The number of working family members in the royal household has reduced significantly in recent years. While that appears to be a plan to modernize the monarchy, they have become even fewer in the last few months. Kate Middleton is still recovering from her abdominal surgery and King Charles is not on royal duty as he is undergoing cancer treatment.

Therefore, not only has Prince William stepped up, but Queen Camilla has also taken on a big responsibility in King Charles’ absence, earning praise from royal experts. 

Meanwhile, while Kate Middleton is recovering and Charles undergoes cancer treatment, Camilla has been given a new royal title, and it’s not one we expected.

The royal family has become increasingly smaller over the last decade. With Queen Elizabeth’s death, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle leaving, and disgraced Prince Andrew not having an official role, the number of working royals is most likely at an all-time low.

Meanwhile, as Kate Middleton is now recovering after her abdominal surgery and King Charles has received a devastating cancer diagnosis, there aren’t many royal family members on duty.

Prince William & Queen Camilla steps up in Kate and King Charles’ absence

As two of the most senior royal family members now must focus on getting back on their feet, others must step up. Unsurprisingly, it meant foremost Queen Camilla and Prince William.

Prince William and the rest of the royal family have had plenty on their hands in the last few years. The feud with Harry and Meghan has brought a lot of frustration among the family members still active, and as the queen passed away and King Charles took over, it has been a big adjustment.

William and his wife, Kate Middleton, took on much more responsibility and royal duties. However, in January, what was supposed to have been an average month suddenly changed with Kate’s surgery and later King Charles’ cancer diagnosis.

King Charles went through treatment for an enlarged prostate in mid-January, but not after it was announced that he had cancer.

The type of cancer has not been revealed.

Why King Charles decided to share his cancer diagnosis

However, Buckingham Palace revealed that it isn’t prostate cancer but was discovered during his treatment for an enlarged prostate.

“His Majesty has today commenced a schedule of regular treatments, during which time he has been advised by doctors to postpone public-facing duties. Throughout this period, His Majesty will continue to undertake State business and official paperwork as usual,” the statement from Buckingham Palace read.

“The King is grateful to his medical team for their swift intervention, which was made possible thanks to his recent hospital procedure. He remains wholly positive about his treatment and looks forward to returning to full public duty as soon as possible.”

The statement continued, “His Majesty has chosen to share his diagnosis to prevent speculation and in the hope it may assist public understanding for all those around the world who are affected by cancer.”

While Kate Middleton chose not to disclose details about her abdominal surgery, King Charles decided to give out all the information.

Traditionally, royal family members keep their medical issues a secret, most likely to get some privacy. Queen Camilla has stepped up in King Charles’ absence, taking on many of his royal engagements.

Queen Camilla ‘persuaded’ Charles to release cancer details, royal expert claims

So, was it King Charles who felt it was a good idea to release the details of his medical condition? According to royal expert Jennie Bond, it’s possible Camilla persuaded him to do it.

“I’m sure Camilla will have encouraged the King to break with royal tradition and be open about his diagnosis. She’s a very straightforward person, which is one of the most refreshing things about her,” Bond told the Mirror.

“And, when she’s not out on manoeuvres for the firm, she’ll be fussing over him like any other doting wife. For a couple in their mid to late seventies, news like this is a sharp and unwelcome reminder of human mortality. But they both have a big job to do, with limited years to do it. And so they may well see this as a blessing in disguise. A cancer has been detected, it is being treated and the expectation is that the King will be back to full time duties just as soon as possible.”

Not surprisingly, Queen Camilla has been seen extensively in public the last month. Some weeks ago, she made the six-hour drive from Sandringham – where King Charles is recovering during his cancer treatment – to Wiltshire for a charity musical evening.

Once there, she gave an update on Charles, reassuring well-wishers that her husband is in good condition.

“He’s doing extremely well under the circumstances,” Queen Camilla said, adding that King Charles is “touched by the public’s support.”

On Saturday, February 10, King Charles broke the silence and released a statement, thanking everyone for their messages.

Queen Camilla praised for work during Charles’ recovery

Just days ago, during a meeting with Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the king also revealed that he had been brought to tears by the public’s well-wishes

“I’ve had so many wonderful messages and cards. It’s reduced me to tears most of the time,” King Charles told Sunak.

“I hear there’s been a lot more attention and interest on those main, wonderful cancer charities, many of which I’ve been patron for years,” he added and laughed.

While Queen Camilla is known not to love life in the spotlight, she has put all her energy towards serving The Crown. For example, she doesn’t like giving speeches, but as King Charles isn’t there at the moment, she does it.

Appearing on GB News, royal expert and author Angela Levin states that Camilla has left her comfort zone.

“She has gone to as many engagements as possible that King Charles would have done, which is a huge load, but she’ll do it with grace,” Levin said.” She would do her absolute best to stand by him.”

About Camilla’s disliking of speaking in public, Levin said, “She’s learned all that and I think it’s a marvelous thing that she’s done,” adding that Camilla truly is King Charles’ “rock” through this difficult time.

“She’s absolutely there when she’s needed,” Levin concluded.

Angela Levin isn’t the only one praising Camilla for her efforts and how she has handled the situation.

“A heavy, heavy burden”

On the popular royal podcast Royally Obsessed, co-hosts Roberta Fiorito and Rachel Bowie praised the queen.

“I feel like on the heels of Camilla taking on solo engagements daily last week…to see Camilla step up, keep calm and carry on, and knowing what she’s also managing with her own kind of reactions and mental health over what’s going on with her husband, it’s the whole difference between duty and family,” Roberta Fiorito said, as reported by Express.

“You have to continue what you have to do for the crown, but you also have to process your emotions over Charles’s cancer diagnosis.”

Meanwhile, Rachel Bowie added that Camilla has put on a brave face and that it must be hard to “bite her tongue about the real issues that were going on.

“I think that has to be so incredibly hard, and such a heavy, heavy burden, to do while in public, too. It’s a lot to balance all at once,” Bowie said on Royally Obsessed.

Because of the worrying times surrounding Kate Middleton’s surgery recovery and King Charles’ cancer diagnosis, last weekend reports about a shock return to the royal family spread.

Prince Harry was said to be open to a temporary return to the royal family to support his sick father. The two were said to have had several “warm exchanges” when Harry visited his father, with their meeting being said to have lasted about 30 minutes.

Last week, Prince William and King Charles reportedly held several private meetings at Sandringham in Norfolk, as per the Mirror sources. That’s also where the monarch is recovering after receiving his weekly cancer treatments in London.

Harry to return?

The relationship between Prince William and Prince Harry has been at a low point for years, and they reportedly only speak to each other if absolutely necessary.

After the private meetings between William and his father at Sandringham last week, a source told the Mirror that there is “no chance” the future king would allow Harry to ever return to royal life.

“Whatever has been discussed between William and the King is private, but it is absolutely and categorically clear that he (William) would not allow Harry to return. He thought it was a bad idea at the time and he’s even more clear now,” the source said.

As Prince Harry returned to the UK to briefly see his father, the royal expert stated that William had “got used to Harry being rude, unkind, and attacking his wife.”

Meanwhile, it’s well-known that Harry had issues with Camilla already as a teenager, and in his book, Spare, he portrayed her as an alienating figure within the royal family. He also gave her quite the cruel nickname, the “other woman.”

Camilla was said to have been hurt by Harry’s words. But as her husband is now facing a difficult time with cancer treatments, and Harry briefly returned, she won’t back down.