King Charles and Queen Camilla’s Busy Social Lives Revealed

According to former head gardener Jack Stooks, Queen Camilla carries on quite the social life in the privacy of her own home, but the King can’t switch off. — (Image credit: Getty Images)

Behind the closed doors of Highgrove, Birkhall, Balmoral, or Ray Mill House, the King and Queen are protected from the prying eyes of the public. Inside these stately homes, the Royal Family can relax and truly be themselves. According to former head gardener Jack Stooks, Queen Camilla carries on quite the social life in the privacy of her own home, but the King can’t seem to switch off.

“I think Camilla is quite social,” Stooks revealed to Smooth Spins. Queen Camilla has her own country home, Ray Mill House, tucked away in Wiltshire. She has owned the impressive stately home since 1994, when she divorced her first husband and bought Ray Mill as her own single girl Barbie Dream House. Since then, it’s been a haven. “She's got a lot of her friends and her family that she likes to see and spends a lot of time with her sister,” Stooks shared.

Queen Camilla, Fiona Shelburne, Marchioness of Lansdowne and Annabel Elliot watch an RAF flypast from the balcony of Buckingham Palace following the Coronation on May 6, 2023 in London, England. — Queen Camilla celebrates her coronation with her sister, Annabel Elliott, and her close friend, Fiona Shelburne, Marchioness of Lansdowne.

Prince Charles Duke of Rothesay and Camilla The Duchess of Rothesay enjoy a lighter moment during the tug of war at the 2005 Mey Games at Queens Park in Mey on August 6, 2005 in Caithness, Scotland. — “They're very comfortable in each other's company, and they sort of seem to fit so perfectly together,” former royal gardener Jack Stooks shared.

The Prince of Wales and Mrs Camilla Parker Bowles at Birkhall in Scotland last month as the two were leaving for a Sunday church service. — King Charles and Queen Camilla at Birkhall.

“She's quite a social character in that sense,” the former head gardener revealed, sharing that Queen Camilla is regularly hosting or spending time with friends and family. “Whenever you see her at events, she's very sociable with the people she's with.” Even without guests staying with them at Birkhall or Ray Mill House, the King and Queen are happy to simply chat to each other. “They're very comfortable in each other's company, and they sort of seem to fit so perfectly together,” Stooks shared. “He obviously dotes on her, and she dotes on him.”

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While Queen Camilla loves hosting and socializing, the King has different priorities. “The King is warm and friendly and he is a lovable person, but I think he puts a lot of his work first,” said Stooks. “That's not a bad thing. That’s just something he’s been brought up to do.” While Queen Camilla enjoys her downtime, reading or walking the dogs, King Charles has been known to be late for dinner or work into the wee hours with his infamous red box. “He has that work ethic. I wouldn’t say he’s less sociable, but he’s aware of the amount of work he’s trying to do for the country.”

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Christine Ross is a freelancer writer, royal expert, broadcaster and podcaster. She's worked with news outlets including the BBC, Glamour, Talk TV, ET, PBS, CNN and 20/20 to cover the foremost royal events of the last decade, from Prince George’s birth to the coronation of King Charles III.

She previously served as co-host of Royally Us, a weekly royal podcast by Us Weekly. As a freelance writer and royal commentator she provides expert commentary, historical context and fashion analysis about royal families worldwide, with an emphasis on the British Royal Family.