Queen Camilla has faced a series of difficulties in recent weeks. After returning from a royal tour of Australia and Samoa with King Charles, the 76-year-old Queen was advised by doctors to pull out of several official engagements due to a lingering chest infection. Adding to her distress was the death of her beloved rescue dog, Beth, leaving Camilla reportedly heartbroken.
Speaking to The Sun’s Royal Exclusive show, royal photographer Arthur Edwards highlighted her absence from significant events, including the Remembrance Day services at the Royal Albert Hall and the Cenotaph in London. “And for her to miss those—obviously the reason was because she’s coughing all the time, she didn’t want to embarrass anybody—that would have been tragic,” Edwards said.
Camilla’s chest infection has caused persistent symptoms, impacting her ability to attend public appearances. The Queen was also advised to skip the Royal Variety Performance, a televised event, to avoid disrupting the occasion. A source told the Daily Mail, “She didn’t want to spoil anyone else’s enjoyment with her cough.” The source added that Camilla is “on good form” but still dealing with the effects of her illness, coughing whenever she speaks.
Camilla’s grief over Beth’s passing has compounded these challenges. The Jack Russell Terrier, a rescue dog she adopted years ago, held a special place in her heart. Edwards recounted a touching memory of Beth: “When she got out of the car and saw the dogs, she went over and played with the dogs, and it made a better picture than the rest of the engagement.” He added, “They were special to her and also to The King. I mean, The King absolutely loves animals. She would be upset about that.”
Despite these emotional and physical setbacks, Queen Camilla remains focused on her royal duties. “Her main role is obviously to support The King, and she will be getting on with it now,” Edwards explained. He also suggested that Camilla might consider adopting another rescue dog in the future.
As Queen Camilla recovers and resumes her commitments, her resilience shines through. Balancing personal loss and health struggles with her responsibilities to the Royal Family, she continues to embody dedication and strength in the face of adversity.