Camilla Parker Bowles has become the most powerful woman within the British monarchy. When King Charles took the throne, she became the Queen Consort, though for many years, her possible titles have been debated.
Ultimately, the later Queen Elizabeth took the decision to grant Camilla the title of Queen Consort in the event of her death.
As for all the members of the Royal Family, the passing of Queen Elizabeth came as a considerable shock, despite her being 96 years of age. The family, and indeed the UK as a whole, were grieving for weeks. For Camilla, it was no different.
Now, new reports about Camilla’s feelings regarding the Queen’s passing have reached the surface. Firstly, the Queen Consort is said to have been devastated, as she and Elizabeth shared a close bond.
Not only that, though, but Camilla has reportedly been concerned about her future within the royal sphere.
The Queen’s passing means significant changes to the monarchy, especially where Queen Consort Camilla is concerned.
Camilla & King Charles
Whether Camilla Parker Bowles would become Queen Consort or not is a matter that has been debated for a long time. In fact, it wasn’t until earlier this year – on the eve of her Platinum Jubilee, marking 70 years on the throne – that the Queen, for the first time, publicly addressed her daughter-in-law’s role in the monarchy.
When then-Prince Charles married Camilla in 2005, she received the title of Duchess of Cornwall. The Palace also announced that she would become “Princess Consort” when Charles ascended to the throne.
However, earlier this year, the Queen’s announcement marked a shift in the monarchy’s approach to Camilla and her official title.
Her Majesty’s ‘sincere wish’ was that Camilla would be known as Queen Consort when Charles was sworn in as the new king.
“And 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, when that time comes, Camilla will be known as Queen Consort as she continues her own loyal service,” Queen Elizabeth said.
Even though Camilla’s reputation with the public now seems to be improved, the reality is that her entrance into the Royal Family was more than just a tad controversial.
Camilla’s affair with Charles
It didn’t take long before hell broke lose. A few short years after the wedding between Princess Diana and then-Prince Charles, Camilla engaged in an affair with the now-King.
According to Prince Charles’ authorized biography, as quoted by Town & Country, their affair started in 1986. Charles was still married to Princess Diana then, and she found out about it.
Before the funeral, Camilla paid tribute to Queen Elizabeth, whom she had known for many decades.
“There weren’t women prime ministers or women presidents, she was the only one, so I think she carved her own role,” Camilla said. “She’s been part of our lives forever. I’m 75 now and I can’t remember anyone except the Queen being there,”
Despite the Queen’s death, the traditions of the royals will continue to live on. Of course, there are many guidelines and rules the family members have to follow – but traditions might be even more important to keep alive.
And it seems like Camilla is now willing to break one of the oldest royal traditions.
Queen Elizabeth had what was called “ladies-in-waiting,” those in charge of supporting the monarch with personal correspondence and organizing her schedule.
Breaking longtime royal tradition
Moreover, they accompanied the Queen during her scheduled public appearances and, amongst other things, helped gather flowers the public wanted to give to the Queen.
However, Camilla seems to have decided not to use ladies-in-waiting, one of the oldest positions within the royal house.
A source told Daily Mail that the Queen Consort wants to “remodel” the monarchy – instead of ladies-in-waiting keeping her longtime private secretaries.
“When she got married and set up her own office for the first time, she got two brilliant private secretaries, Amanda Macmanus and Joy Camm. But they were very much “two for the price of one,” the source explained.
“The Queen Consort will do things a little differently. She currently has two private secretaries who do some of those traditional duties anyway. And she has quite a lot of good and decent friends around her whom she can call on, as and when is necessary, to support her. I suspect she’ll dip into her close circle of friends, maybe geographically.”
On October 1, Buckingham Palace released a newly taken portrait of King Charles and Camilla. In the picture, they stand alongside the heir, Prince William, and his wife, Kate Middleton.
Hidden meaning in latest royal photo?
The picture was taken at Buckingham Palace just before Charles and Camilla hosted a reception at the Palace for world leaders on the eve of the Queen’s funeral.
However, there were specific details in the rather unusual picture that caught the eye of the public. When out on royal duties – or in a public display – Charles usually avoids affection with his wife, Camilla. But this time, he placed his arm around her back.
Now, Harry and Meghan weren’t included in the picture described above. But according to body language expert Judi James, there are clear signs that Charles and Camilla are getting ready for an “attack.”
“As any tribe or dynasty knows, a show of unity, continuity, and strength is vital once it loses a leader,” James told Mirror. “The royals are making exactly the right ‘survival’ statement here, following the death of the Queen.
“This looks like a forming up under potential attack, particularly from the direction of the US, and Charles’ unusual PDA of placing an arm around Camilla’s back, mirroring her arm round his, could be seen as a message in the same direction, as there have been rumours that Harry could have been critical of Camilla in his new book.”
The photo was published as Charles and Camilla were carrying out their first royal engagements as King and Queen Consort following the end of the mourning period for Queen Elizabeth.
Camilla said to be “grief-stricken” after Queen’s death
King Charles and Camilla have mourned the Queen for weeks, and we’re sure that the Royal Family will continue to do so for some time yet. However, life has to go on. And from the day the Queen passed, Camilla and the Firm have shown their brave faces when in public.
Camilla has faced criticism in the past, especially regarding the affair with Charles while he was married to Diana. Now, that appears to be coming back to haunt her.
During the talk show Palace Confidential, royal editor Rebecca English, with the Daily Mail, explained that Camilla has felt very unsure about how the public will treat her when she officially becomes Queen Consort.
Moreover, the royal expert said Camilla has been looking “grief-stricken.” English explained King Charles and the Queen Consort’s relationship, saying: “I was with the King and Queen consort on Monday in Edinburgh and it was the first time I saw them since they came back to Buckingham palace after the Queen died.”
She added: “I think I said at the time she looked broken like really grief-stricken and obviously not quite sure of the reception she would get.”
As the reports of an affair between Camilla and Charles began spreading among the public, Queen Elizabeth showed her anger towards Parker Bowles.
“She knows how to handle him”
She was reportedly angry with Charles that he had lied about his relationship with her, calling Camilla a “wicked” woman and saying that she didn’t want anything to do with her.
That is something that still sticks with the Queen Consort, according to Andrew Pierce at the Daily Mail. However, today, things have improved markedly. Indeed, it even seems like Camilla is well-respected and loved by the public.
Also, according to the royal expert, Charles and Camilla have shown to be a “good team.”
“She knows how to handle him, they have been married 17 years, I think people forget that, she’s been with him longer than she hasn’t been with him in her whole life. They are good together they are a good team together,” English said.
It certainly does look like Camilla knows how to “handle” her husband. In fact, reports even suggest that she is the one calling some of the shots and influencing Charles to make big decisions.
One was when he fired his closest aide, Michael Fawcett, who was accused of offering a Saudi tycoon a knighthood in exchange for a $2 million donation to King Charles’ fund.
After stepping back, Fawcett resigned as the foundation’s CEO.
Camilla is “calling the shots”?
A friend of the royals, who decided to be anonymous, told the royal author that it was Camilla’s idea to fire Fawcett.
“[Camilla] said Michael had to go. She essentially ousted him. She was never really a fan of Fawcett, and she could see how damaging this could be to Charles’ reign,” Nicholl writes in The New Royals: Queen Elizabeth’s Legacy and the Future of the Crown.
Moreover, she’s said to have inserted herself at times into the strained relationship between her husband and his son, Prince Harry.
Just weeks before the funeral of the Queen, Camilla was said to have called Harry’s proposal “ridiculous.” As for what the future holds for the now-Queen Consort, we will have to wait and see.
What do you think of Camilla?
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