Queen Camilla Has Had a “Powerful Effect” on King Charles—and One of Her “Greatest Impacts” Is Because of This Trait

Rachel BurchfieldSun, July 19, 2026 at 2:25 PM UTC

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Queen Camilla and King Charles at Trooping the Colour on June 13, 2026.Credit: GettyThe Gist -

Queen Camilla turned 79 years old on July 17, and she celebrated the occasion privately at Highgrove House, King Charles’s country home.

Charles and Camilla have been in love off-and-on for over 50 years, after first meeting in the early 1970s.

Now married for 21 years, body language expert Darren Stanton tells InStyle why Camilla has had a “powerful effect” on the monarch.

As Queen Camilla celebrated her 79th birthday on July 17, she did so privately at Highgrove House, her husband King Charles’s country home.

Just one week prior, Charles and Camilla welcomed Prince Harry, Meghan Markle, and their children Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet to Highgrove—the first time Charles had seen his daughter-in-law and grandchildren since 2022, four years ago. Camilla was on hand to offer her husband of 21 years “moral support,” and Camilla has long shaped Charles’s stability and confidence, according to body language expert Darren Stanton.

King Charles and Queen Camilla on May 11, 2026.Credit: Getty

Charles and Camilla met in the early 1970s and dated for a time before eventually marrying other people—he, Princess Diana, and she, Andrew Parker Bowles. The two continued their relationship during their respective marriages, which both dissolved in the 1990s. Charles and Camilla eventually married in 2005, and Stanton tells InStyle that Camilla was “deliberately cautious” in those early days as Duchess of Cornwall.

“By stepping back and allowing him to take the lead, she helped reinforce his position while easing the public into their new dynamic,” Stanton says. “Her willingness to follow his pace rather than dominate the spotlight gave Charles the space to settle into their partnership publicly.”

King Charles and Queen Camilla on April 27, 2026.Credit: Getty

Stanton adds that “Camilla’s gradual, measured introduction into royal duties had a powerful effect on Charles. Her strategic restraint and polite, composed demeanor helped create a calm atmosphere around him during a time when public opinion was still shifting.”

“As she slowly opened up to the nation, it allowed Charles to appear more relaxed and assured beside her, strengthening his image as a future monarch supported by a dependable partner,” he continues on behalf of Betfair Casino.

King Charles and Queen Camilla on April 21, 2026.Credit: Getty

Stanton says that one of Camilla’s “greatest impacts” on the king “has come through her humor,” he explains. “Her willingness to laugh at herself—and the genuine laughter she often triggers from Charles—has given the public rare glimpses of his lighter, more human side. Those candid moments, sparked by Camilla’s natural warmth and authenticity, have helped soften Charles’s public persona and allowed people to connect with him on a much more emotional level.”

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Royal historian Catherine Mayer told Hello! that Camilla “is a woman who really was very happy not having a career, and who liked to potter and do things that interested her, and now suddenly she has this huge role. She’s lived a lot of her life in different directions to most of us.”

Camilla, she added, “is the person who can get him from a dark mood into the bright sunshine. A long time ago, Charles decided that Camilla was a non-negotiable in his life, not just because he’s happier with her, but because she is so essential to him that he really only functions at full capacity when she is part of his life.”

King Charles and Queen Camilla at Royal Ascot on June 18, 2026.Credit: Getty

King Charles and Queen Camilla in Northern Ireland on May 20, 2026.Credit: Getty

Royal biographer Gyles Brandreth told the outlet that Camilla brings Charles “contentment. He is at ease with himself, which makes him able to do what he does with conviction and without anxiety. They are a superb partnership.”

Camilla “has gone from being seen as a threat to the monarchy to being one of its absolute stalwarts,” Mayer added.

“People who are successful in the royal family are those who understand that it’s a long game—you can’t change public opinion overnight or even in a year,” she continued. “Camilla’s steadfastness is at the heart of it. The fact that she is the kind of person who can deal with the level of adversity that she had and not be pulled out of shape by it…that is astonishing.”

King Charles and Queen Camilla at Royal Ascot on June 19, 2026.Credit: Getty

Stanton adds that “Camilla’s calm presence has long served as the grounding force for Charles. At countless engagements, he’s been seen subtly looking for her in a crowd, relying on her proximity as a source of reassurance.”

“This steady, unobtrusive support has played a crucial part in strengthening Charles’s confidence—a dynamic that has become even more evident since he became king,” Stanton says.

on InStyle

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