Both are ladies in their 70s and are approaching a stage of life where they might expect to slow down.
Instead, in the words of a well-informed source, Queen Camilla, 76, and the Princess Royal, 73, are “keeping the ceiling high” as both King Charles and the Princess of Wales recover from surgery and Prince William supports his wife.
Yesterday Camilla was cheered by around 1,000 excited, flag-waving schoolchildren in Bath as she completed her third engagement in as many days.
To mark the group's 850th anniversary, she was at the St John's Foundation almshouses in Bath, which provide accommodation for older adults.
She sat down for a cup of tea and a chat and told 90-year-old Lisa Anderson that her husband was “fine, thank you”.
Camilla was cheered on by around 1,000 excited, flag-waving schoolchildren in Bath as she completed her third engagement in just a few days
As Rita Willis, 86, stood to greet the Queen, her St John's Foundation pin fell off and Camilla – a sprightly decade younger – had to kneel on the floor and pick it up for her.
The Queen showed no signs of fatigue despite her heavy workload and also took part in a lively discussion about the benefits of ballet, which she practices, and gardening.
Looking chic in an Anna Valentine coat and Fiona Clare blouse, she said of the latter: “It gets everyone out, I think it's the most relaxing thing in the world, you walk in and everything starts to stiffen up.” [but] It's worth it.'
Meanwhile, the royal princess has just appointed five new “Extra Ladies in Waiting” – and announced a new private secretary – to help manage her workload. Four of their “older” ladies are now retiring.
The notoriously no-nonsense princess has also shown that she has a nostalgic side. Two of her new “ladies in waiting” worked for her mother, Queen Elizabeth, until her death, and were part of the late monarch’s band of popular “head girls.”
The royal princess has just appointed five new “Extra Ladies in Waiting” – and announced a new private secretary – to help manage her workload
Queen Camilla meets members of the public before attending a service at Bath Abbey as she attends obligations to celebrate the 850th anniversary of St John's Foundation
Camilla shakes hands with a crowd of flag-waving children as she attends to her obligations while her husband, the King, recovers from surgery
And as a testament to her own staff's devotion to her, one of the pensioners, Dame Rowena Feilden, has been by her side for more than 50 years.
She was with the princess in 1974 when Anne was the victim of a violent kidnapping attempt from her car. Her bodyguard and her chauffeur were shot – and yet she snapped at her alleged kidnapper: “Damn unlikely.”
Dame Rowena's loyalty was rewarded in December when she was made a Dame Commander of the Royal Victorian Order in the New Year Honors for her personal services to the Crown.
The Princess now has 13 ladies-in-waiting and additional ladies-in-waiting, all personal friends or people she has worked closely with over the years.
“Her Royal Highness likes a close and intimate relationship,” says someone who knows her well. Ladies-in-waiting are unpaid assistants who help with correspondence, organize appointments, assist at official events and generally ensure that the lives of members of the royal family run smoothly.
King Charles is recovering after returning home from hospital for his prostate treatment
The Princess of Wales is recovering from surgery and Prince William is supporting his wife
While the late queens were all based at Buckingham Palace, Princess Anne only has a small “inner core” of staff in London.
Instead, she'd rather have a broad network of friends across the country that she can draw on when she's in the area for work.
“She's so hard-working that people can't necessarily give up their lives to support her, nor would she want or expect them to,” a source explained.
“Having a large number of effective part-time staff – friends – whom she can ask for help when she knows she has responsibilities in a particular area, at no cost to the public purse, is an ideal solution.”
Another added: “It's more like having your own football team with lots of reserves.”
You certainly have a lot of work ahead of you. Last year the Princess undertook 427 engagements and was everywhere from Norfolk to Scotland in the past week alone.
Camilla was at the St John's Foundation almshouses in Bath, which provide accommodation for older adults, to mark the group's 850th anniversary
The Mail can also reveal that Princess Anne will stand in for the king and carry out additional investitures – the bestowal of honors – while he recovers from prostate surgery
The Mail can also reveal that she will stand in for the king and carry out additional investitures – the bestowal of honors – while he recovers from prostate surgery.
Retiring are Dame Rowena, Lady Carew Pole, the Honorable Dame Shan Legge-Bourke – mother of young Princes William and Harry's former nanny, Tiggy Pettifer – and Mrs Margaret Hammond.
Her new assistants include Lady Elizabeth Leeming, a member of the Bowes-Lyon family and daughter of the 17th Earl of Strathmore, and Kinghorne, a distant cousin of Anne.
She was appointed lady-in-waiting by Queen Elizabeth in 2017 and was considered one of the “younger” members of the close-knit royal team.
Also appointed by the late Queen was Mrs Susan Rhodes, who is married to Simon Rhodes, son of the late Margaret Rhodes, cousin and lifelong friend of Elizabeth II, whom she met most Sundays after church at her home on the Windsor Estate visited. Simon and Susan were former residents of Adelaide Cottage, now the home of the Prince and Princess of Wales.
Joining the experienced royal aides is Dolly Maude, a midwife and best friend of Anne's daughter Zara Tindall. She even helped give birth to her children. Last year Ms Maude was seen at the races wearing a “Lady in Waiting” badge – which was dismissed as a joke at the time.
She is considered a great athlete and loyal friend and will undoubtedly bring a breath of fresh air of youth. The other new arrivals are Lady Susanna McFarlane and Mrs Carol Armstrong, both of whom are believed to be close friends of the Princess.
In keeping with the cool, clear efficiency of much of her team, she has also appointed a new private secretary. He is Col. John Boyd, who served in the Army for more than 32 years, including as commander of the 4th Battalion, Parachute Regiment. He replaces Charles Davies, who has worked for the Princess since 2019.