AS THE KING LEAVES HOSPITAL THE QUEEN KEEPS THE FLAG FLYING FOR THE ROYAL FAMILY AND MEETS A SPECIAL STRICTLY STAR

As the King emerged from The London Clinic, smiling and waving to well-wishers and the gathered media, he appeared fighting fit, despite having undergone prostate treatment three days earlier.

- EMILY NASH

With his beloved wife the Queen by his side, as she had been frequently during his three-night hospital stay, he departed to continue recuperating in private.

Aides have declined to give further details of how long his recovery will take, but HELLO!

understands that he may not carry out public engagements for up to a month, although he will continue to receive his red boxes of official paperwork every day.

So it was left to the Queen and the Princess Royal to carry out the lion’s share of royal business last week, with Her Majesty out on duty every day.

“She’s determined to be out and about while the King is recuperating,” a royal source tells us. “She has twin responsibilities: on the one hand, helping support him in his recovery, but also keeping the show on the road.”

At 76, Camilla might be forgiven for wanting to postpone some of her visits to take care of her husband and get some rest herself. But the source adds: “She thinks it’s good for the institution for her to be seen out and about while the King is indisposed.

“She’s also determined to be there for the causes that are dear to her. There was no question of her cancelling anything.