The King is lucky to have four women to rely on (Image: Getty)
The first few years of the King’s reign have been punctuated by several dramatic highs as he has thrown himself into the role while seeing his personal popularity soar. In equal measure, however, King Charles, 76, has been navigating huge personal issues, from his cancer diagnosis to watching family drama play out on the world’s stage.
Succeeding the longest-reigning monarch in British history, who was universally adored for her dedication to duty, was never going to be an easy act to follow, but it’s fair to say that her son is succeeding.
This triumph is largely down to the King’s iron-clad work ethic and unshakeable determination to do good. But it would be remiss not to mention that his success is also thanks to the unwavering support of those around him, particularly four “feisty females”.
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As the busy royal season prepares to pick up again this year with events such as Trooping the Colour, Garter Day and Royal Ascot, the monarch will surely be boosted by the presence of the Queen, the Princess of Wales, the Duchess of Edinburgh and the Princess Royal.
It is strong relationships like these which have been fundamental to the King, former BBC royal correspondent Jennie Bond notes. “Much has been made of Charles’s sometimes abrasive relationship with his macho father, but he has also spent much of his life surrounded by strong women, starting with his grandmother, whom he adored, right through to his mother, his sister and his wife.
“I think he feels very lucky to have these feisty females around him. And now he also has the support of the Princess of Wales and the Duchess of Edinburgh — two very popular members of the Royal Family.”
The Queen is a huge pillar of support for King Charles (Image: Getty)
After decades of public ups and downs, Camilla has always been by the King’s side, his biggest source of encouragement and his dearest friend. Over the past 15 months, she has helped to ground him in the wake of his shock cancer diagnosis, reassuring him that personal health is more important than official appearances.
“Camilla gives him everything. Love, loyalty, indulgence, calm and laughter,” Ms Bond says. “She supports him in everything he does: each speech he makes, each joint official visit, each trip round the garden to see how things are growing. They share interests and humour — but she also gives him (and herself) a bit of space from time to time, and stays in her own house, near Highgrove. That’s a sign of a truly comfortable and strong relationship.”
At an age where most people have retired, the Queen is campaigning for literacy, osteoporosis, for the welfare of animals, and is also not afraid to tackle sensitive topics such as domestic abuse and rape.
The King and Queen have been married since 2005 (Image: Getty)
Their Majesties’ partnership is realistic and not built on the unobtainable fairy-tale perfection that coloured the early days of Charles and Diana’s union. After both going through high-profile divorces, their relationship is one of hard-won loyalty, mutual respect and serves as an enduring example of what it truly means to have a modern monarchy.
And, as the King not only rules Britain, but 14 other Commonwealth countries as well, he has been lucky to have someone who has accustomed herself to her constitutional duties so well. Ultimately proving more and more each day that theirs will go down in history as one of the great royal love stories.
“Queen Camilla, long the ‘non-negotiable’ person in his life, represented him when he was unable to attend some engagements and has indeed been his ‘strength and stay’ in this traumatic period,” leading royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams tells The Express as he refers to the famous quote Queen Elizabeth II used to pay tribute to Prince Philip in 1997.
“Once reviled as the third person in the marriage between Charles and Diana, she is now highly respected. Queen Elizabeth’s wish that she be known as Queen Consort was decisive, and her work for charity, including victims of domestic abuse and violence, has been remarkable,” he adds.
The King and Queen’s modern union is one for the history books (Image: Getty)
Next on the list is the Princess of Wales. Bound by their shared love of art and all things culture, Kate is the daughter Charles never had. In recent times, they have been brought together by an altogether darker bond: cancer.
“Catherine now has a shared experience with the King that neither wanted, but which has brought them closer than ever,” Ms Bond says. “Cancer, the great leveller, is something they have been going through together, and it has made their relationship curiously unique.”
As for what the King loves most about Kate, whom he has called his “darling daughter-in-law”, the expert is clear that there is a mutual respect between the two.
“The King knows what a huge asset Catherine is to the monarchy and how important she is to William. I think there is genuine affection between them. He must be so proud and happy to know that his son has a wife who will support and love him… just as Camilla supports and loves Charles. It bodes well for the future.”
The King has called the Princess of Wales his “darling daughter-in-law” (Image: Getty)
Another woman who is essential to the line-up of senior royals is The Duchess of Edinburgh.
Sophie, 60, has tirelessly championed campaigns against avoidable blindness, gender equality and awareness against sexual violence in conflict zones, often with little fuss or fanfare. She is frequently called the King’s ‘secret weapon’ and continues to see a steady increase in the attention she commands.
Noting that the Duchess is one of only four working royals who are under the age of 70, Mr Fitzwilliams explains: “Sophie’s path was, initially, anything but smooth.”
The Duchess’s position in the Royal Family is hugely important (Image: Getty)
He continues: “She and her husband, Prince Edward, had originally hoped to combine their careers with royal duties, but this did not prove possible. However, especially in recent years, she has thrived as a working royal. She became close to Queen Elizabeth and does a considerable amount of charitable work – with only four working royals under 70, her help is pivotal.
The expert’s praise is echoed by Ms Bond: “Sophie has come into her own in recent years. She is now one of the most trusted women in the King’s circle and is viewed as a senior and highly respected member of the Royal Family.
“She is also hugely relatable and a big hit with the people she meets as she goes about her work. She has a light touch and an informality that goes down well with the public. Charles always seems completely at ease with her. She is a sister-in-law he can trust and depend on.”
The King and The Duchess of Edinburgh are incredibly close (Image: Getty)
Perhaps the most important support for King Charles is the woman who has been by his side for 74 years – his younger sister, Princess Anne. “The Princess Royal is his no-nonsense sibling: utterly loyal to the Crown, a consummate professional, someone Charles can lean on and turn to in good times and bad,” Ms Bond praises.
This close-knit relationship has lasted a lifetime and previously saw the King hand his sister the prestigious role of Gold Stick in Waiting at his coronation, making her the person responsible for the personal safety of the monarch. “She is solid and completely reliable,” Ms Bond continues. “I think Anne has become her brother’s confidante more than ever since he became King. She knows him inside and out, and he can tell her anything. She is a valuable sounding board and a source of infinitely sensible advice.”
Princess Anne’s famous no-nonsense approach is what makes her so respected, not only by the public but by her elder brother, too. She doesn’t suffer fools gladly and has a reputation for speaking her mind, including against the King’s plans for a slimmed-down monarchy, as she quite simply said it “doesn’t sound like a good idea.”
The King and The Princess Royal have shared a lifelong bond (Image: Getty)
“Princess Anne has long been one of the most popular and respected royals and is invariably the hardest-working,” says Mr Fitzwilliams. “She is famous for her work with Save the Children and also her equestrian skills, which her daughter Zara has inherited. She likes it low-key and she gets it done.”
The wall of strength these four women have built up is all the more potent with the departure of three working members of the Firm, Ms Bond notes. “With Andrew, Harry and Meghan now out of the picture, these four strong women hold crucial roles in the Royal Family. The King needs them and knows he can trust them… and they are all devoted to him, and to the Crown.”
So with the busiest and most public-facing appearances fast approaching for the King, he will be hoping that everything goes off without a hitch, and with these four strong women by his side, there is no doubt he will be a success.