Camilla Parker Bowles is a longtime British royal. Her transition into royalty was difficult; the masses disliked her.
When she was discovered as Prince Charles’ mistress, people were furious, mostly because they loved Princess Diana.
Camila’s popularity plummeted, but things have improved over time. However, royal researcher and author Angela Levin claimed that Camilla was scared to leave her house and endured “torrents” of public harassment.
Charles and Camilla began dating decades ago. When they met at a polo tournament in 1972, their love story began.
According to Gyles Brandreth’s Charles and Camilla, Portrait of a Love Affair, their mutual friend Lucia Santa Cruz, the daughter of the Chilean ambassador, introduced them.
After Charles joined the Royal Navy, they stopped dating. Camilla was engaged to Andrew Parker Bowles when he returned.
King Charles and Camilla affair
Camilla remained close to Charles after marrying Bowles in 1973. Today’s king began courting 19-year-old Diana Spencer in 1980.
Camilla approved of Diana after meeting the Bowles pair, calling her “sweet and cute”. Diana and Camilla initially got along. But things got uncomfortable.
I met Camilla early. Diana wrote in Diana: In Her Own Words, “I was introduced to the group, but I was a threat, a very young kid.
Prince Charles’ authorized biography, quoted by Town & Country, says his affair with Camilla began in 1986. Prince Charles and Princess Diana were still married. She approached Camilla after learning about it.
Charles and Diana’s public image remained unchanged. However, the couple’s fairytale ended soon.
The couple split in 1992, although they maintained their royal duties. In August 1996, they finalized their divorce four years later.
Shameful Tampongate scandal
Public knowledge of Charles and Camilla’s connection existed by then. December 1989 almost proved they had been cheating for years.
Just months after Charles and Diana split, the press published a full transcript of a phone discussion between the future King and Camilla.
The couple had a sexual conversation on the phone. The Diana Chronicles says the recordist kept it for years.
As expected, popular opinion was negative. Princess Diana was a national icon and loved by all, therefore Charles going behind her back and hurting her was upsetting.
Hearing the future king say “live inside her trousers” was shocking and indecent. Sally Bedel Smith, author of Elizabeth the Queen: The Life of a Modern March, says a poll was released shortly after the transcript was published.
Sixty-eight percent claimed then-Prince Charles had ruined his reputation, and 42% thought Prince William should succeed Elizabeth.
Charles questioned Camilla’s treatment.
Charles wasn’t the only one hurt. Camilla received public and Royal Family censure.
The 1989 phone call proved Charles’ involvement with Camilla while married to Diana. It also showed Camilla cheated on Andrew Parker Bowles.
Naturally, Camilla was unpopular at first. Queen Elizabeth did not like her either.
According to journalist and investigative author Tom Bower, the Queen initially refused to contact with Camilla in 2018.
There was an effort to “introduce” Charles and Camilla after Diana’s death. After Diana’s death, that was abandoned.
It all got too much for Charles. Tom Bower claims he confronted his mother at Balmoral Castle.
“He asked that she soften her antagonism so he could live openly with Camilla,” he claimed. “He hoped the Queen, who rarely interfered, would at least not directly forbid it.”
The Queen disagreed and slammed Charles.
Camilla ‘endured torrents of mistreatment’ from the public.
Camilla had trouble getting the Queen to accept her and Charles after they married. Years before the incident was discovered, the Queen Consort disappeared due to public mistreatment.
Charles admitted to cheating on Diana in a 1994 Jonathan Dimbelby interview. Charles acknowledged the rumors for the first time, but the Princess had already mentioned it.
Prince Charles’ mistress was unknown at the time. Later that month, Jonathan Dimbelby published the approved Charles biography in the Sunday Times, revealing Camilla.
“They loved each other without doubt. Dimbelby stated that Camilla Parker Bowles gave the prince the warmth, understanding, and steadfastness he had always wanted but had never found anywhere else.
As the affair was discovered, royal analyst Angela Levin, author of Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall: A Royal Survivor, told OK Magazine that Camilla faced “torrents” of public mistreatment. Levin said she had to stay home to escape public outrage.
The specialist says Camilla was terrified to shop or visit stores. She sent friends to run her errands.
Charles was unaware of Camilla’s struggle, as she was presented as the most evil woman in the world. She was called awful things like ‘rottweiler,’ which must have shocked her, Levin said.
Charles reportedly hired two full-time security guards for Camilla. After marrying in 2005, she qualified for publicly paid security, so Charles no longer had to pay them.
Levin added, “I don’t think Charles realised how awful it was for her. He was often out on engagements and working hard for the Kingdom and Commonwealth, and Camilla didn’t have protection officers since she wasn’t Royal. Charles eventually realized and paid for her protection.”
Camilla gained popularity over time. Angela Levin thinks she “must still bear the scars of it all.”
Levin added Camilla “probably be anxious” over Charles’ coronation because “she still gets nervous about things”.
“She can never be sure how people will react to her,” the royal expert and novelist said. “A small but harsh group of people still think she’s the wrong woman for him.”
Additionally, Camilla and the Queen’s bond improved over time.
Camilla may drop “consort” before coronation.
The future of Camilla as Queen Consort was long debated. Ahead of her Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years on the throne, the Queen first publicly addressed her daughter-in-law’s role in the monarchy earlier this year.
She expressed her “sincere wish” that Camilla would become Queen Consort when Charles became king.
“When, in the fullness of time, my son Charles becomes King, I know you will give him and his wife, Camilla, the same support that you have given me; and it is my sincere wish that Camilla will be known as Queen Consort as she continues her own loyal service,” the Queen said.
Camilla will become Queen Consort after King Charles’ coronation on May 6. However, sources claim she may drop “Consort” before the coronation.
According to Express Royal Correspondent and expert Richard Palmer, Camilla’s title may change before the coronation. “No official word from the Palace on that.” He suggests change is coming.
Some papers call her Queen. I expect the Consort to be dropped. The Express podcast Royal Round-Up’s Richard Palmer said every Queen Consort is just the Queen.
Camilla is one of the most popular Royal Family members and is widely accepted. She has been a symbol of strength and courage since the Queen’s death and has served the Crown well.
Palmer said, “A case of putting some distance between her death and how Camilla is described.” “By the Coronation they will just be calling her the Queen.”
