Why King Charles and Queen Camilla spend their weekends apart after 20 years of marriage

King Charles and Queen Camilla have been married for more than 20 years, but their approach to married life might look a little unconventional from the outside.

Despite their demanding schedules and shared royal responsibilities, the King and Queen reportedly make room for something that has long been part of their relationship, and that is their independence.

According to the Daily Mail’s royal editor Rebecca English, Charles and Camilla frequently spend portions of their weekends at separate country homes, with the King retreating to his beloved Highgrove House while Camilla enjoys time at Ray Mill House, the private Wiltshire property she has maintained since before marrying Charles.

“I can understand why it looks a little odd to people, but it actually works for them,” English said during a recent episode of the Daily Mail’s “Palace Confidential.”

Camilla was determined to keep her own home

Ray Mill House has remained an important part of Camilla’s private life for decades. Camilla purchased the property following the breakdown of her marriage to Andrew Parker Bowles, whom she divorced in 1995. 

When she and Charles prepared to marry in 2005, questions reportedly arose over whether she would continue to maintain the residence, particularly because keeping a separate property required additional security.

According to English, Camilla “made very clear that she wanted to keep it.” The decision has allowed the Queen to retain a space removed from the formality that inevitably comes with royal residences.

“It’s a real bolthole for her. It’s very informal,” English explained. Camilla can spend time there with her children, Tom Parker Bowles and Laura Lopes, as well as her grandchildren, while Charles is able to pursue his own interests at Highgrove.

Charles does sometimes visit Ray Mill, according to English, but he often spends his weekends at Highgrove, where he famously has a deep interest in the gardens and grounds.

“They also live quite independent lives and I don’t think it affects their relationship at all,” English said.

The arrangement might also feel more natural to Charles and Camilla because independence was built into their relationship long before they became husband and wife. The pair spent years in one another’s lives before eventually marrying, meaning they were already accustomed to maintaining separate homes and routines.

A place where Camilla’s grandchildren can simply be themselves

Royal biographer Robert Hardman has also explained why maintaining Ray Mill House has particular importance for Camilla’s family.

Unlike a royal palace, the private residence gives her children and grandchildren somewhere they can relax without worrying about royal protocol or the historic surroundings.

“Her grandchildren need to have somewhere that they feel is theirs, where they can run around,” Hardman said during the “Palace Confidential” discussion.

At their grandmother’s house, he explained, the atmosphere is considerably more relaxed. “When they’re at Granny’s house, it’s Granny’s house,” Hardman said. “Everyone can put on jeans and run around.”

For Camilla, the property therefore serves as more than simply a second residence. It offers a degree of normality for the family she had before becoming a senior member of the Royal Family and, eventually, Queen.

Independence hasn’t weakened their bond

Spending time apart certainly doesn’t appear to mean Charles and Camilla are emotionally distant.

Royal author Catherine Mayer explores their relationship in her 2026 book, “Divide & Rule,” describing the noticeable impact Camilla can have on the King when they are together.

“With Camilla, you only need to see her and Charles together to understand that she has this…magical effect on him,” Mayer wrote. “It’s transformative.”

Mayer recalled seeing Charles when he appeared tired or out of sorts, only for his demeanor to change once Camilla entered the room. “He would light up,” she wrote. “She just lifts him.”

The author also writes that, following the turmoil surrounding the end of Charles’ marriage to Princess Diana and Diana’s death in 1997, Camilla’s place in his life became “non-negotiable.”

Mayer argues that Charles understood Camilla was the person who could “really sustain him,” highlighting the emotional support she has provided throughout their decades-long relationship.

More than two decades after their 2005 wedding, their somewhat unconventional arrangement appears to reflect the relationship they have always had. Deeply connected, but comfortable giving each other space.

For Charles, that might mean a weekend tending to the gardens at Highgrove. For Camilla, it can mean escaping royal formality at Ray Mill with her children and grandchildren.

It may be unusual for a King and Queen, but according to those who have followed their relationship closely, it works for them.