Queen Camilla opposed King Charles’ decision to publicly reveal his ongoing health problems earlier this year, according to a royal biography.
The 75-year-old monarch first announced he was undergoing treatment for a benign prostate condition in January this year.
Then, in February, it was announced that he had been diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer, which was discovered during surgery.
A statement from Buckingham Palace said: “No further details are being shared at this stage other than to confirm that Her Majesty does not have prostate cancer.”
The king was subsequently forced to temporarily step back from public duties and it was announced that he would adopt a reduced schedule when he returned to work at the end of April.
Rob Jobson revealed: “Queen Camilla had initially objected to his condition being disclosed, but the King overturned his decision as he felt it was an opportunity to take the lead and in doing so encourage men with similar symptoms to seek medical attention promptly.
“There was a significant increase in searches related to prostate enlargement on the National Health Service website following the monarch’s revelation.
“The NHS England page on benign prostatic hyperplasia was viewed more than 26,000 times in the first 48 hours after the announcement, compared to a daily average of just 1,400.”
Although Camilla’s reasons were not disclosed by Jobson, he claimed Charles wanted to reveal his problems to avoid the “fake news” that often circulated whenever the late Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip received medical treatment.
Jobson added of the move: “He was praised for it, with commentators saying he had ushered in a new era of transparency in health and the royal family.”
The king’s health problems marked the beginning of one of the most tumultuous years in modern history for the royal family.
While the Princess of Wales initially revealed she was undergoing scheduled abdominal surgery in January and intended to return to duty after Easter, she released a poignant video message in March announcing she had also been diagnosed with an undisclosed type of cancer.
Kate, 42, made a welcome return to public life in June at Trooping the Colour, the royal’s official birthday parade, and appeared on the final day of this year’s Wimbledon Championships to present the trophies.
The royal family are currently on summer holiday at Balmoral Estate in Aberdeenshire and the Welsh family are expected to join the King and Queen.
The trip to Scotland will be the princess’s longest journey since she was diagnosed with cancer.