In the grand tapestry of the British monarchy, few stories have been as captivating and controversial as that of Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, and her journey to becoming Queen Consort. A new claim has emerged, shedding light on Camilla’s initial reluctance to embrace the role of queen.
Royal author Tom Quinn, in his revealing book Yes Ma’am: The Secret Life of Royal Servants, delves into the intimate details of palace life and the personal sentiments of those who serve the House of Windsor. Quinn’s extensive interviews with both former and current palace staff members have unearthed a surprising truth: Camilla once vehemently opposed the idea of becoming queen.
Quinn claimed that Camilla’s aversion to the role was not born out of a lack of love for Prince Charles, but rather from a deep understanding of the relentless attention that accompanies such a high-profile position.
‘Camilla definitely didn’t want to be queen because she’s intelligent enough to know that once you become queen or a senior member of the royal family, you are constantly under the microscope,’ Quinn explained to Fox News Digital.
‘…She enjoyed being able to have a private life away from the limelight. But Charles refused to give up.’
Camilla’s sentiments towards royal life were candid and unfiltered, as she reportedly expressed to Charles her desire to escape the rigid protocols of royalty, famously dismissing them as ‘all boll****.’ Despite Charles’ aversion to swearing, he remained steadfast in his belief that Camilla would one day take on the role for his sake.
The path to acceptance was not smooth. Camilla, who had long been recognised as Charles’ mistress, yearned for a quieter life away from the public eye. The media’s intrusive nature in the UK, coupled with global press attention, reportedly made the prospect of becoming queen all the more daunting for her.
Yet, as Quinn reveals, it was Charles’ unwavering commitment to their relationship that ultimately led Camilla to embrace her destiny. Despite the initial resistance from his sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, who harboured their reservations about Camilla stepping into the role of stepmother and future queen consort, the couple’s love endured.
Quinn attributes the transformation of Camilla’s public image from the vilified ‘other woman’ in Charles’ marriage to Princess Diana to a respected and well-liked figure to her down-to-earth style and her influence on softening Charles’ image, making him appear more approachable to the public.
‘They did brilliantly to turn Camilla from someone who was widely disliked, even hated, because she was seen as the other woman in Charles’ relationship with Diana. And now, she’s very well-liked, which was a very difficult thing to do. And it speaks volumes about her. In a way, it’s a very romantic story. They didn’t give up on each other,’ Quinn explained.
In a poignant turn of events, Queen Elizabeth II, before her passing in September 2022, expressed her ‘sincere wish’ for Camilla to be known as ‘Queen Consort’ upon her son’s ascension to the throne. This endorsement marked a significant shift in royal sentiment and paved the way for Camilla’s official title as ‘Queen Camilla’ during the coronation in 2023.
However, the road to reconciliation within the royal family remains rocky. Prince Harry’s memoir Spare and subsequent interviews have cast a shadow over Camilla’s relationship with her stepsons. Harry’s candid portrayal of Camilla as someone who leveraged media connections to improve her image and his complex feelings about her role in his life have added layers of complexity to the royal narrative.
‘I had complex feelings about gaining a step-parent who, I believed, had recently sacrificed me on her personal PR altar,’ he wrote.
The king’s response to these revelations has been one of silence, with reports suggesting that Charles is not taking Harry’s phone calls. Royal author Christopher Andersen suggests that while Charles might forgive Harry for various transgressions, the criticism of Camilla is a line crossed that the king finds difficult to overlook.
We invite you to share your thoughts on Camilla’s evolution within the royal family. Have your perceptions of her changed over time? Join the conversation in the comments below and let us know your views on this intriguing chapter of royal history.
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