At an age where most people are typically enjoying a well-earned retirement, Queen Camilla has had one of the busiest years of her life with a changeover in reigns and a step-up in her constitutional duties.

As Her Majesty marks her 76th birthday today (Monday, July 17), she is showing no signs of slowing down and continues to be a key voice for everything from literacy to awareness against domestic violence.

In order to best cope with the incredibly high-pressured position that she finds herself in, royal expert Jennie Bond explains what the Queen does in her free time to relax.

"Camilla has maintained a small part of her life which is hers and and almost hers alone and I rather admire that," the former BBC royal correspondent told OK!.

Referring to the home that the Queen still owns in Wiltshire and regularly visits to be with her family at, Jennie added: "She has her own house where she can put her muddy Wellington boots on and a pair of old jeans and and romp around the garden with her grandchildren or just on her own, and just have some peace and calm and quiet.

"We have to remember that Camilla agreed to get into this extraordinary goldfish bowl of royal life in her mid fifties – an age where most of us are very established in our lives.

"She has a history, she has a family, she has an independent life and has kept some of that, albeit a very small part, to herself. And I think it's almost like, a a sanity valve.

"Life as a royal is so intense, so strange, so scrutinised that just to be able to unscrew your lid once or twice a month and let all that steam out and just be yourself without the prying eyes of the world on you must keep her very balanced.”

The Queen purchased Ray Mill in Wiltshire for £850,000 after divorcing her first husband, Andrew Parker-Bowles, and lived there permanently from 1996 to 2003.

Ray Mill is conveniently located just 15 minutes from King Charles' home of Highgrove. The house has many incredible features, including an outdoor swimming pool, terrace, stables for her horses, large gardens and a river.

Camilla's daughter, Laura Lopes, decided to host her wedding reception at her mother's house when she married Harry Lopes in 2006.

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