him. Thankfully, Camilla is a warm, genuine and motherly person and I am sure she is doing all she can to support William and Catherine while also taking on a vastly increased workload." Jennie also believes William draws his strength from his late mother, Princess Diana. Read More Related Articles Prince William and Kate 'nervous' about Prince Harry's UK visit and 'planning' to avoid 'awkwardness' Read More Related Articles Rarely seen royal leaves fans baffled as he steps out for Easter service with King Charles "For all her physical and mental fragility at stressful times in her life, Diana was a tough cookie," Jennie recalls. "It was her confidence and ability to laugh at the world (and herself) that struck me when we used to chat in her
Kensington Palace home. "Life had made her tough and I think William has the same steel in his veins. He can be stubborn and single-minded but that is no bad thing when you have the weight of the world on your shoulders. His absolute, non-negotiable priority is his family. And for that, I applaud him." "His mother's influence is in the relaxed way he interacts with people, and in his determination to help people less well off than himself. It was Diana who first showed her sons the plight of homeless people. Now, William has said that he wants his own children to be fully aware of how privileged they are and how other people may sometimes need a little help." Prince William has been grateful not just for his late mum's guidance, but also for the constant support throughout the years from his grandmother,
Queen Elizabeth II. These two strong
Women have shaped him into a modern monarch ready to handle the challenges looming in the 21st Century. Away from royal duties, William finds solace with the Middletons, whom he regards as his second family away from all palace tensions. Join the Daily Record's
WhatsApp community here and get the latest news sent straight to your messages. Recently, Kate's brother James Middleton displayed his firm support on
Social Media. He uploaded an old photo of him with his sister and captioned it: "Over the years, we have climbed many mountains together. As a family, we will climb this one with you too." Jennie believes that Kate has given William an invaluable asset she claims was missing from his own family life. She said: "There is no doubt that Kate has given William everything that was lacking in his own family life." She paints their bond not only as a romantic connection but also as a " loving, deep partnership founded on friendship, passion and mutual respect, plus a broader, settled and happy relationship with his in-laws", highlighting the warmth he shares with his in-laws. Significantly, she voiced how Michael and Carole Middleton have embraced William into their home and treated him like their own: "Michael and Carole Middleton welcomed William into their home and treated him like one of the family. He can relax with them, trust them, and be himself in a way he can do with only a very few others." Despite facing a difficult time, Kate has prioritised her children's well-being in her decision, demonstrating her and William's resilience. Jennie believes Kate has significantly influenced William, stating: "They have known one another now for more than 20 years and she has won not only his deep love, but his respect. Royals latest news Kate and William issue new statement William 'desperately needs' Harry Fergie forced to sell Queen's gift Kate Middleton's cancer type "As Catherine herself said, having William at her side is a great source of comfort and reassurance. I firmly believe that this is a strong marriage and it makes me very sad to know that they might have been made aware of vile gossip simply because she wasn't wearing her wedding ring in the Mother's Day photo. "When they come through this health crisis, their marriage will be all the stronger. William has shown he is perfectly willing to endure criticism for putting his family before duty and I am sure Catherine loves him all the more for that. "Personally, I don't think he should feel any obligation to get back to work until his wife has finished her treatment and is fully recovered. If we want a strong and healthy future Queen and King, we should allow them all the time they need right now." Get the latest celebrity gossip and telly news sent straight to your inbox. Sign up to our daily Showbiz newsletter here . Story Saved You can find this story in My Bookmarks. Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right. Follow Daily Record
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