Charles III: Between Fragile Health and Family Tensions

King Charles III and Queen Camilla in a garden

King Charles III has made the bold decision to suspend his cancer treatment during his trip to Australia. This interruption, which will begin on October 18 when he departs for the other side of the world, is causing concern among those close to him, particularly his wife, Queen Camilla. For eleven days, Charles will put on hold the treatments started following the discovery of his cancer earlier this year. A decision that raises questions about the sovereign’s health and sparks growing concerns.

Camilla Facing Worry: An Inflexible King

Camilla, the queen consort, is one of the strongest opponents of this risky pause. "She wants him to slow down, to take care of himself," a close source confides to the Daily Beast. For several months, she has been urging him to adopt a more moderate pace, seeing her husband lose weight and appear weakened. But Charles, true to his reputation as a hard worker, refuses to heed the warnings.

At 75, he remains firmly determined to honor his international commitments, notably in Australia and the Samoa Islands. "He wants to be fit for this challenge," indicates a source close to the crown. Although he has lightened his schedule and a doctor will accompany him throughout his stay, Camilla’s anxiety remains palpable.

The Rebellious Brother: Andrew and the Battle of the Royal Lodge

While Charles defies medical recommendations, he remains inflexible towards his younger brother, Prince Andrew. Their relationship, already strained, has further deteriorated since Charles ascended to the throne. The king wishes to evict Andrew from the Royal Lodge, a luxurious residence whose maintenance has become a financial drain for the Duke of York, entangled in scandals and unable to fund the necessary repairs.

Deprived of his annual allowance and royal security, Andrew is ordered to find two million euros for the renovations or leave the premises by the end of the year. Refusing to move into the modest Frogmore Cottage, the former residence of Harry and Meghan, Andrew describes this alternative as "unworthy of his royal status." In the face of this refusal, Charles remains inflexible: the modernization of the monarchy takes precedence, even if it means evicting a member of his own family.

Melania Trump: Royal Fantasies Amidst Turmoil

While Charles III navigates between health issues and family tensions, Melania Trump displays a much more romanticized vision of the king. In her memoirs, the former First Lady of the United States speaks with barely concealed admiration of her first encounter with Charles in 2005, at an event in New York. Since then, she claims their relationship has strengthened, nostalgically mentioning epistolary exchanges and a state dinner in 2019.

Melania depicts Charles as a protective knight, a striking contrast to the image of a king today burdened by difficult decisions and strained family relationships. This idealization reveals a gap between the reality of the king and the imagination of those who admire him from afar.

While Camilla continues to watch anxiously, Prince Andrew awaits his family judgment, and Melania Trump dreams of royal friendship, King Charles remains true to himself, determined to continue his path despite the turmoil. His health, however, remains an open question.