For Charles, accession to the throne has brought a transformation, as much in style as in his schedule.
After a record-breaking 70-year wait, he has finally assumed his destiny as King with smiles and confidence.
But as she approaches the first anniversary of becoming Queen Consort upon the sad death of Queen Elizabeth II the changes thrust upon his wife Camilla are just as great, if not greater.
She was not born to be Queen and, for most of her adult life, showed little interest in any job, let alone a career.
Camilla smokes a crafty fag with the Beaufort Hunt in 1996. But her freewheeling days are over, writes Angela Levin
Now that she is Queen, every moment of her life is scheduled
Some things havent changed. Camilla, slightly older than Charles at 76, can still escape to her own private home, Ray Mill, in Wiltshire from time to time. After particularly hectic engagements or foreign trips, she can decompress for a day or two, or perhaps a weekend.
But everything else is very different. Once known for her spontaneity, her love of riding, good company and her family, Camillas life now runs on rails.
Every moment of most days is now carefully scheduled, including, I understand, the times she can set aside for her children and grandchildren. Its no longer a matter of popping round or picking up the phone. It’s life according to a spreadsheet.
Theres little time to cook and far more time spent with the hairdresser.
Her friends understand the constraints, but admit it’s hard to see her.
Camilla has kept hold of the charities that matter most to her, including those relating to domestic violence and childrens reading, but has less time to devote than she would have liked.
Camilla’s home at Ray Mill House in Wiltshire is one of few places she can escape
Queen Camilla is growing in confidence, says Angela Levin – and raised a laugh by comparing this pie with her husband the King at the Sandringham Flower Show
More laughter for Charles and Camilla at the Sandringham Flower Show
She hasnt given an interview since the Coronation and her speeches are much shorter. This is partly because they make her nervous and she is rightly keen to avoid saying anything that might be misconstrued.
Theres little time for riding, either, although thats partly a matter of age.
And as for the Camilla who preferred to chill out in jeans, its some time since weve seen her in denim.
The burden of her role had steadily increased for the last five years or so, as her Late Majestys health declined, and particularly over the last two years.
She has undoubtedly learned a discipline and got much more organised, one of her friends told me this week.
Its quite something as she is not a naturally organised person. She had to do so because there is so much going on, that there wouldnt have been time for her to see her children or grandchildren which are so important to her.
There are upsides, naturally.
I think the main change is one of confidence, which comes from a real embrace of the duty and responsibility of the role, said another of her friends.
Camilla remains comparatively unpopular in the opinion polls, but undeservedly so. And there is more to life than that.
They appear genuinely warm and accessible to the crowds of people gathered to see them on their visits. They make the engagements seem great fun (at a time when fun is in short supply).
Last month, at the Sandringham Flower Show, Camilla spotted a home-made pie with large ears and a crown. She said, without hesitation, that looks just like my husband, went to find him and they both burst out laughing.
Charles now puts his arm round her which I dont recall seeing when his mother was alive.
And this perhaps gets to the heart of the question: why?. Why would a fun-loving, free-spirited, irreverent – somewhat lazy – woman sign up for a life of unbelievably hard work and duty at a time she might have hoped to spend life doing exactly as she pleased?
Queen Camilla with her grandson Freddy Parker Bowles following the Coronation
Camilla is maintaining her links with the charities closest to her heart. here is attends a reception for The Reading Room literacy project
The answer I believe is love. As it happens, I think she is enjoying her new role, but Camilla is doing this for Charles.
She has put up with years of insults the conniving other woman when she could have walked away. Now in her eighth decade, she is determined to help Charles make the best of a huge and perhaps unmanageable role.
We should applaud her for it.
