The King and Queen have had a long and enduring romance spanning 35 years. 

But the couple, who celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary during a recent trip to Italy, seem more in love than ever.

Camilla, 77, has been Charles’s rock following the death of his mother, his succession to the throne and his cancer diagnosis.

Alongside attending events together, behind the scenes the Queen has been looking after the head of the royal family, 76, too, from encouraging him to eat a little lunch despite his belief it’s a ‘waste of time’ and ensuring he relaxes as much as possible, enjoying long walks at her country pile Birkhall.

And even his sister – Princess Anne, 74, has noticed the difference Camilla has made in her brother’s life. 

Speaking to Tatler the Princess Royal praised Camilla’s competence in her role has been essential to helping the king.

‘Her understanding of her role and how much difference it makes to the King has been absolutely outstanding,’ she expressed.

King Charles, 76, and Queen Camilla, 77, who celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary during a recent trip to Italy, seem more in love than ever and continue to be each other’s rocks

Anne added that she was in ‘no doubt that made the difference for him’ as he took charge. 

‘I’m sure lots of people do say to her what a difference she’s made, but that is really true,’ she said before adding that she has known Camilla for a long time and described her as ‘incredibly generous and understanding’.

Princess Anne’s revelation comes after Camilla gave a sweet nod to her marriage to Charles 20 years ago. 

During their four day visit to Italy earlier this month, the Queen made a romantic gesture to mark their anniversary.

Arriving at the Italian Parliament in Rome, where her husband was due to make an historic speech, she sported the same elegant ivory Anna Valentine silk coat and dress that she wore for their civil wedding ceremony at Windsor’s Guildhall on April 9 2005. 

It had been repurposed with additional embroidery by Beth Somerville, an alumni of Charles’ charitable King’s Foundation to highlight the importance of sustainability – a key theme of their four-day state visit to Italy – but otherwise looked identical to the original.

Princess Anne, 74, has been full of praise for the queen, revealing her competence in her new role has been essential to supporting the king (pictured at 110th anniversary of the Gallipoli Campaign, at the Martyrs’ Monument in Canakkale, Turkiye, April 24, 2025)

Anne told Tatler magazine: ‘Her understanding of her role and how much difference it makes to the King has been absolutely outstanding’

Princess Anne’s revelation comes after Camilla gave a sweet nod to her marriage to Charles 20 years ago (pictured), re-wearing the dress from their civil ceremony while visiting the Italian parliament

In an interview outside the parliament, Camilla looked happy and relaxed as she chatted about her wedding anniversary on a school visit to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the British Council and efforts to encourage young people to read and write imaginatively.

‘Twenty years, who could believe it was 20 years?’, she said. 

Asked the secret of their longevity she mused: ‘What is the secret? I don’t know…well… I suppose it’s just sort of friendship, really. Laughing at the same things, getting on with life. I suppose doing this [gestures to the engagement] takes up most of the time…

‘We are always going in different directions, like ships that pass in the night really. We whizz past each other. [But] In fact we have got a bit of a catch-up this afternoon.’

In fact, the Queen revealed she was planning a rather romantic gesture for her husband when they eventually returned to Villa Wolonsky, the home of the British ambassador where they are staying.

Asked whether they had time to exchange cards or gifts, she said: ‘No we are going to do that when we get back. We are going to save that. Otherwise you can’t really… you have to rush it. You don’t have time to say anything. No, I think we might dig into our pockets and pull something out at the end of the day.

‘Ah, yes, well I have got something. It’s china [the traditional gift for a 20th anniversary]. ‘

Asked whether a return gift might be for her husband, who is still undergoing weekly cancer treatment, to take a little time off, she roared: ‘Dream on!’

‘It would be very nice if we got a day off and went somewhere but that was not going to happen!’.