Camilla's 'sadness' after death of best friend

The Duchess of Cornwall has opened up about the loss of one of her best friends from childhood.

Camilla has spoken of her sadness after Mary Christie, chatelaine of Glyndebourne, died this week of cancer at the of 83.

Speaking to the Eden Confidential, Camilla called her friend a “life enhancer”, adding she would be “sorely missed by many people”.

Camilla spent her childhood at The Laines, an 18th-century country house in East Sussex. And when Mary married George Christie, she lived in Glyndebourne - founded by George’s father John - just 12km away.

“That special corner of Sussex, where we all grew up, will not be the same without Mary's warmth and laughter,” Camilla said.

Mary and her husband George presided over the country opera in Glyndebourne for almost 40 years. Their son Gus took over the opera house in 2000.

The news comes shortly after Prince Charles revealed he was 'terribly sad' to be apart from his grandchildren during the UK lockdown.

Speaking with Sky News for their series After the Pandemic: Our New World from his Aberdeenshire home of Birkhall, Charles said he was desperate to give his family a hug.

When asked how he felt being "disconnected" from his family, he responded, "Well, it's terribly sad, let alone one's friends."

"But fortunately at least you can speak to them on telephones and occasionally do this sort of thing. But it isn't the same, is it? You really want to give people a hug," he said.

"I do totally understand so many people's frustrations, difficulties, grief and anguish."

Charles also mentioned he was missing his father Prince Philip who will turn 99 this coming week, although it’s been confirmed Philip won’t really be celebrating his birthday.

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