Queen Camilla Delivers Devastating News Weeks After Charles’ ‘Terrible’ Health Update: ‘Deeply Saddened’

The health of basically all the members of the British royal family has been scrutinized as of late. King Charles is not that young anymore, and he’s still battling cancer. Queen Camilla is around his age. And Kate Middleton just battled cancer last year, so it’s no wonder people are interested in how she’s doing. That’s perhaps why, every time there’s an update about any of them, people are really paying attention.

The latest sad update, however, doesn’t have anything to do with the health of anyone in the British royal family, but someone Queen Camilla was close to. The Queen posted a tribute to her close friend Dame Jilly Cooper, who passed away at 88 during a fall. The two women were close friends, sharing a love for both literature and dogs.

“I was deeply saddened to learn of Dame Jilly’s death last night,” Camilla said in a statement. “Very few writers get to be a legend in their own lifetime, but Jilly was one, creating a whole new genre of literature and making it her own through a career that spanned over five decades.”

The Queen and Dame Jilly Cooper recently saw each other at The Queen’s Reading Room Festival in September. “In person, she was a wonderfully witty and compassionate friend to me and so many – and it was a particular pleasure to see her at my Queen’s Reading Room Festival, where she was, as ever, a star of the show,” the statement continued. “I join my husband The King in sending our thoughts and sympathies to all her family. And may her hereafter be filled with impossibly handsome men and devoted dogs.”

Ironically, Cooper’s famous hero, Rupert Campbell Black, was reportedly partly based on Queen Camilla’s ex-husband, Andrew Parker Bowles. Whether that ever came up between the two or not, Cooper also reminisced on their friendship, telling MailOnline: “We chatted about how much we love each other. I’ve been very lucky… We’ve known each other a long time. We live near each other.”

This sad news comes after the King recently discussed the perils of aging. During a visit to the Midland Metropolitan University Hospital in Smethwick, the BBC reported that after a woman remarked to the King that she was “wearing out,” King Charles responded: “That’s the terrible thing I’m discovering. Bits don’t work so well when you get past 70.”

King Charles’ cancer is reportedly not curable, but it is the kind of cancer that can be managed. Writer and associate editor of the Daily Telegraph, Camilla Tominey, recently said. “The talk now is that he may die ‘with’ cancer, but not ‘of’ cancer following a rigorous treatment program.”

But the King’s health is reportedly also getting worse. RadarOnline recently reported about Charles, “He is now shuffling around with a cane – and hitting the bottle, and in particular whisky, to numb the pain and despair he feels,” adding that “his health has deteriorated significantly in recent months.”

Age catches up to us all, even the royals.

Queen Camilla, 79, makes sobering comment: ‘Not sure I’ll be here’

Her Royal Highness Queen Camilla spoke ahead of her 79th birthday

Friday saw Queen Camilla celebrate her 79th birthday, and despite being in fine form for her big day, the royal made a sobering statement earlier this week.

Celebrating the 40th anniversary of the Royal Osteoporosis Society, Her Majesty made an emotional speech about the disease that killed both her mother and grandmother, touching on her own mortality, too. Watch the video below.

“The terrible problem [is] that osteoporosis is a silent thief hiding in plain sight,” Queen Camilla said at the anniversary of the society. “It wreaks its havoc deep inside our bodies until, too late, we realise that the damage has been done,” Her Royal Highness added.

“Without being aware of it, our bones have lost their density and strength until suddenly, a simple, everyday act – picking up a grandchild, slipping over or even sneezing – turns into a life-altering event as our bones shatter.”

The Queen added: “In 2016, many of us gathered in this very spot to mark the 30th anniversary of the Royal Osteoporosis Society. On that occasion, I said this: ‘I can only hope and pray that, with your help, the next 30 years will find a cure for osteoporosis, so that future generations will be spared its ravages.'”

Referencing her hopes of a decade ago, Queen Camilla continued: “We are not quite there yet, but we are well on the way, and, for that, I would like to thank you all here for everything that you have done for this charity. Together, we can – and we will – see the end of osteoporosis, forever.”

She ended her speech with a sobering thought. “Here’s to another 40 years. Not sure I’ll be here, someone else will be though.”

Queen Camilla’s history with osteoporosis

It was the loss of both her mother Rosalind, at age 72, and her grandmother, Sonia, at 86, to the crippling bone disease that prompted Queen Camilla to become patron of the then-National Osteoporosis Society in 1997, and then its president in 2001.

In a 2021 interview with Gloria Hunniford for the BBC to mark World Osteoporosis Day, Queen Camilla recalled the most poignant memory of her mother’s battle.

