Friends’ growing fears over Charles and Camilla’s three-year marriage as the rows escalate

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In most marriages, an anniversary is a time for celebration. But this week Prince Charles and Camilla will mark three years together amid growing concern among the couple's friends about the state of their relationship.

The pair are to go away together for a fortnight in Scotland, broken only by a trip to Lincolnshire where Charles will present Prince William with his pilot's wings.

However, behind the romantic appearance, friends believe the shine has started to come off the relationship.

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Side by side: Charles and Camilla together in Windsor last month

The couple are said to argue in front of aides and Camilla sometimes prefers to spend time alone at her country hideaway.

Clarence House denies there is any rift, and the friends stress that the problems are far from insurmountable.

But it seems apparent that some of the freshness has left their long partnership since it was finally formalised.

"The rows have been escalating over the past three months," one well-placed source said.

"The staff are getting tired of it because you can't help but hear the shouting. As you can imagine, it's hugely embarrassing when that happens."

Their anniversary on Wednesday will be spent at Birkhall, the house on the Balmoral estate that Charles inherited from the Queen Mother.

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Soldiering on: But Camilla looks weary sampling cocoa sticks with Charles in St Lucia

On Thursday, they will travel to RAF Cranwell in Lincolnshire where on Friday Charles will present Will-iam with his wings as he graduates as a pilot.

William's girlfriend Kate Middleton will be noticeable by her absence.

The show of unity contrasts with the behind-the-scenes picture presented by courtiers, who have nicknamed Charles and Camilla "The Glums'.

"Charles is very dismissive of Camilla's views and lifestyle," an aide said.

"He is ever more fussy, ratty and irascible.

"She is happy to spend time at Ray Mill, her old family home at Lacock in Wiltshire, and he will never go down there to comfort her. He just sits it out."

The sources say this "alone time" has recently increased.

The Prince's spokesman confirms that Camilla enjoys going back to Ray Mill, but says she is not doing so on a more regular basis.

An examination of the couple's engagements over the past six months shows how well they work independently.

While they have attended 33 domestic events together, she has attended about the same number by herself and he has done more than 90 on his own.

Another aide believes that the trouble lies in Charles's personality.

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Regular retreat: Ray Mill in Wiltshire where Camilla is said to be 'seeking solace'

"When they first got married, he was at his happiest," he said.

"He blossomed and everyone noticed it – he turned into someone completely different.

"The problem is, Camilla isn't really pompous or conscious of status and hierarchy but he is and always has been.

"She finds that very confusing and restricting. She had a free life before, having fags, drinking, going on riding holidays and she can't do any of those anymore.

"She doesn't even have regular contact with all of her chums.

"Charles wants her to be a Royal. Camilla likes the country life.

"At Highgrove the wellies are all highly polished but at her house the boots are all muddy.

"He is more pedantic, more over-mannered. At Windsor recently, I was talking to him and when he finished his drink he just held it out to the side and waited for a flunky to take it.

"Camilla would never do that – she would find someone to give it to.

"When she goes to Ray Mill she is going back to who she really is."

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'Exhausted': Camilla at the governor general's residence on St Lucia. But she is thought to feel restricted by royal protocol and to miss the freedoms of her old life

Camilla bought the property after her divorce from Andrew Parker Bowles, and neighbours say she often seeks solace there – arriving by helicopter.

"She seems to be spending every possible moment she can there," said one.

"We feel that she really likes to get away from the royal hothouse in London and be her own person."

A Clarence House spokesman denied there were any problems in the marriage.

"It is simply untrue to say that they are spending more and more time apart," he said.

"Ray Mill has always been somewhere she has enjoyed relaxing with her family and that hasn't changed."

Last month, Camilla confided to friends that a Caribbean cruise with Charles had been a "nightmare".

 

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