King Charles’ Hidden Health Issue Reportedly Leaves Him ‘Drained’ and Sleeping Apart from Camilla
In his new book, Robert Jobson pulled back the curtains on the King's illness, revealing that he uses a CPAP machine to keep his airways open.
King Charles was diagnosed with cancer last year, and since then, he has carefully balanced public duty with ongoing treatment. While his cancer battle is well known, royal author Robert Jobson claims that the King also suffers from a lesser-known health condition that leaves him 'drained.' In his new book, Jobson revealed that Charles struggles with sleep apnea, a disorder that causes repeated pauses in breathing during sleep. The condition has reportedly forced the King to sleep separately from Queen Camilla.
In The Windsor Legacy: A Royal Dynasty, Jobson pulled back the curtains on the King's illness, revealing that he uses a CPAP (Continuous Positive Airway Pressure) machine to keep his airways open and prevent breathing problems. He penned, "Charles's life and energy levels improved dramatically after he started using a CPAP machine, introduced to him by former US Vice President Al Gore when he hosted him at Highgrove, to treat the condition where breathing repeatedly stops during sleep, causing fatigue and poor concentration." He added, "He now swears by the device that delivers steady air pressure to keep airways open, preventing disruptions. Although it does mean that Charles and Camilla sometimes sleep apart."
Despite his many health struggles, Jobson stressed that Charles always maintains a positive outlook in life. According to him, the monarch loves joking with friends about his sleep apnea, saying he has reached a 'worryingly decrepit stage' of life and describes it as a 'conglomerated miasma' of conflict and chaos, though his pals are aware that there is a serious side behind the humor.
There may be some merit to Jobson's revelations, as Prince Harry has also spoken about his father's problems with sleeping and tiredness. According to The Mirror, in the 2018 BBC documentary, Prince, Son and Heir: Charles at 70, Harry revealed that Charles would sometimes fall asleep on his desk due to extreme exhaustion, with papers stuck to his face.
Sleep apnea is relatively common in older people and can raise the risk of heart disease, stroke, and constant daytime tiredness. The NHS recommends that it can be managed by cutting down on alcohol and smoking, and losing weight. Regardless, the King has reportedly shown no signs of slowing down, mirroring the approach of his late mother, Queen Elizabeth.
Previously, Camilla has spoken about her husband's diligence and hardworking nature, leading to his lack of sleep. During a Commonwealth event in Samoa in October 2024, she shared her thoughts on the tale of men resting while women worked through the night. Of her own experience of the work ethic of men, she quipped, "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!"