“I remember when a friend of hers came in one day just to give her a hug, her rib broke,” she explained. “It was as bad as that.”

Camilla went on to tell how her late mother’s age was said to be to blame. “My mother, I think, went to see everybody you could possibly think of, and they all said the same thing – ‘Sorry, you’re old’. We just watched her shrinking before our eyes,” she said.

The condition also affected Camilla and the rest of her family. “It was terrible,” she said. “Because we didn’t know anything about it, so at some point we thought, ‘Well, is she making a great fuss about all this?'”

Nonetheless, Camilla added that her mother’s condition was so bad that “occasionally when she moved or you touched her, she literally screamed”.

On the importance of educating the younger generations on the illness, Her Majesty told Gloria: “I think we all think we’re immortal, don’t we, when we’re young. I think I’d like to see more young people being educated. I’d love to see more young people understand it, not just thinking, you know, ‘poor old bats, we’re going to get old and that’s what’s going to happen to us’. But actually understanding what actually happens and how they can prevent it.”

Prince Harry delivers 2-word update on father King Charles’ health after private reunion

After reuniting with his father King Charles earlier this month for the first time in almost a year, Prince Harry is said to have shared a rare update on the monarch’s health and opened up about his family with Meghan Markle following their recent trip to the UK.

The royal reportedly told guests at the Time100 Sports Gala in New York City on Thursday that his father, who shared his cancer diagnosis with the world in February 2024, is “doing great”, as reported by Page Six. Charles previously shared a positive update last December, revealing that his treatment would be reduced at the start of the year.

Prior to his UK trip this month, Harry last met up with his estranged father in September 2025 when he was seen arriving at Charles’ London residence, Clarence House. While Harry was back in the UK for the one-year countdown to the 2027 Invictus Games at the start of the month, HELLO! confirmed the royal met with his father Charles and Queen Camilla at Highgrove House on 10 July for a private reunion.

The Duke of Sussex was joined by his wife, Meghan Markle, and their two children, Prince Archie, seven, and Princess Lilibet, five. The Sussexes have since returned to their lives in Montecito, with an insider telling Page Six that Harry said they were “happy” to be home.

The Sussexes in the UK

Meghan and the kids jetted to the UK alongside Harry this month, but kept a very low profile for their visit. Meghan had been scheduled to join Harry at a one-year-to-go Invictus event at Birmingham’s NEC, but was unable to attend due to security concerns.

The Duchess of Sussex was also absent for Harry’s other public engagements during the trip. A source told People Meghan is “very supportive” of Harry, and added that she felt a “lot of sadness” in not being able to be by his side throughout the week.

As for whether Meghan and Harry coming to the UK as a family could become a regular thing, Simon Vigar, a royal commentator and author of The Four Wives of Windsor, said on HELLO!’s A Right Royal podcast: “Who knows? I don’t know. I would have thought they’d come over once a year for the time being. Christmas is difficult, isn’t it?

“Because that then brings William and Catherine into it. And that rift is still very much ongoing, which is a terrible shame. But, maybe once or twice a year, they’ll come over.”

Charles’ health update

Charles was diagnosed with cancer after a hospital procedure for benign prostate enlargement, a statement from the Palace in 2024 shared. Nearly two years on from his diagnosis, and after returning to his public duties, Charles appeared on Channel 4’s Stand Up To Cancer TV programme in December where he shared that his “schedule of cancer treatment can be reduced in the New Year.”

Buckingham Palace elaborated: “His Majesty has responded exceptionally well to treatment and his doctors advise that ongoing measures will now move into a precautionary phase. This position will be continuously monitored and reviewed to protect and prioritise his continued recovery.

The statement continued: “As The King has said, this milestone on his recovery journey is ‘a great personal blessing.'”

Queen Camilla Has Hilarious Response After Being Reminded That She’s Quickly Approaching Her 80th Birthday

The queen typically doesn’t think birthdays are a “big deal,” her friend and royal biographer Gyles Brandreth said.

The Gist

Queen Camilla turned 79 years old on July 17, and a new portrait was released to mark the occasion.
In the photo, Camilla wears a diamond and sapphire butterfly brooch given to Queen Elizabeth as a gift in 1977, nearly 50 years ago.
Camilla “looks even more beautiful now than she did when I first met her,” her facialist of 20 years Deborah Mitchell said of the queen.

Queen Camilla turned 79 years old on July 17, and to mark the occasion, a new portrait was released—where Camilla wore a touching tribute to her late mother-in-law Queen Elizabeth in the form of a nearly 50-year-old butterfly brooch.

