Queen Camilla reveals 'secret' of lasting marriage to King Charles as couple marks their 20th anniversary
ROME, ITALY: Queen Camilla and King Charles III recently marked their 20th wedding anniversary during their state visit to Italy. The royal couple tied the knot in 2005, following Charles' divorce from the late Princess Diana in 1996 after 15 years of marriage.
During the official trip, Camilla opened up about what has kept their relationship strong over the past two decades.
Queen Camilla calls 'friendship' with King Charles key to royal marriage
Speaking to reporters in Italy on April 9, Queen Camilla reflected on the milestone.
“Twenty years, who could believe it was 20 years?” Camilla said, as per Hello! magazine. “What is the secret? I don’t know. I suppose it's just sort of friendship, really.”
She shared that their long-lasting bond comes from truly understanding each other. “Laughing at the same things,” she said. “Getting on with life.”
As part of her visit to an Italian school, the 77-year-old noted that she and Charles keep busy with royal duties.
“Doing this takes up most of the time,” said Camilla. “We are always going in different directions, like ships that pass in the night really. We whizz past each other. In fact we have got a bit of a catch-up this afternoon.”
Queen Camilla and King Charles skip gifts on wedding anniversary
Although the couple celebrated the anniversary together, their gift exchange was delayed due to their packed schedule.
“We are going to save that,” said Camilla. “Otherwise 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 said.
She also teased the gift she had planned for Charles from China, saying, “I have something,” before noting she chose a traditional 20th-anniversary gift. “Because it’s China.”
To honor the day, the King and Queen later attended a formal state banquet at the Palazzo Quirinale in Rome. Their trip, which ran from April 7 to April 11, marked their first international visit of the year, per People.
Queen Camilla's support for King Charles amid his cancer treatment
King Charles and Queen Camilla’s relationship began more than three decades before their marriage.
They first met in 1970, introduced by a mutual friend, but went on to marry other people. Their romance was rekindled years later, with Charles divorcing Princess Diana in 1996, a year before she died in a car crash in Paris.
The couple gradually made their relationship public and have supported each other through numerous royal milestones.
Camilla stood by Charles during his accession in September 2022 and, more recently, during his cancer diagnosis announced in February 2024.
Charles was hospitalized due to side effects from his treatment recently. Though the type of cancer remains undisclosed, Camilla has frequently provided health updates. During a visit to Ireland in March, she said, “He is doing very well.”
