Queen Camilla Concerned King Charles Is ‘Doing Too Much’ Amid Cancer Treatment, Says ‘She Has Been Trying to Encourage Him to Slow Down’

Less than a month has passed since King Charles resumed his public royal duties on April 30. With a busy late spring and early summer calendar ahead—Trooping the Colour, Royal Ascot, garden parties, Japan’s state visit to the U.K., and an overseas visit to France—Queen Camilla is growing increasingly concerned about how hard the King is working while still undergoing cancer treatment.

Following a routine prostate procedure on January 26, His Majesty announced on February 5 that he had been diagnosed with a form of cancer that had not been disclosed to the public. He began treatment on the same day and, nearly three months later, returned to public engagements with Camilla by his side on April 30. Known for his workaholic tendencies, Charles’s relentless schedule has left Camilla fearing her husband is “doing too much,” according to The Mirror. Despite her concerns, it appears unlikely that the King will slow down anytime soon.

The Daily Beast reports that Camilla has encouraged her husband to pace himself as he resumes his public duties. “She has been trying to encourage him to slow down,” a source told the outlet. “Of course, he wants to keep cracking on, but she is afraid that doing too much could set him back.”

Despite Camilla’s concerns, other sources indicate that Charles is determined to make as much of an impact as possible during his reign. “There is no sign of him easing off the accelerator,” they said. “If anything, he is even more determined to pack as much in as he can.”

Another source added, “Of course, he should slow down but, as anyone who knows him will tell you, he is not going to. He spent 70 years as the first in line to the throne, and he is determined to do the job as best he can for whatever time remains to him.” They continued, “It’s a worry for everyone because he has made no secret of the fact that he still has cancer and is still getting treated for it, but I think he wants to raise awareness of the reality that cancer is something that a lot of people live with and make the best of. Morale is a huge factor when you have cancer, and he is making the best of it in his own way. Being King is what he was born to do.”

Charles’s work ethic has long been known; he never takes lunch and often works late into the night, long past midnight. Camilla’s concern for her husband isn’t confined to the walls of Clarence House, the London home she shares with the King. During a recent royal visit to Sussex, Camilla noted that Charles is “getting better” but added, jokingly, “Well, he would be [getting better] if he behaved himself.”

As King Charles continues to fulfill his royal duties while battling cancer, the support and concern from Queen Camilla highlight the delicate balance he must maintain between his responsibilities and his health.