Camilla to 'encourage' King Charles to go on walks says Levin

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Camilla joined a group of female royals dubbed the “gang of four” in the immediate aftermath of Prince Philip’s death to provide company and support to the Queen, royal biographer Angela Levin has claimed. In her newly-released book titled ‘Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall: From Outcast to Future Queen Consort’, the author wrote: “Soon after Prince Philip passed away, what once seemed impossible became a reality.

“Camilla was chosen as one of the four women who would try to help the newly widowed Queen feel less alone.

“They were called by some as the ‘gang of four’ or the ‘significant four’.”

Referring to the lonely figure cut by Queen Elizabeth II during the Duke of Edinburgh’s funeral held in the midst of lockdown restrictions at St George’s Chapel, Ms Levin went on to say it was “no surprise” Her Majesty reported welcomed this initiative.

She wrote: “Her Majesty is well known for being stoic but the sad, empty look in her eyes was unforgettable, and it was no surprise that she accepted the suggestion of a visiting rota to help her raise her spirits.”

The author stressed the importance of the inclusion of Camilla in this group of women hugely beloved by the late sovereign, as it signals just how much her relationship with the Queen and the rest of the UK has evolved over the years.

Ms Levin wrote: “Bringing Camilla on board – a woman the Queen had refused to see or speak to for years and who had been blamed for breaking up Prince Charles’s marriage to Diana, Princess of Wales – was a sign that the Duchess of Cornwall has survived the brickbats, obstacles and insults, and that finally the Queen has admitted to enjoying her company and accepts her for who she is.”

Prince Philip, the Queen’s husband of 73 years, died on April 9 last year at Windsor Castle.

The late monarch, who had spent most of the coronavirus pandemic self-isolating with the Duke of Edinburgh and a handful of their staff in Berkshire, was said to be “coping” following his funeral. 

However, the Mirror first reported close family members had agreed on joining forces to make sure the elderly sovereign would receive regular visits.

The team included Sophie, Countess of Wessex, Kate, the now Princess of Wales, Princess Anne and Camilla.

A source was reported saying in mid-April last year: “The Queen will not be alone.

“She will have others who care about her deeply and want to be there to support her in her most pressing hour.

“In typical fashion the Queen has insisted she is coping and despite the suggestion she had prepared herself for this day to come, everyone is well aware there is nothing like the experience when it comes.”

Camilla and King Charles are believed to have been regular visitors of the Queen and Prince Philip throughout the pandemic.

Similarly, Sophie and Prince Edward regularly headed to Windsor for socially-distanced meetings with the elderly royals at the height of lockdown.

Recalling one of their visits to castle grounds, the Countess previously told The Telegraph: “We used to see them stand on the balcony, which was about 20 feet up in the air.

“We’d see them waving. We’d shout at them and they’d shout back at us.

“It always seemed to be windy, so we could barely hear each other.”

While dealing privately with her immense loss, the Queen resumed her royal duties immediately after the end of the royal mourning period.

On April 27, she held remote audiences from Windsor Castle with foreign ambassadors.

During the coronavirus lockdown, the late monarch started adopting technology to be able to still meet people and carry out her work.

This helped her to still fulfil her duties even after she started experiencing mobility issues in the autumn of last year.

Despite her worsening health, the Queen made several in-person appearances this year, including two days before her death when she met Prime Minister Liz Truss to ask her to form a new Government.

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