The Dangerous Habit Camilla Convinced Charles to Break Amid His Cancer Diagnosis—She’s the ‘Only Person He Will Listen To’
King Charles has been battling cancer for over a year, and though recent reports about his illness paint it as serious, but not something that he will die of, that doesn’t mean there isn’t concern about his health within his close circle. That’s especially true of his wife, Queen Camilla, who has reportedly made it one of her missions to make sure the King is taking care of himself.
One of the habits Queen Camilla has reportedly made the King change has to do with his midday meal, or lack thereof. Reports indicate the King rarely stopped to eat lunch, foregoing the meal to keep working or taking a stroll around the gardens. But with his health being looked after more closely, his wife and his doctors have reportedly encouraged him to change this habit.
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Not that he’s eating all that much. According to The Mail on Sunday, the King is now eating half an avocado as a light lunch. “With some reluctance, he now has something to eat at lunchtime – a snack, really. He now eats half an avocado to sustain him through the day. It’s important, particularly if you have got an illness.”
The King has, reportedly, always been very conscious of what he eats, favoring organic and seasonal produce. Per the outlet, he abstains from meat and fish two days a week, and avoids dairy on those days as well.
“Given how busy King Charles is, eating lunch sounds like a very good plan,” woman&home’s Royal Editor, Emma Shacklock said. “It will help fuel him for the afternoons and Queen Camilla is a big fan of avocados too, so they likely always have some in their kitchen. They’re also very quick to eat, so he can get back to work without taking an extended break.”
This is proof that the King is changing some habits in the midst of his cancer treatment, and comes after reports earlier this year that the King’s illness would indeed require some lifestyle changes. Royal expert Phil Dampier told the Sun months ago that “King Charles has always worked hard and is renowned for burning midnight oil and even falling asleep at his desk working so many hours.”
However, he also talked about the changes the King must make due to his age and his illness. “But those days must be a thing of the past and it’s vital he looks after his health and cuts down his workload.” Dampier added, “He needs to pace himself—which the Queen has said he is hopeless at doing—and she is probably the only person he will listen to.”
Last summer, Queen Camilla told author Lee Child that her husband “won’t slow down and won’t do what he’s told,” in a joking manner that obviously held a lot of truth to it. “She has been trying to encourage him to slow down,” a source told the Daily Beast last year, after the King was diagnosed with cancer in February 2024 and had to take some time off. “Of course, he wants to keep cracking on, but she is afraid that doing too much could set him back.”
For now, the changes seem minimal, but for someone so set in his ways, it seems clear there’s only one person King Charles is listening to, and that she’s trying very hard to get him to take care of his health.
