Queen Camilla provides rare insight into relationship with King Charles after health concerns

Camilla referred to a Samoan legend in which men and women competed to thatch the roof of the chief's house.

She said, "Although they started at the same time, the women finished their side first, as they had laboured through the night while the men slept.

Referring to her husband, King Charles, she added: "As one whose husband is often toiling into the small hours, long after my head is on the pillow, I should stress there are plenty of exceptions!

"But the moral of the proverb is: Women will turn their hands successfully to any task that must be done and will work hard until it is completed."

"With apologies to the men in the room, I thought we might make this our motto today."

The Queen has previously raised concerns for her husband's health since he was diagnosed with an undisclosed form of cancer in February earlier this year.

After the diagnosis, Camilla said that Charles "won't slow down and won't do what he is told" but is "doing fine."

The King and Queen, currently visiting Apia in Samoa, flew into the county on Wednesday after their six-day royal tour of Australia.

During the royal tour of Australia and Samoa, the monarch has paused his cancer treatment until he returns in the UK on October 26.

The Tour is Charles's 17th visit to Australia but his first since his Coronation in May last year.

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On the shortened six-day visit of Sydney and Canberra, and it was said that royal navy doctors were never more than a few paces away from the King.

The doctors accompanying the royals carried medical equipment, including a mobile defibrillator and emergency medicine, in case of emergency.

Before the tour, the palace said: "In close consultation with the Australian and New Zealand prime ministers, and with due regard for the pressures of time and logistics, it has been agreed to limit the visit to Samoa and Australia only."

The King gave his first speech at CHOGM since becoming Head of the Commonwealth, in which he discussed world peace, Britain's past, and climate change.

He also acknowledged his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, who died in 2022, and his grandfather, King George VI, for their dedication to the Commonwealth and its prosperity.