Queen Camilla, the wife of King Charles III, has shared her secret to a successful twenty-year marriage. In an interview with the UK media, as per Hello! Magazine, Queen Camilla opened up about the key to her enduring relationship with the king.
According to the Queen of the United Kingdom, the foundation of a strong marriage is built on having a friendship.
“Twenty years? Who could believe it was 20 years? What is the secret? I don’t know … well … I suppose it's just sort of friendship, really,” she said
King Charles and Queen Camilla tied the knot in 2005, marking his second marriage following his divorce from Princess Diana in 1996, with whom he had a 15-year relationship.
She emphasised the importance of “getting on with life” and “laughing at the same things” as crucial foundations in the twenty-year marriage.
Despite their busy schedules, which often see them traveling in different directions, they have learned to prioritise their relationship.
As Queen Camilla put it to the UK media, “We are always going in different directions, like ships that pass in the night really. We whizz past each other.”
However, they make a conscious effort to stay connected, with Queen Camilla mentioning that they even schedule catch-ups, saying, “In fact, we have got a bit of a catch-up this afternoon.”
Queen Camilla also shared that she and King Charles have gifts in store for each other to celebrate their milestone anniversary. While she did not disclose the exact nature of the gifts, she said that they would be savouring the moment, choosing not to rush the gift-giving process.
“We are going to do that when we get back,” she said. “We are going to save that. Otherwise, you can’t really … you have to rush it. You don’t have time to say anything.”
“No, I think we might dig into our pockets and pull something out at the end of the day,” she added.
The royal couple attended a State Banquet hosted by Italy’s President Mattarella during their four-day stay in Italy. The third day of their visit also marked their 20th wedding anniversary.
The celebration of King Charles and Queen Camilla’s twenty-year marriage comes at a time when their marriage has faced its share of challenges.
Last year, 76-year-old King Charles’s health scare brought their relationship to the forefront as he navigated a cancer diagnosis and brief hospitalisation.
During this tough time, the 77-year-old Queen was a rock for King Charles, taking on more responsibilities and keeping everyone informed about his health progress.
As King Charles and Queen Camilla embark on their third decade together, their relationship proves the power of having friendship as the foundation for a lasting marriage.