Camilla – who turns 72 today – made the touching gesture in relation to a project close to Charles’ heart. In 2007, the Prince of Wales undertook the mammoth task of renovating an old estate called Dumfries House in Ayrshire, Scotland. The plan was to transform the inside to make use of it for tours and as a wedding venue, as well as to build homes nearby and renovating an old farm building into a guesthouse.

This was in an effort to save the house’s priceless furniture collection from getting auctioned off and in order to provide jobs and investment to the local area.

Such was the prince’s dedication that he borrowed £20million via his charitable foundation to purchase the house.

He had to work hard fundraising to pay back the colossal sum, as well as paying for all the renovation work.

After much of the work had been done, Alan Titchmarsh, who was presenting 2012 ITV documentary entitled ‘The Royal Renovation’ asked if the prince’s wife and sons had been to visit the house.

Charles replied: “Not my sons, no. I don’t think it’s quite their thing… yet!”

Mr Titchmarsh laughed and added: “But the Duchess?”

Charles said: “Yes, she has, absolutely. Not for a bit, so she hasn’t seen the total transformation yet.

“Perhaps this summer, I think she might.”

Mr Titchmarsh then asked whether Charles would be apprehensive showing the Duchess around, saying things like: “Well, I hope you like this one…”

Charles said he would be, joking that she might say: “How could you have done that?”

This lighthearted interaction reveals how Camilla made the effort to go and see the work Charles is so proud of while renovation was still ongoing, whereas the princes may not have seen it as “their thing” at the time.

It also gives a fascinating insight into Charles and Camilla’s relationship – how he really cares what she thinks and that she is not afraid to express her opinion.

The Duke and Duchess of Cornwall married in 2005 in a civil ceremony in St George’s Chapel, Windsor Castle.

Both were divorcees, with Charles’ first marriage being to Princess Diana and Camilla’s first marriage to Andrew Parker-Bowles.

The Dumfries House project is now considered to be one of Charles’ top successes, as it has helped pump funding into the area and brought people back to a town that was previously dwindling in size.

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