But now the couple has reportedly taken a break at a private location Down Under, to help them unwind from the pressures of the last few months – prior to their upcoming duties for the Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast this week.
‘It’s been a tough few months for them, there’s no doubt about that,’ says a palace insider.
‘As well as the release of the leaks which has really caused a lot of damage to Charles, the senior royals’ marriage is under more strain than ever.
‘They’ve also been under a lot of pressure to answer questions about Simon Dorante-Day, the man who has made claims that he’s their secret son.
‘They’ve remained very quiet on the whole subject, which of course only adds to the mystery and suspicion surrounding it all.
But now that it looks like they could all meet while Charles and Camilla are in Australia for the Commonwealth Games, that’s only adding to the weight on their shoulders.
‘So, it’s no surprise that they were keen to have a mini break before their official duties for the Games began, a bit of R&R so they can unwind and relax.
‘It feels like forever since they’ve been able to just get away and forget all the stress of the palace, which is probably why their marriage is under so much strain. With Camilla spending so much time away and them being pulled in a million directions with royal duties, they see each other so rarely,’ they added.
‘This getaway is the perfect chance for them to reconnect. It’s also a good time for them to recharge their batteries – with even more speculation coming over their love-child scandal and more fallout from the recent royal leaks. Things might even get more stressful for the pair,’ the insider claimed.
But apparently during the mini break, Camilla and Charles reportedly spent time apart, before having to put on a united front in public at the Commonwealth Games.
Previously, it was rumoured Camilla was due to stay back in Britain due to her dislike for long-haul travel and amid rumours their ‘secret love child’ Simon was filing court documents to coincide with their trip.
In February this year, Simon told New Idea that he was planning to force the prince and duchess to answer his questions and that Camilla was avoiding landing on Aussie soil for that very reason.
But Charles reportedly went into ‘damage control’ and ‘demanded’ that Camilla attend the Games with him.
‘With reports revealing that the Commonwealth nations are under no obligation to accept the Prince of Wales as their head after the Queen passes away, Charles went in damage-control mode,’ a sourcetold New Idea.
‘He knows it would be a bad look for Camilla to not come and play the role of supporting wife on this trip and has demanded that she join him – he does not want to jeopardise his inherited right to become king or head of the Commonwealth,’ they added.
Charles and Camilla have been feeling the heat since details were leaked that there was a ‘cold war’ between Camilla and Her Majesty and that the Queen ‘could not stand to be in the same room as her’ and told her son that she wanted ‘nothing to do with that wicked woman.’
There were also claims that there were attempts between Charles and Camilla to ‘smear’ Princess Diana after her death.
‘The first hurdle, they agreed, was to demythologise Diana by portraying her as a manipulative hysteric,’ said an insider.
‘And, here, they were fortunate. Since Diana’s death, [journalist] Penny Junor had recast her book to portray the princess as an unbalanced and unfaithful wife, suffering from borderline personality disorder, who had compelled Charles to return to his true love.’
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