As Queen Camilla marks her 77th birthday this week, it’s safe to say that the last seven months have seen her grown into her role better than anyone could have ever hoped for. Once regarded as one of the most unpopular members of the royal family due to her relationship with King Charles while he was still married to Princess Diana, since tying the knot with the monarch in 2005, her popularity has steadily risen year on year.

Part of the Queen’s appeal has been her continued commitment to the royal family and the causes they support, as even though Camilla is now at an age where most people have already put their feet up for a well-deserved rest, she is busier than ever as a modern and forward-thinking consort who is readily tackling some of the most challenging causes from domestic abuse and gender equality to female genital mutilation, reports OK!.

“I think she might have surprised herself by enjoying hard work as much as she seems to be doing!” Laughs Jennie Bond, a former BBC royal correspondent.

“She is, after all, a woman who has never had to knuckle down to the slog of a 9-to-5 job. She has shouldered a sharply increased workload and a massive amount of responsibility in the past few months and is looking and sounding great on it! “.

Camilla’s success can be attributed to her quiet, composed demeanour and focus on charity work, even when under heavy criticism – qualities that Queen Elizabeth II wished other Royal family members would embody during her years of witnessing the monarchy being rocked by crisis after crisis. This dignified and dutiful approach has been a defining trait of Camilla’s character since she wed Charles 19 years ago in 2005 – and also highlights the difference between her and the late Princess Diana.

Jennie observes, “I think that whereas Charles was rather jealous of Diana’s success, he could not be more proud of Camilla, who has come to this role late in life and without the safety net of an adoring public,” She continues, “These difficult few months will have made his love even deeper.”