King Charles III and his wife Queen Camilla reportedly lead "largely separate lives" despite continuing to appear together during the monarch's cancer treatment, according to a new report.
The 78-year-old Queen reportedly lives apart from her ailing husband in $1.2 million marriage-split home, according to sources.
The royal couple "keep up appearances" for the sake of the monarchy and the public, the insiders tell Radar Online.
Charles and Camilla, who are ready to welcome US President Donald Trump to State Visit this week, allegedly spend much of their private time apart.
"They are putting on a united front in public, especially because Charles is ill, but behind the scenes it's a very different picture," a source close to the family claimed.
"They are divorced in everything but name. Camilla lives at Ray Mill most of the time, while Charles retreats to Highgrove or Clarence House. It's a marriage of appearances and public relations optics at this stage," the alleged.
It emerges after photographer Chris Jackson shared birthday portraits of Camilla this summer, taken at Ray Mill with her rescue dog, Moley.
In a caption, he described the Queen as "happy and relaxed at home in Ray Mill, Wiltshire," underlining where she feels most settled.
The $1.2million property was purchased by Camilla in 1994 after her divorce from Andrew Parker Bowles, who she left for Charles. Though she moved into royal residences after marrying into the royal family, she has always kept the Wiltshire home.
Charles and Diana divorced in 1996, a year before her death. Charles and Camilla tied the knot in 2005.
Camila's home, complete with swimming pool and sprawling gardens, is often used as a base for her children and grandchildren, offering what friends describe as a "world away from the pressures of the crown."
"It's where she feels free from the demands of royal life. She's always held on to it because it symbolizes her independence, and that sense of freedom has only deepened as her marriage to Charles has gone on."
Royal commentators say Charles and Camilla's marital arrangement reflects long-standing understandings in their relationship. Before their marriage, Charles was based at Highgrove in Gloucestershire, while Camilla insisted on keeping her Wiltshire base.
"Right from the start, they agreed they each needed their own retreats. At first, it was what kept the marriage balanced, but now it seems less like a mutual decision and more like proof of how separate their lives have become," claimed one insider.
