King Charles and Queen Camilla are gearing up to celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary next week.
And the secret to the longevity of their marriage? Separate living arrangements.
According to a former palace staffer, the monarch, 76, and his wife, 77, maintain separate residences, with Camilla having her beloved home in Wiltshire, while Charles owns countless royal residences peppered across the country.
According to Jack Stooks, who worked as a senior gardener at Highgrove for Charles for over two decades, the couple had agreed on a separate living arrangement before tying the knot in 2005.
“Before Charles and Camilla got married, they agreed Camilla would keep her home,” Stooks told the Express. “The separate space was important for them both and their families.”
Indeed, the unique set-up has proven crucial to the success of their decades-long relationship.
“For Camilla, her Wiltshire house had so many memories of raising her family. It’s somewhere she can retreat and escape royal life if she needs to,” Stooks said of Her Majesty’s personal property.
“It’s somewhere she can go with her family and have a laid-back weekend without prying eyes.”
Last month, Charles purchased a sprawling property next door to Camilla’s home over fears her privacy is being breached.
The king forked out $3.8 million on a building that was set to become a wedding venue in Wiltshire, England, so that Camilla’s nearby home would not be swarmed by visitors.
According to the former royal staffer, both Charles and Camilla value their independence and alone time.
“Charles enjoys time alone and he’s got a very strong work ethic. He’s been known to work at his desk into the early hours,” he said.
He added that the royal couple also maintain their own social life, with Camilla boasted “a lot of friends” that she sees regularly.
“Charles and Camilla have a good set of mutual friends and they love to host at their various residences,” he said.
“They’re both independent people and don’t mind time apart. The fact they don’t live in each other’s pockets is one of the many reasons their marriage works.”
The pair are currently gearing up for their trip to Italy next week, which will coincide with their 20th wedding anniversary on April 9.
Prior to their wedding in 2005, Charles was married to the late Princess Diana from 1981 to 1996. During their ill-fated union, the couple welcomed sons Prince William and Prince Harry.
Camilla, for her part, was married to Andrew Parker Bowles from 1973 to 1995. The exes share son Tom Parker Bowles, and daughter Laura Lopes.