In the portrait—which was taken in the State Drawing Room at Hillsborough Castle in Northern Ireland—the queen wore a blue Fiona Clare ensemble, a blue agate and 18-carat yellow gold Van Cleef & Arpels bracelet, and the diamond and sapphire butterfly brooch, given as a gift to Queen Elizabeth in 1977.

“Happy Birthday to The Queen!” the accompanying post read. “Her Majesty has marked her birthday with a renewed commitment to supporting children’s literacy, with the announcement that every Year 6 and P6 child across the U.K. will be gifted a special edition of the bestselling book Impossible Creatures by award-winning author Katherine Rundell this Christmas. Led by the National Literacy Trust, of which The Queen is patron, the program celebrates the National Year of Reading 2026.”

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The Prince and Princess of Wales joined in the chorus wishing Camilla a happy birthday, writing on social media, “Wishing Her Majesty the Queen a very happy birthday!” As she spent her birthday privately at Highgrove House—her husband King Charles’s country home—her facialist Deborah Mitchell said of the queen, “I think she looks even more beautiful now than she did when I first met her.”

Mitchell—who has been giving Camilla her famous bee sting facials for 20 years, according to Hello!—doesn’t take full credit for the queen’s glow. “I’m not saying that’s just down to me—it’s down to her and how she looks after herself,” Mitchell told the outlet. “But using the right skincare is always good.”

“In all the years I’ve spent with her now, she’s been absolutely incredible,” Mitchell added. “I had no expectations that she was going to be as lovely as she was. She always asks about my family, and I can never wait to see her.”

As she approaches her 80th birthday—and busier than ever in her royal role—royal biographer Gyles Brandreth told Hello! of his good friend, “Just as everybody else is beginning to wind down, they [the king and queen] are having to wind up.”

“You might think she could slow down a bit, but they are having to quicken the pace,” Brandreth added. “But I never get the impression that she is doing it reluctantly.”

It was Brandreth who organized a star-studded lunch for Camilla’s 75th birthday. That said, the queen often sees her birthday as a time to spend private moments with her two children, Tom Parker Bowles and Laura Lopes, and her grandchildren.

“I don’t think she sees birthdays as a big deal, but family is very important to her, so that is her kind of celebration,” he continued. “When you say, ‘Next year is the big one,’ she pulls a face and says, ‘Thank you for reminding me.'”

Of life during the last year of her 70s, “I think the truth is, she’s in a good place, though when you say to her, ‘Well done, it’s going so well,’ she shrugs and says, ‘Well, on we go,'” Brandreth said.

King Charles ‘deeply saddened’ as he issues joint message with Queen Camilla

His Majesty King Charles III and his wife Queen Camilla have released a joint statement of condolences following sad news from Qatar

His Majesty King Charles III and Queen Camilla have released a joint statement after learning of sad news from Qatar. The monarch and his wife have shared their “heartfelt condolences” after news broke of the death of His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Father Amir of the State of Qatar.

A message released by the palace read: “Their Majesties The King and Queen were deeply saddened to learn of the death of His Highness Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani, Father Amir of the State of Qatar.

“His Highness dedicated many years of distinguished service to Qatar, guiding the nation through a transformative period in its history. His leadership, vision and commitment to the welfare of the Qatari people were widely admired, both within Qatar and around the world.

“Their Majesties extend their most heartfelt condolences to His Highness Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, Amir of the State of Qatar, to the members of the Al Thani Family, and to the people of Qatar at this time of loss and mourning.

“The thoughts and prayers of the Royal Family are with all those who grieve his loss.”

Family reunion

Highgrove was the setting for a family reunion
This sad message comes after a buoyant Friday, when the monarch got to see his grandchildren, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet for the first time since 2022.

HELLO! confirmed that Harry travelled to his father, King Charles’ Gloucestershire residence, Highgrove House, where he was hosted by the monarch and Queen Camilla. For the occasion, Harry was joined by his wife, Meghan Markle, and the pair’s two children, Archie, seven, and Lilibet, five. The royal children were last in town for the late Queen’s Platinum Jubilee celebrations in June 2022.

This sad message comes after a buoyant Friday, when the monarch got to see his grandchildren, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet for the first time since 2022.

No pictures or details were released from the meeting but perhaps this was a big first step in Prince Harry rebuilding his broken bond with his family.

In recent years, Harry’s relationship with his brother, Prince William has become fractured. Harry’s memoir, Spare, even detailed a physical altercation between him and William at Nottingham Cottage in 2019. It is not believed that William and Harry met while Harry was in London.

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