Queen Camilla delivered a blunt three-word retort to King Charles regarding her new title, as she 'hated the idea of it,' a royal insider has claimed. The couple reportedly held differing views when Charles ascended the throne following the late Queen's death in 2022.
Camilla's Dislike for Royal Protocol
According to The Times's Tom Quinn, one member of staff revealed that Camilla despised the notion of becoming queen. She would regularly say to Charles, 'Can't we get away from all this protocol? It's all b******s.' The monarch, who famously disapproves of profanity, would courteously respond: 'You're doing it [becoming queen] for me, darling.'
Despite her aristocratic upbringing, Camilla is known for her irreverently playful sense of humour. Royal biographer Penny Junor told Vanity Fair: 'She always has a twinkle in her eye and is a terrible giggler, often reducing Charles to fits of giggles too.'
Camilla's Birthday Gift from Charles
Camilla, who turns 79 on Friday, July 17, was given a 'brilliant but amazing' gift by Charles for her birthday last year. The monarch presented his wife with a clingfilm holder, delivered by a submarine commander whose crew once used the everyday household item to keep a nuclear vessel operational. Camilla commented: 'There's nothing more useful, brilliant how wonderful.'
Camilla's Personality and Relationship with Charles
Junor noted in her biography of the then Duchess that Camilla harboured no grand aspirations. 'She wanted no more from life than to be happily married to an upper-class man and live a sociable life in the country with horses, dogs, children, and someone to look after them all and do the hard graft.' The profound connection with Charles, Junor added, stemmed from Camilla's unwillingness to observe formality. 'She treated him like a normal person, as she had when they were together, and if ever he behaved badly, or was selfish or thoughtless, she wasn't afraid to tell him so. She was a proper friend.'
Charles's Early Impressions of Camilla
Charles was instantly captivated by the upper-class horsewoman he encountered at a polo match, Junor writes in The Duchess: The Untold Story. 'He loved the fact that she smiled with her eyes as well as her mouth, and laughed at the same silly things as he did. He also liked that she was so natural and easy and friendly, not in any way overawed by him, not fawning or sycophantic. In short, he was very taken with her, and after that first meeting he began ringing her up.'
Stepfamily Dynamics
By contrast, Prince Harry and Prince William required considerable time to warm to their stepmother, referring to her through various unkind nicknames. However, Kate Middleton derives great amusement from reminding her husband that Queen Camilla descends from Alice Keppel, who served as the favourite mistress of King Edward VII – whom William increasingly resembles.
Cambridgeshire Live approached Buckingham Palace for comment.
