KING Charles and Queen Camilla are celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary next month – and do one key thing to keep their marriage strong.

According to Jack Stooks, who worked as a senior gardener at Highgrove for King Charles for over two decades, the royal couple spend time apart, which keeps their bond strong.

Speaking to FruityKing, Jack opened up about the King and Queen’s unusual sleeping arrangements.

While King Charles splits his time between several locations, including his London pad Clarence House, Camilla heads back to her Wiltshire bolthole, Ray Mill House, for most weekends to escape royal life.

Jack shared that the unique living situation suits the pair well, as they both enjoy alone time.

The former staff member shared: “Before Charles and Camilla got married, they agreed Camilla would keep her home.

“The separate space was important for them both and their families.

“For Camilla, her Wiltshire house had so many memories of raising her family.

“It’s somewhere she can retreat and escape royal life if she needs to.

“It’s somewhere she can go with her family and have a laid back weekend without prying eyes.”

Jack said that while the King and Queen are apart, they keep themselves busy.

He shared: “Charles enjoys time alone and he’s got a very strong work ethic.

“He’s been known to work at his desk into the early hours.

“Camilla, meanwhile, has a lot of friends and is close to her family.

“They’re both independent people and don’t mind time apart.

“The fact they don’t live in each other’s pockets is one of the many reasons their marriage works.

“They enjoy their time together and the time apart.”

Aerial view of Ray Mill House in Lacock, Wiltshire.

Panelled master bedroom in Ray Mill House, Lacock, Wiltshire.
When Charles and Camilla are apart, they have their own household staff who look after them, according to Jack.

He explained: “Camilla has garden staff at her home, while Charles has a team at all of his residences.

“When the Queen died, he had to let some staff go and that was very upsetting for him.

“He didn’t want long-time staff members to lose their jobs.

“So it makes even less sense for Camilla to sell her Wiltshire home and have to see beloved staff leave.

“It’s a set-up that works for them both, so why rock the boat?”

And when the pair do spend the weekend together, Jack insists they love to entertain friends and reveals why Charles is such a selfless host.

He added: “Charles and Camilla have a good set of mutual friends and they love to host at their various residences.

“Even if Charles has to work, he’ll ensure there are staff members on hand who can cater to his guests’ needs.

“When he was the Prince of Wales, he purchased the Llwynywermod house purely so he would have somewhere to host friends when he was in Wales.

“Charles is a great host, as is Camilla.”

Katie Nicholl, author of The New Royals, told Fabulous that King Charles and Queen Camilla are the “ultimate partnership”.

The royal expert shared: “They truly complement each other.

“The King seems very happy to have Camilla by his side, and I think there is a great deal of gratitude there.

“Gratitude, tolerance, and patience have probably been key components of their relationship.

“Given the tough year the family has had, when you look at them, you see a couple who are still devoted to each other, great companions, great friends, and very much in love.”