Prince William's growing strong bond with Queen Camilla: No longer the 'wicked stepmother'

She was once branded the 'wicked stepmother' by Prince Harry, who said that he and his brother Prince William begged their father not to marry.

 But Prince William's carriage ride with Queen Camilla at Royal Ascot yesterday - with the Prince of Wales taking pride of place alongside his stepmother in the absence of King Charles - proved just how far their relationship has come.

 The duo, who were joined in their carriage by the Earl and Countess of Halifax were seen sharing smiles, highlighting their growing fondness for each other amid an anxious time for both.

 Queen Camilla and the Prince of Wales are currently facing similar hurdles in their personal lives, with both their spouses are undergoing treatments for cancer.

 William balancing official duties with caring for his young family and supporting Kate while his wife takes a step back from her role as a senior

working royal to continue her preventative chemotherapy.

 When King Charles announced his condition, Queen Camilla upped her number of official duties and filled in for him at 13 royal engagements.

 Prince William has forged an 'unlikely ally' with his stepmother amid the Royal Family's health crises, according to royal expert Jennie Bond.

 Jennie previously told OK! magazine that she had noticed changes in William and Camilla's relationship, even before Kate released her video statement about the disease in March.

 She said: 'Recent events have obviously brought William and Camilla much closer. They have been left, almost literally, nursing the Crown while the King and the Princess recover. 

 'Their teams will be working more closely to coordinate diaries and cover the engagements that have been planned, and Camilla and William are bound to have been in much closer regular contact.'.

 Meanwhile, a royal source previously told the Sunday Times of Queen Camilla: 'Although she was not expecting to find herself in the position of leading the family, the Queen is absolutely prepared to do whatever needs to be done for the institution. 

 She has found reserves of energy that even she didn't think she had, and the estimation of her by those inside the palace has soared as she has put her shoulder to the wheel.'

 At the start of March, the Prince of Wales shared a giggle with his stepmother at the Commonwealth Day Service... 

 As Camilla approached, William was seen to say 'hello' to his stepmother before moving forward to kiss her on both cheeks...

 They chatted as they stood side by side, ready for the national anthem to be played before they shared a laugh and led the other royals into the service...