When you think of the possibility of royal friendships, you might think of Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle. Or, of course, Prince William and Prince Harry. But, that's not the case — and not just because Meghan has been lying low in Canada these days. Kate and Camilla hung out with their husbands, Prince Charles and Prince William, and it's making the news since it's so rare. As it turns out, they have a ton in common.
Obviously, members of the royal family see one another quite often. But in terms of going to events, it's usually been Prince Harry and Prince William, along with their wives — or, just William and Kate alone. But, this time around, the Duke of Cambridge wanted to show his father something he's been working on. According to People, the couples checked out a new rehabilitation center that was created for service members. It's a project that has meant a lot to William.
It's called the DMRC, and it's based in Stanford Hall in Leicestershire. The main goal of the center is to help members of the British Armed Forces. The center helps the disabled get the help and rehab they need for neurological issues and other traumas.
DMRC is short for Defence Medical Rehabilitation Centre. According to the BBC, it first opened its doors in 2018. The organization believes that while the UK often gives excellent care for accidents and injuries, it could still do better — and that's where the DMRC comes in. "We fall behind many other nations in helping injured people regain their former lives," the center writes.
"When we fail to support people who have the potential to get back their quality of life, we are failing the individual and creating wider problems in society." That may be one of the reasons why Prince William was so invested — he knew there was a problem that needed to be solved. The center plans to "bring about new ways of working, drive innovation and significantly improve services for patients."
Prince Charles is known for being very charitable, which is probably why he had an interest in this project. The Prince of Wales has a bunch of charities that he's developed and supported throughout the last 40 years. Right after Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's announcement they were stepping down as senior royals, many people were wondering if some of the bigger charities — like The Prince's Trust — would still be in good hands after Prince Charles was no longer with us.
The Prince's Trust would be a good organization for someone like Kate Middleton to help with. Reason being, she's incredible with helping kids. While the trust works with people up to the age of 30 in finding good opportunities for success, it also works with kids as young as 11 to make sure they're getting the most out of school.
It's quite possible that Prince Charles and his family will be working much more closely with William and Kate in the future. Even though the young couple have a lot on their hands (and three children to take care of) they're expected to one day become the king and queen. Of course, they're not the next people up just yet — that would be Prince Charles.
Once Queen Elizabeth II dies, Prince Charles will take the throne. But there's some confusion as to what Camilla's title will be. Upon their marriage in 2005, she was granted the title of the Duchess of Cornwall. People knew that it'd be somewhat of a PR nightmare had she been given Princess Diana's title, especially since the late princess was so beloved.
But, she won't get the role of queen — and according to Harper's Bazaar, neither will the Duchess of Cambridge when her time comes. It's far more likely that both women will be the queen consort, which serves as the customary title for the wife of a reigning king. It's incredible how complicated things can get when titles are involved.
Prince Charles is 71 years old, but that doesn't mean he's going anywhere. So, it may still be several years before William and Kate take over. That said, Queen Elizabeth has reportedly been training William for the role since he was young. "When William became a teenager, she would have him at Windsor Castle and would open the state boxes and guide him through the papers. It was William’s constitutional education," Robert Lacey, a notable royal expert, once told People.
While Camilla had somewhat of a rough start, people have grown to appreciate her, acknowledging the fact that she's always been respectful. According to International Business Times, Prince Harry was especially loving towards her. "To be honest, she's always been very close to me and William," he reportedly said. "She's not a wicked stepmother. Look at the position she's coming into. Don't feel sorry for me and William, feel sorry for her."
It's interesting to think about what Camilla and Kate Middleton chat about while out in public. Town & Country magazine reported that the two often seem to have a wonderful relationship. Camilla always seems to make Kate laugh, which is the start of a strong bond. The two definitely have a lot in common. For one, both of them get a lot of media attention.
Looking at photos alone, it's apparent the two are very comfortable with each other. As they're both going to have the same position someday, it's also great that they can talk about it without much judgment around. They seem to have a great time during the annual Trooping the Colour ceremony.
There haven't been too many public roadblocks in the relationship between Prince William and father Prince Charles. Even though both William and Harry had to live with the truth that their parents weren't in the happiest relationship while they were together, Prince Charles stepped up and protected his sons after Diana's passing. According to E!, William once stated that he was happy for "the privacy to mourn, to collect our thoughts, and to just have that space away from everybody" during that time.
Much like Camilla and Kate, Prince Charles and Prince William are also bonded by the fact that they're both destined to sit on the throne one day. Many of their royal responsibilities have been similar, and they can understand each other's point of view better than most. So in a way, maybe it's not so surprising to see the foursome out and about.
It's good to know that they all have a good relationship, with all of them progressing and growing throughout their time in the spotlight. In times of royal chaos, hopefully they have each other to trust and support. There have been a lot of big changes and scandals in their lives, and by sticking together, they're keeping their family strong.
