Queen Camilla and King Charles have had complicated days lately. The truth is that neither of them is getting any younger, and the two have had to pay much closer attention to their health in the past few years. This is especially true of King Charles, who is battling cancer. Queen Camilla, meanwhile, has had to care for her own health and worry about the King, while keeping up with her royal duties.

Recently, the Queen has also opened up about another “terrible” battle with uninvited guests: swarms of wasps. Camilla revealed that the infestation at King Charles’ Norfolk estate has become a nuisance, to the point that pest control experts have been called in. The Queen mentioned the matter during a visit on the second day of the Ebor Festival of horse-racing in York.

Just a few days ago, on 18 August, King Charles issued a warning to visitors of Sandringham, due to an ongoing wasp infestation. “Please be aware that wasp activity is currently high in this area. Thank you,” a notice on the site read. Both the King and Queen have been known to have a love for beekeeping.

Queen Camilla produces her own honey at her Wiltshire home, Ray Mill House. That honey is then sold at Fortnum & Mason to raise money for charity. The King’s Highgrove House, meanwhile, produces a Royal Garden Honey which can similarly be purchased from the Highgrove Gardens website.

This all comes a few days after another emotional moment from the Queen during a VJD service. But, when you’re battling cancer like the King is, or standing by his side like the Queen has been, almost every moment gives you the opportunity for emotion. Just a few days ago, a veteran went off-script during the service attended by both King and Queen, making the two of them react visibly.

During the service, 105-year-old Captain Yavar Abbas addressed the King, who was seated beside Queen Camilla, in remarks that were broadcast live on the BBC. “I make no apology for briefly going off script to salute my brave king, who is here with his beloved queen, despite the fact that he is under treatment for cancer,” he said.

Cameras caught Queen Camilla getting visibly choked up at the words, or perhaps at the reminder of what has actually happened behind the scenes. We have seen very little of how King Charles has dealt with cancer, and can only imagine how hard it has really been for the two of them. Charles also looked visibly emotional at the public mention of his cancer, something he has rarely spoken in public about. “And if it provides any comfort, I’ve been rid of it for the past 25 years and counting,” he added, as the crowd cheered.

 

It’s hard to tell if the emotion had to do with the fact that this is something that is rarely discussed, with the hope this man imbued in this statement, or can be taken as an indictment of how King Charles is really doing, but either way, it was an emotional moment. And it came on the heels of what’s really been a complicated few days at home. Wasps are no fun for anyone.