Friends of Queen Camilla “have never been so worried” about Prince Charles this year.

According to the Daily Mail's Rebecca English, Prince Charles was diagnosed with the shocking cancer earlier this year, discovered on January 26 after undergoing routine prostate surgery at a London clinic.

English added that Camilla's concern was “not because the king's prognosis was particularly poor, but, it should be stressed, because on a human level, cancer is truly frightening for both patient and partner.”

According to a source who spoke to English, “When I visited Her Majesty in the hospital after her first prostate surgery, she was very relaxed. 'Of course we were worried, but it was a very normal procedure and there was actually a lot of laughter at her bedside.'

But just three or four days later, the couple was told that cancer had been discovered. They spent the weekend together in Sandringham, received the news privately, and publicly announced the diagnosis on Monday, February 5.

Despite this devastating news, Camilla, who turned 77 yesterday, insisted on going ahead with her planned royal engagement to open Maggie's Cancer Care Center in London while Charles begins treatment. 'The public had no idea what she was going through. She was in front of the cameras, speaking to patients, survivors, and even the families of those who lost their lives to this terrible disease. She didn't even blink. It takes a lot of guts.”

Another friend said in English, “In private, people had never seen her so worried. Forget for a moment who you are. Look at it on a human level. Her beloved husband was facing a very serious The fight of his life. It was very difficult.”

However, English writes, “After a brief period of turmoil, she picked herself up.” Camilla, English added, “had always been a prolific letter writer,” but began her signature in the letter with the phrase “Onwards and upwards!”

As Charles continued his battle with cancer, Camilla became his fierce protector: “A person who knew Prince Charles and Camilla well told English: 'I have never known a man to be so patient. His Majesty is not one to sit still and do nothing,” a person who knows Charles and Camilla well told English. But it is fair to say that his wife did not always hold the same opinion,” he said. There is really only one voice in this room that he listens to. It is not the doctors. She is the only one who can convince him that he needs to pace himself in his recovery, and she is quite decisive when necessary. She has put her foot down as much as she can in the last few months.”

They added poignantly, “They were always a team, but now you couldn't get a cigarette paper between them.”

Camilla spent her birthday yesterday at the opening of Parliament with Charles, and a close friend told English, “Not the best way she would choose to spend her birthday, but you never hear a word of complaint. But I don't hear a single complaint. For someone who was not born into the royal family, she has a very strong sense of duty and a disposition to deal with it."

The family's ”very strong sense of duty and a very strong disposition to deal with it.