Camilla's VERY busy week! Queen 'keeps the royal show on the road' after spending almost every day out and about as King Charles, Kate Middleton and Prince William postponed their duties

Queen Camilla has had a very busy week, as the King and the Prince and Princess of Wales have postponed their duties.

The monarch's wife is the eldest member of the royal family to make public engagements as Charles, 75, and his daughter-in-law recover from surgery.

Kate, 42, underwent abdominal surgery at the London Clinic and is now back home with her husband, Prince William, and their three children.

The king, meanwhile, spent three nights in the same private hospital recovering from surgery for an enlarged prostate and was discharged on Monday. He seemed in good spirits as he left the hospital with Camilla by his side.

With Charles and Kate facing weeks of rest and recovery, and heir to the throne William, 41, caring for his wife, the burden of public engagements has now largely fallen on the shoulders of the 76-year-old queen, who spends almost every day. this week.

On Tuesday, the Queen hosted a reception at Windsor Castle for authors, illustrators and binders involved in a new miniature library collection to be displayed next to Queen Mary's dollhouse.

She then officially launched Maggie's center at the Royal Free Hospital in London, as she stepped out in Bath on Thursday to celebrate the 850th anniversary of the St John's Foundation.

Today she received a warm welcome when she visited the newly opened Meadows Community Center in Cambridge.

Vanity Fair royal editor Katie Nicholl told True Royalty TV's The Royal Beat that Queen Camilla has gone a step further during the king's recovery.

She said on the programme: 'I spoke to a contact in Scotland who knows both the King and Queen very well, and who said to me: 'Isn't it extraordinary that this woman who was once vilified and scorned as the mistress and completely not popular – actually there was a question mark as to whether she would cause it [the monarchy] so much damage – now virtually keeping the royal roadshow on the road.”

Camilla also visited Charles every day during his short stay in hospital, despite a busy schedule.

The king, meanwhile, spent three nights in the same private hospital recovering from surgery for an enlarged prostate and was discharged on Monday. He seemed in good spirits as he left the hospital with Camilla by his side

On Wednesday, she officially launched Maggie's center at the Royal Free Hospital in London

The postponement of royal duties by the king, Kate and William also meant an expanded role for the king's only sister, Princess Anne, 73, and the younger of his two brothers, 59-year-old Prince Edward.

According to media reports, Charles' recovery could take up to a month, while Kate is expected to be out of action until at least Easter, her Kensington Palace office said.

The king has won praise for being open about his condition, but no reasons were given for Kate's admission to hospital, although officials said it was not linked to cancer.

Edward spent four days last week in the remote British overseas territory of St Helena, about 2,000 kilometers west of Angola.

He opened a new international airport, planted a tree and met 191-year-old Jonathan, the giant tortoise who lives on the volcanic tropical island. His wife Sophie stayed in London and undertook various assignments.

On Thursday she stepped out in Bath to celebrate the 850th anniversary of the St John's Foundation

Today she received a warm welcome when she visited the newly opened Meadows Community Center in Cambridge

Anne visited a prison in Norfolk, eastern England, last week and opened a new sailing centre. She also stood in for her older brother at an investiture ceremony in Windsor.

The number of working royals – a member of the family who represents the king at official engagements – has declined in recent years.

Charles' youngest son Prince Harry and his wife Meghan left royal life in early 2020 when they settled in California.

Prince Andrew – the king's other brother – has been sidelined since 2019 due to fuss over his friendship with the late American financier Jeffery Epstein, a convicted pedophile.

Age is also catching up with other members, with the late Queen Elizabeth II's cousin, Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester, now 79, and his wife, Birgitte, 77.

Two other cousins ​​of the late Queen, Princess Alexandra, and Prince Edward, Duke of Kent, are aged 87 and 88 respectively.