Aside from Kate Middleton and Meghan Markle, one of the most talked about royal wives is Camilla Parker Bowles. Over the years, fans have had mixed feelings towards her (her affair with Prince Charles in the past was an open secret), especially after she became a stepmother to Prince William and Prince Harry.
Today, the Duchess of Cornwall is also one of the most prominent senior members of the royal family, readily carrying out work for Queen Elizabeth. And though she certainly more experience in her role today, fans still believe that Camilla is the most awkward royal of the bunch.
She Has A Common Ex With Princess Anne
Prior to marrying Prince Charles, Camilla had been married to Andrew Parker Bowles. Prior to this marriage, however, Andrew had been in a relationship with none other than Prince Charles’ sister, Princess Anne. “It's unclear when their romance wound down, but Anne had no shortage of young men interested in her…,” author Sally Bedell told ELLE.com. Andrew married Camilla after his romance with Princess Anne fizzled out.
Meanwhile, Princess Anne went on to marry Captain Mark Philips (although they would split later). Nonetheless, it is believed she remains close with Andrew to this day.
Her First Meeting With Prince William Was Not Planned
It is believed that Camilla and Prince Charles’ oldest son first met back in 1998 at St. James Palace. According to a report from the Guardian, Prince William, who was 16 at that time, unexpectedly dropped by the palace, where Camilla had been a regular visitor. The meeting reportedly lasted for 30 minutes, and Prince Charles was said to be present the entire time. And while the palace never confirmed this particular detail, a spokesperson for Prince Charles confirmed to the publication, “Yes, Prince William and Mrs. Parker Bowles have met.”
Since their first rather awkward first meeting, William and Camilla reportedly met up again soon after. It is believed that they had tea and lunch together. Around this time, reports also claimed that Prince Charles was planning to introduce Camilla to the public, but those plans were cancelled following the death of Princess Diana.
Her Wedding To Prince Charles Seemed To Filled With Tension
Camilla’s wedding to Prince Charles in April 2005 was seen as controversial since Camilla was already a divorcee. The couple was also forced to do a civil ceremony after the Church of England refused to host them. Meanwhile, Queen Elizabeth herself did not attend their ceremony since she only attends religious weddings.
That said, the Queen later appeared to pose for pictures with the newlyweds, along with Princess Anne. However, that moment was reportedly rife with tension. Body language expert Judi James told Express.co.uk, “At the poses after their wedding the Queen and Philip stood back and away from the couple on the steps, which prevented any happy family photographs being taken and it looks very much as though Anne is equally unwilling to look anything more than frosty here, too.”
At the same time, the couple also had to deal with security concerns on the day of the wedding as they thought there would be uproar over their nuptials. “Camilla had to be prised out of bed that morning. She was absolutely terrified because nobody knew what was going to happen,” author Penny Junor, who was Camilla’s biographer, told Newsweek. “They didn't know whether they were going to have rotten eggs thrown at them or whether it was going to be a complete non-event.” Fortunately, they were only met with well-wishers.
There Was Also That Time When She Faced Off With An Eagle
The Sandringham Flower Show is typically a dainty affair. Back in 2015, however, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall had an encounter with a Bald Eagle that had other plans. When the attended the event, Charles and Camilla met with Zephyr, a bald eagle who also served as The Army Air Corps mascot.
It seems the majestic bird was eager to show off its form and flapped its wings while the royal couple was nearby. Both Prince Charles and Camilla were visibly startled by the bird. And while the moment did make for a hilarious photo, a spokesman from Clarence House told People, “It was less dramatic than the pictures suggest.”
She Had A Cringey Reaction When Asked About Harry And Meghan
When Prince Harry and Meghan had confirmed that they were stepping down as senior members of the Royal family and that they would be relocating, fans were eager to get reactions from their fellow royals.
While attending an event year, Camilla was asked about the couple, specifically if she would miss them. In response, Camilla smiles as she seemingly responded, “Hmmmm. Course.” Many thought that Camilla was throwing shade at Prince Harry and Meghan. However, it’s likely that the question simply took her by surprise.
The Duchess of Cornwall, along with Prince Charles, later celebrated the birth of Prince Harry and Meghan’s second child. In a statement, the couple said that they were “delighted” about the birth of their fifth grandchild.
