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Royals reunite to celebrate milestone after Prince Charles' coronavirus scare

Prince Charles and Camilla have shared a new photo featuring Camilla’s dogs as they mark 15 years of marriage.

The photo was taken at Birkhall, their home in Scotland, and shows them cuddling the duchess’s dogs, Beth and Bluebell.

EMBARGOED until 2200 Wednesday April 8, 2020. Conditions of use: Please credit: Clarence House. Not for use after 16/4/2020 and has to be used in conjunction with TRHís 15th wedding anniversary. The photograph is free of charge and must not be sold on. Handout picture dated 8/4/2020 of the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall (known as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay when in Scotland), who celebrate their 15th wedding anniversary Thursday, at Birkhall, their home on the Balmoral Estate.
Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall (known as the Duke and Duchess of Rothesay when in Scotland), who celebrate their 15th wedding anniversary on Thursday. Photo: Clarence House

It comes soon after the couple were reunited, having to spend time in self-isolation separately after Prince Charles tested positive for coronavirus.

Charles, 71, fell ill over the weekend of 21-22 March and was tested in Aberdeenshire after the couple arrived at their Balmoral home.

He spent seven days in isolation, while the duchess, 72, had to be on her own for 14 days, to follow government guidelines.

But the photo, taken on Wednesday morning, the day before their 15th wedding anniversary, shows them smiling and in good spirits.

Both have been back to work, and maintained some of their work even while in isolation. Charles was not bedridden with the illness.

Britain's Prince Charles, Prince of Wales (L) and Britain's Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall prepare to board a new electric double decker bus at Clarence House, before travelling towards the London Transport Museum to take part in celebrations to mark 20 years of Transport for London (TfL) on March 4, 2020, in London. - TfL was set-up in 2000 to bring Londons transport network together under one integrated body. (Photo by Stuart C. Wilson / POOL / AFP) (Photo by STUART C. WILSON/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall carry out an engagement in London in March 2020. (Getty Images)

They both look relatively casually-dressed in the picture, with Camilla in blue denim jeans, an open-necked pink shirt, pale blue jumper and navy suede boots and Charles in an open-necked blue shirt, navy jacket, olive green trousers and fawn suede loafers.

Camilla is holding Bluebell, and Charles is holding Beth. Both dogs were rescued from Battersea Dogs and Cats home, which Camilla is a patron of.

The duchess has written of Beth and Bluebell in the past: “They are family, friends and ever-faithful companions and, just like anyone else with a passion for dogs, I can’t imagine life without them.”

The prince has a plaster on the end of one of his middle fingers, but Clarence House declined to comment as to why. The photo was taken by one of their staff members as they operate a reduced household.

Britain's Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Britain's Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall gesture during their visit to The Tower of London, central London on February 13, 2020, to mark 535 years since the creation of the  (Beefeaters) and to celebrate 50 years of the British Tourist Authority. (Photo by Eddie MULHOLLAND / POOL / AFP) (Photo by EDDIE MULHOLLAND/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Charles and Camilla visit the Tower of London. (Getty Images)

The prince and the duchess – formerly Camilla Parker Bowles – wed in a civil ceremony at the Windsor Guildhall on April 9 2005, after a relationship spanning more than 30 years.

Any celebrations will have to be low-key as they follow government guidelines on social distancing along with the rest of the Royal Family.

The couple has played a role in the response to the coronavirus pandemic, with Camilla calling an 85-year-old woman who has to self-isolate as she thanked NHS volunteers for signing up to help with essential services.

Prince Charles chats to Camilla Parker-Bowles at a polo match. (Photo by © Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty Images)
Charles and Camilla's love story goes back further than their 15 year marriage. (Getty Images)

And the prince opened the new field hospital, NHS Nightingale, in east London via videolink last week.

Charles and Camilla dated briefly in the 1970s but eventually went on to marry other people - Charles wed Diana, Princess of Wales and Camilla met and married Andrew Parker-Bowles.

But Camilla ended up becoming the prince’s mistress, and was dubbed a homewrecker when it emerged that he had been having an affair with her.

Camilla, who is the Duchess of Rothesay when the couple is in Scotland, has managed to quietly turn public opinion of her, and is now one of the most senior members of the Royal Family.

She works on domestic abuse campaigns and with charities, and is also keen to promote literacy and a love of reading among children.

LONDON - APRIL 09:  TRH Prince Charles, the Prince of Wales, and his wife Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, depart the Civil Ceremony where they were legally married, at The Guildhall, Windsor on April 9, 2005 in Berkshire, England.  (Photo by Georges De Keerle/Getty Images)
The couple had a civil ceremony in Windsor. (Getty Images)

Described as witty, warm, down to earth and fun, she is adored by Charles, her children Tom and Laura, and her five grandchildren who call her by the nickname GaGa.

Charles, who is the longest serving heir to the throne, has been a champion for environmental causes for most of his life.

He recently announced he would give his tenants on the Duchy of Cornwall estates a rent deferral to help as they cope with the coronavirus pandemic.

Words by Rebecca Taylor

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