Queen Camilla admits she'll be 'glad to get to the end of the year' after King Charles' cancer
The queen hosted a Christmas lunch at Clarence HouseQueen Camilla has said she’ll be “glad” to get to the end of 2024 following a tough year of health news for the royal family.
It’s been a turbulent year for the monarchy following King Charles III‘s cancer diagnosis and treatment. His daughter-in-law Kate, Princess of Wales, also underwent treatment for cancer and completed that in September.
On December 12, the queen consort, 77, welcomed families of seriously ill children for a Christmas lunch at Clarence House.
Queen Camilla looking forward to the end of the year
To mark the festive period, Queen Camilla invited children who have been supported by two of her charities – Helen & Douglas House and Roald Dahl‘s Marvellous Children’s Charity – to the royal residence.
The kids got to meet Santa Claus and helped decorate a Christmas tree with the queen.
She said she’d be glad to get to the end of the year and I think a lot of the families feel like that as well.
Marie Verney was one of the guests alongside her daughters, 17-year-old Katie and Faye, 12.
Speaking with reporters, Marie said of the queen: “She was very understanding and sympathetic of people’s lives. And her life hasn’t been easy this year, has it? She said she’d be glad to get to the end of the year and I think a lot of the families feel like that as well.”
Queen Camilla is a ‘fun grandma’
Marie also revealed that the royal talked about her granddaughters Lola and Eliza, who are the same age as Marie’s daughter Katie.
Marie added: “So there was that mutual understanding, but also, she’s a fun grandma. She’s a really down to earth lady and put us at ease.
“To me it was as though she was like a grandma, the concern, but also the fun – she’s mischief. She said to Katie have you got a drink? She had elderflower, she said: ‘Surely you’d like champagne?’ Katie said yes. Next thing you know, she’d gone and got a glass of champagne for Katie and then she talked to Katie about driving and driving lessons, and then more serious stuff.”
Camilla suffered a form of pneumonia after chest infection
Queen Camilla has had her own health woes later in 2024 after contracting a chest infection.
She was forced to pull out of a few royal engagements in November due to the illness including the Royal Variety Performance and some Remembrance Day events.
Then, Buckingham Palace later said the chest infection was a form of pneumonia.
Reports claimed it was viral, rather than bacterial.
King Charles’ cancer and treatment latest
In February 2024, the king was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer. He has undergone treatment throughout the year as he took a step back from royal duties to focus on his health.
However, in October, the king and queen visited Australia and Samoa on a tour and it was reported that Charles paused his treatment.
Reports claimed that Camilla has been a “massive support” for her husband throughout. At the time of writing, the king is still receiving treatment.
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