Queen Camilla's Pneumonia and the Weight of the Crown

royal duty burnout is still burnout

The British royal family is no stranger to maintaining a stiff upper lip, but it seems that Queen Camilla (recently described by son Tom Parker-Bowles as “tough”) is reaching her limit. Queen Camilla's recent struggle to recover from a chest infection has pulled back the curtain on the grueling reality of royal life. As more details about her condition come to light, we’re left with a budding story of exhaustion, dedication, and even systemic overreach.

At 77 years old, Camilla finds herself at the center of yet another health drama for the Palace—one that speaks volumes about the demands placed on the modern monarchy. As one of her close friends candidly shared to the Daily Beast, she “never set out to be queen” and “never signed up for the hamster wheel” of royal responsibilities. Yet here she is, powering through a brutal year characterized by her husband King Charles III's cancer diagnosis and a punishing international travel schedule. Should we call the Vatican to have this woman sainted?

Oh, right; Church of England.