King Charles and Queen Camilla Seem Truly Happy Together
When King Charles and Queen Camilla announced that they would be in Italy for their 20th wedding anniversary, the idea of a special photograph to mark the milestone seemed like it wouldn't necessarily be required. Plenty of images, including one of them attending a lavish State Banquet on the actual anniversary of the marriage, would be filtering through for days.
Yet not long after the King and Queen touched down in Rome on Monday, Buckingham Palace released three images described as 'new anniversary photographs.' Taken that evening by photographer Chris Jackson in the garden of the British Ambassador to Italy's residence, they show the couple linking arms and beaming broadly in the evening sun. Camilla chose to wear a brooch with a Lily of the Valley that is said to symbolize enduring love. They are sitting under what the Palace described as the 'Neronian spur of the Aqua Claudia,' a branch of the aqueduct that was once the lifeblood of ancient Rome.
The fact that designated anniversary images were taken and released ensured that this personal milestone had its own moment, distinct from the narrative surrounding the tour. And even with a small amount of time, and as the light threatened to fade, the photographer quickly captured their joy.
'They seem happier than ever before, and he in particular is happy,' says Richard Palmer who has covered the royals for more than 20 years. 'Whatever the controversies, she makes him happy and their marriage seems to work. I think he's a better King for it because he's a happier person in general.'
Joe Little from Majesty Magazine agrees. 'The King and Queen are clearly in a happy place right now,' he says. 'They both have busy lives, particularly for a couple of their age, but they enjoy what they do and do it well.'
While it might seem at odds with the turbulence of the King's cancer diagnosis and ongoing treatment to feel that he is happier than ever, there is much to suggest it is the case. Despite polling in the UK showing that his popularity is still way off where Queen Elizabeth's was, the mood in Britain since he came to the throne from the public and the media has largely been well-disposed towards him. He reigns with Camilla accepted fully as Queen by his side, the well-documented story of her transformation from 'other woman' no longer headlining the narrative around them.
'The new reign has worked much better than I imagined it would,' says Richard Palmer. 'I thought, like a lot of people, that there would be quite a few bumps in the road and it would take a long time for people to get used to King Charles and Queen Camilla. But actually it's been a pretty smooth transition I think.'
Notable pieces marking this milestone anniversary have focused on what keeps their marriage strong. Camilla's sister Annabel Elliot gave a rare comment to the Daily Mail newspaper where she described their relationship as 'a huge friendship.' And in October 2024 at the end of their tour of Australia and Samoa, a royal aide summed up their dynamic by saying the King gets 'great strength from the Queen's presence,' adding that 'she keeps it real.'
They are different personalities—he is often described as a workaholic and she is happy to relax. They also spend time apart, with Camilla keeping her Wiltshire home, Ray Mill, while Charles has his own retreat, Highgrove House. A shared sense of humor is often cited as one of the key elements to their relationship, with multiple photographs over the years showing them laughing during official engagements.
In Italy this week the 76-year-old King and 77-year-old Queen have appeared sure-footed and relaxed. The pressures are there— both within the busy schedule and the diplomatic importance of the trip Britain in a post-Brexit era. And the visit comes not long after the King was unable to attend engagements in the UK due to his cancer treatment. But the tone has been anything but strained.
Shortly after arriving at the airport Monday, they sat chatting in their car then gestured to reporters and photographers and gave them a wave. At the Colosseum on Tuesday, they conversed quietly to each other between smiles for the cameras and waves to the media and public. Their status speaks for itself, but their demeanors remain low-key.
There is a sense of comfort to Charles as a diplomat on the world stage - he may be new to the role of King but he brings decades of experience in public service. And having Camilla by his side has been central to supporting him in his reign.
Charles and Camilla's relationship has by no means been plain sailing, and his cancer diagnosis is a significant challenge they now face. But as they mark their 20th wedding anniversary smiling at each other in the Italian sunshine, the message is clear that together they are truly happy.
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