Queen Camilla has overcome her reputation as the "biggest threat" the monarchy has faced, according to royal author Catherine Mayer, who says the Queen has taken to royal life "like a duck to water". Speaking on HELLO!'s A Right Royal Podcast, Mayer compared Camilla's trajectory with that of Meghan Markle, saying the two women have followed "opposite arc" in public opinion.
Mayer said Camilla went from being "probably one of the most hated women in the world" to being "solidly up there in the popularity ratings". She added: "She's now seen as a stalwart of the monarchy as opposed to the biggest threat that it faced." The author attributed the Queen's successful transition partly to her strong relationship with King Charles, noting their similar backgrounds, shared friends, and aligned world views. She also praised Camilla's "wicked" sense of humour.
Camilla first met the then-Prince Charles at a polo match in 1970, when both were aged 23. Their romance cooled after Charles was called away on naval duties overseas, and he did not ask her to wait for him. Camilla subsequently married Andrew Parker Bowles, with whom she had two children, while Charles married Lady Diana Spencer in July 1981. The couple remained friends, with Charles serving as godfather to Camilla's son, Tom.
Both marriages later ran into difficulty. Camilla divorced in 1995, and Charles was granted a divorce from Diana the following year. Charles later admitted to being unfaithful while still married to Diana, amid widespread rumours of a long-term affair with Camilla. The Queen has never spoken publicly about the subject.
