The royal family initially disliked Camilla because she wasn't seen as a "suitable" bride for the future King; she was considered too "experienced" (having had previous relationships and an on-off affair with Andrew Parker Bowles), not virginal, and not from a high enough aristocratic background, failing the era's strict criteria for a royal spouse like the "pure" and perfect Diana. Key figures like Lord Mountbatten reportedly told Charles he couldn't marry her, and she was seen as too worldly compared to the ideal, scandal-free princess.
Dislike of Camilla in the royal family was not a single cause but a cluster: the stigma of an affair that coincided with a highly public royal marriage breakdown; class and image expectations; clashes in personality and style with court life; media-fueled hostility; and palace factionalism.
Prince Charles didn't marry Camilla initially because the Royal Family deemed her unsuitable due to her perceived lack of aristocratic lineage and past romantic relationships (not being a virgin), with powerful figures like Lord Mountbatten advising against it, while Camilla herself was torn between Charles and Andrew Parker Bowles, eventually marrying Andrew while Charles was serving in the Navy.
Royal expert Christopher Andersen tells Us Weekly that William merely "tolerates" his step-mom, while a family friend adds that "there's a lot to overcome. William and Harry had always distrusted Camilla and felt resentment toward her because of their devotion to their mother.
Royal expert Katie Nicholl said Queen Elizabeth II once referred to Camilla as "that wicked woman." For years, the Queen refused to sanction Camilla and Charles' relationship after their affair. But Nicholl said Elizabeth eventually warmed to Camilla, naming her as the next Queen Consort.
Prince George and his siblings call Queen Camilla "Gaga," a sweet nickname derived from the term her own grandchildren use, opting for a unique, affectionate name rather than a formal "Grandma" or "Nanny," according to royal reports.
Queen Camilla was diagnosed with a form of pneumonia following a chest infection in late 2024, which caused fatigue and led to her missing some public engagements, though she continued with indoor duties and worked towards recovery, managing lingering post-viral tiredness with rest. Her illness was initially described as a "nasty bug," but she later confirmed the pneumonia diagnosis herself, requiring a modified schedule for a period.
According to Koenig, Charles turned to Camilla for comfort after he learned the news. "Camilla was the only person to whom he could talk about anything," Koenig wrote in the History Extra article. "She was his best friend, his soulmate, and, after the death of his great-uncle, lover."
In his book, Yes Ma'am: The Secret Life of Royal Servants (via The Daily Mail) royal author Tom Quinn claimed that Harry and William called Queen Camilla "Lady Macbeth," "Cruella de Vil" and the "Witch of the West" as teenagers.
No, King Charles and Queen Camilla generally sleep in separate bedrooms, a common practice among the British upper class and royals, including the late Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, as it helps maintain their relationship and allows for personal space, with both having their own rooms at residences like Clarence House and private country homes.
He was dating her older sister who decided she didn't want that life style so her family pressured her to date Charles instead. Diana was young and naive and saw a fantasy lifestyle. Charles was told he couldn't marry the love of his life and so decided to marry the suitable Diana.
Tampongate or Camillagate refers to the controversy over a 1989 intimate telephone conversation between Charles, Prince of Wales (later King Charles III), and his then-lover, Camilla Parker Bowles (later Queen Camilla), which was published in the tabloid press in 1993.
She loved wearing brands, which included Chanel. However, the then Princess of Wales stopped wearing Chanel following her divorce. Apparently, the label's logo, the double interlocking C's, reminded her of the betrayal she had by Prince Charles because of his then-affair with Camilla Parker Bowles.
The Prince and Princess of Wales remain the most positively viewed members of the family, with 76% having a good opinion of William and 73% of his wife Catherine. These figures are both largely unchanged from last month, as is the 70% with a positive opinion of Princess Anne.
I don't look at her as an evil stepmother,” he said, then continued, “I see someone who married into this institution and has done everything that she can to improve her own reputation and her own image for her own sake.”
“The queen didn't want Camilla around in the early days because their relationship was so damaging to the monarchy, but on a personal level, she has always liked Camilla,” Junor says. “They have a lot in common, particularly their love of dogs and horses.
Diana's friends are reported to have described Hasnat as the "love of her life" and to have spoken of her distress when she ended their relationship. He, however, is said to be reticent about speaking of how much he may have meant to her or even how much she meant to him.
I omitted obey from my vows.
Since marriage, Ann will bow to Camilla on official Royal duties.
Yes, Prince William and Kate Middleton sleep in the same bed, often with their dog Orla, a revelation Prince William shared, highlighting a more modern, relatable approach to royal life compared to past generations who sometimes used separate beds for status or privacy. While they have separate bedrooms for some downtime and might use separate beds when traveling on the royal train due to its layout, their usual arrangement at home is together, with their dog as a regular bedfellow.
Queen Camilla experienced a chest infection, later revealed to be a form of pneumonia, which forced her to cancel engagements in late 2024, leading to ongoing post-viral fatigue requiring rest and a modified schedule, though she has since recovered from the acute illness. She confirmed the pneumonia diagnosis during a state visit, managing indoor events but avoiding strenuous outdoor activities due to tiredness.
Queen Camilla was once a heavy smoker - but stopped the habit years ago.
In 2010, Camilla spent several days in hospital and had to rest for six weeks after undergoing a hysterectomy – a major operation to remove her womb – when she was 59. Aides confirmed the operation was not cancer-related.
The two have been cordial, but there have long been reports that William doesn't really get along with his stepmother and that he even asked his father not to marry her before King Charles decided to go ahead with the marriage.