The tale of Charles and Camilla seems like something straight out of a movie or a love novel, but it is all true. Many things we do not know and perhaps never will, as with any other royal dynasty.
Their relationship, which defied all odds and criticism, has endured for 53 years and is still going strong.
The British media has always portrayed her as the other woman, but also foreign media have not been kind to her. Camilla Rosemary Shand, also known as Camilla Parker Bowles, has a reputation as a home wrecker. She did not mind the fact that Charles was married to Lady Diana stopping her from pursuing him, even though she was married too.
In short, it is a story in which some may recognize themselves or wish to, perhaps within an unhappy marriage that has to stay afloat somehow.
The fairy tale of the prince and princess that the world believed in soon revealed its harsh reality. Broadcasted worldwide on July 29, 1981, the royal wedding lost its dreamy and regal aspect, sinking into secrets and scandals.
The other woman – Camilla – made it and perhaps now embodies another ideal: that of a lover who becomes a queen, despite the reality of common mistresses who remain in the shadows.
Camilla has fought against all odds to gain the support of Queen Elizabeth and now takes the place of Lady Diana, whom the world believed to be the queen.
The Duchess of Cornwall, at 75, will be crowned Queen of England today alongside her lifelong companion, Carlo.
«I do not think anyone likes to be constantly watched and criticized.» Camilla recently told Vogue UK, adding, «I have learned that I had to find a way to live with it to survive.»
Carlo and Camilla: a love story that has lasted for 53 years
Their story has survived despite malice and gossip.
Cheating, scandals, and troubled marriages were fodder for the newspapers for years worldwide.
In 1970, Charles and Camilla were two teenagers fresh out of adolescence: he was 22, and she was 23; they met at a polo match when Camilla was dating Andrew Parker Bowles, who would also become her husband later.
People said Camilla did everything to make Charles fall in love with her. Her boyfriend was cheating on her with Charles’ sister, Princess Anne.
Rumor has it that during the polo match, Camilla told Charles: «My great-grandmother was your great-great-grandfather’s mistress; I feel we have something in common.»
Charles appreciated the irony and probably other things about Camilla losing his head over this girl who was certainly not fit to become queen, at least not according to the royals.
Camilla was not shy and pure enough to be accepted at court.
The strict rules of British monarchy etiquette were too tight for this outgoing girl, at least in her behavior.
The first crisis between Charles and Camilla: the love was broken
Camilla’s character is evident immediately.
Camilla did not want to be “the other woman,” a simple pastime for the future king, she left Charles. In fact, Charles never decided to ask her to marry him, and she didn’t like that at all.
The reasons why Charles did not give in probably had to face the pressures exerted by the Royal Family.
It seems that Lord Mountbatten, Prince Philip’s uncle, decided to send Charles to the Caribbean for military service in the Navy, just like his father. In this way, the Royal Family could separate the two lovers, and the story would have ended.
But even the Queen Mother did not see well the love story with Camilla. In the royal household, the rulers had already designated the throne to one of the Spencer sisters, above all the very young Diana thanks to her excellent family and, above all, without a cumbersome past like Camilla’s.
1973: Camilla got married
The separation ultimately worked. In 1973, upon the return from the Caribbean, Charles found Camilla married to her long-time boyfriend, Andrew Parker Bowles.
The relationship between Charles and Camilla remained cordial; they remained friends.
In fact, in 1974, the first Bowles child, Tom, was born, and Carlo even became his godfather.
Four years later, the couple had Laura Bowles, and everything seemed according to the Royal Family’s plan.
During that time, Charles met Diana, and the two couples began to see again. Diana and Camilla even became friends.
But Camilla’s figure re-entered Charles’ life very soon, and she became his lover even before the future king’s marriage.
Diana ended her relationship with Camilla and did not want to marry Charles anymore, but the Spencer sisters convinced her otherwise.
1981: Charles marries Lady Diana
Camilla was even present at Charles’s wedding to Diana in 1981. In 1982, the royal couple became parents of their first son William, and two years later, of Harry.
We do not know whether Charles broke off his relationship with Camilla during the first years of his marriage to Diana; some argue that they never behaved like true friends.
The fact is that when IRA killed Lord Mountbatten was killed for a bomb in 1979, Camilla was by his side, the only person who understood Charles’ trauma. For Charles, his uncle was a father figure since his relationship with his father was not good.
1986: Charles and Camilla are lovers again
A few years after his marriage, Charles starts meeting Camilla frequently.
In 1986, they became lovers again, and the press even published private and hot transcripts.
In 1995, both marriages ended in divorce. Charles and Camilla were free to see each other and could not hide their story.
Lady Diana gave an interview to the BBC, stating that her marriage was too crowded to hold. Perhaps Charles never truly loved her.
On February 10, 2005, almost ten years after Diana’s death, Charles and Camilla officially announced their engagement and got married on April 9 on the same year.
A secret child?
One thing is sure: since 2005, there have been no rumors about the Royal Family’s marriage.
No crises or infidelities.
Recently, there was a rumor about a supposed secret child of Charles and Camilla: Simon Dorante-Day.
Rumour has it that because he was born out of wedlock, the child has grown up with the king’s cook and gardener. Currently, there is no confirmation, only court gossip and rumors.
We could also give Publius Virgilio Maro, better known as Virgilio, credit when he wrote in “Eclogues,” “Amor vincit omnia”: love conquers everything.
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