Queen Camilla is affectionately known as "the lady boss" by some aides at Clarence House, according to journalist and author Hilary Rose. The nickname was shared in a recent column, offering a glimpse into how staff perceive the Queen's leadership style.
Path to the Throne
Following the death of Queen Elizabeth II on September 8, 2022, Camilla became Queen Consort as Charles ascended to the throne. She is set to visit the Welsh village of Aberfan alongside the King and the Prince of Wales on October 21 to mark the 60th anniversary of the disaster.
During his first address as monarch, Charles III paid tribute to his wife's "loving help" and her dedication to "loyal public service". Camilla was crowned alongside King Charles III at the King's coronation on May 6, 2023.
Overcoming Early Doubts
Rose, author of The Secret Diary of Queen Camilla, has suggested that Camilla's path to the role was not always assured, with the late Queen reportedly having once described her as "that wicked woman". Despite this, the two women ultimately found common ground through their shared love of horses and dogs, according to Rose.
In 2022, the late Queen declared it her "sincerest wish" that Camilla be recognised as Queen Consort when Charles became King, reports the Express.
Stepping Up Duties
Since taking on her royal duties, Camilla has assumed a significant role within the Royal Family, particularly following King Charles's cancer diagnosis. In March 2024, it emerged that the Princess of Wales had also been diagnosed with cancer, leading Prince William to devote more time to supporting his wife and their three children, reports Cambridgeshire Live.
Following Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's announcement in January 2020 that they were stepping back as working royals, and Princess Anne's hospitalisation in June 2024 after a horse-riding incident, Camilla has "stepped up her duties with cheerful good humour and the energy of someone considerably younger", Rose observed.
Writing in the Daily Mail, she noted: "She is known by some aides at Clarence House as 'the lady boss', and a friend says that she has succeeded 'just by being herself'. Camilla was not, they added, someone who could be pushed about, but nor was she liable to have a hissy fit."
"After the histrionics of Harry and Meghan and the disaster that is Prince Andrew, it came as a relief to have someone in the palace who kept calm and carried on."
Recognition and Public Engagements
The Marchioness of Lansdowne also praised Camilla's commitment to her responsibilities, telling The Sunday Times shortly before the coronation: "She is resilient, and she was brought up with this extraordinary sense of duty. It has stood her in very good stead." As Tina Brown noted in her book The Palace Papers, if Camilla had a family motto, it would be 'thou shalt not whine'.
On September 28, 2024, Camilla accompanied Charles to Holyrood, where he delivered an address to MSPs during a ceremony commemorating the Scottish Parliament's 25th anniversary. He spoke of the "challenges we all share as inhabitants of a planet whose climate is changing dangerously, and whose biodiversity is being seriously depleted". The King, dressed in a traditional kilt, also expressed his hope that the anniversary would mark "the beginning of the next chapter".
His remarks came during a speech in which he described Scotland as holding a "uniquely special place" in the affections of the Royal Family.
Camilla's commitment to promoting a love of reading will also be in the spotlight tonight, as she is joined by four individuals to discuss the books that have shaped their lives on The Book That Changed My Life, airing on BBC Two at 9pm.
