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Original poster

To have warmed to Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall

242 replies

octonaught · 04/02/2018 09:15

I am old enough to remember the Diana years really clearly, including Charles & Diana’s wedding.
At the time I thought Camilla was awful “there were 3 of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded” said Diana, the media minx.
All 3 players, Diana, Charles & Camilla were victims of the protocols of the time, ie the future Queen needed to basically be a Virgin, & Charles & Diana basically had an arranged marriage, which just didn’t work out, but due to their position they weren’t allowed to quietly go their separate ways.
Charles & Camilla have —officially— been together over 20 years. Camilla has kept her head down & they look like a very happy couple.

I don’t know about the political ramifications of Camilla being queen or not. But as a person, she seems ok.

OP posts:
MorganKitten · 05/02/2018 13:28

I've always liked her - also Diana had her own number of affairs which people seem to forget...

lalalalyra · 05/02/2018 14:40

Meghan won’t really have to fit in in any major way though. The Royal duties of Royals who are not in direct line to the throne, which Harry very much is not anymore, is being scaled back. Whether Meghan and Harry’s marriage lasts, well I think they have the same odds as anybody else. Perhaps slightly higher odds on lasting because there won’t be things like money worries to factor in.

Harry's duties are going to increase in the short term.

Just now there's HMQ, Philip (until recently), Charles, Camilla, Andrew, Edward, Sophie & Anne full time. Plus William, Kate, Harry, Duke of Kent, Michael of Kent, Duke of Gloucester & Princess Alexandra as part time or occasionals.

In a few years that list will be quite a bit shorter, but George, Charlotte and the new baby will still be too young to be added.

Even if William gets his way and scraps individual patronages they'll still need bodies to promote topics like mental health and to cut ribbons.

Eventually I think Harry & Meghan will take over from Edward and Sophie as the international wedding & event attendees.

raisedbyguineapigs · 05/02/2018 16:22

I think the Royal entourage is going to be cut quite severely when HM goes though. It can't survive the modern era with the number of freeloaders it hascat the moment. If Charles gets his wish and reduced the RD to the heir and their immediate family, as rumoured, Harry will have few Royal duties. If you want to cut the current Duke of York and his freeloading children out you have to do the same to the future Duke of York too. He can still help run Invictus.

JJPP123 · 05/02/2018 16:25

Indeed, tricky though as Charlotte and the new baby woukd be working royals until George is King. What are they supposed to do with themselves then?

SpeghanSparkle · 05/02/2018 16:30

Had anyone started a sweepstake at Ladbrokes as to how long the Marks&Spencer wedding will last?

Original poster
octonaught · 05/02/2018 17:14

Charlotte will probably end up being the next Princess Royal, as eldest daughter of King William V. Although Andrew is a 2nd son, he is a 3rd child, and primogeniture has been enshrined so the adult baby Cambridge will be a duke or princess who is probably part of the working royals. (If there is still a royal family)

OP posts:
Primarkismyonlyoption · 05/02/2018 17:34

I utterly respect the Queen. Her sense of duty has never wavered. I think the Monarchy will change when she dies. What a life lived.

Primarkismyonlyoption · 05/02/2018 17:35

Im betting on a baby Alice

JJPP123 · 05/02/2018 17:38

I feel respect for the queen, possibly due to her age, I don't know.
I don't really have the same respect for Charles and I certainly don't for William. The idea that these people are our betters is difficult for me to comprehend.

Primarkismyonlyoption · 05/02/2018 17:42

Me too JJ. Advantaged by birth goes against what any society should stand for.
The real pisstake was when Kate was described as working class. Was it Marlborough College at over 30000 per yr? Happy to be corrected. But its hardly like one of the kids on my estate growing up to be Queen!

Primarkismyonlyoption · 05/02/2018 17:43

I thought Diana was stunning.

HappyFeet1212 · 05/02/2018 17:45

The idea that these people are our betters is difficult for me to comprehend.

...because they're not better.

I find it embarrassing that we still have a monarchy. It's outdated to say the least.

They have stood by & watched austerity rip this county apart whilst lavishing millions on Kensington Palace. I call bullshit on all of them.

x2boys · 05/02/2018 17:54

Imo I thought princess Margaret when she was young was far more attractive than Diana but Beauty is very subjective .

Queenoftheblitz · 05/02/2018 18:00

No I haven't warmed to her.
Selfish woman who described Diana as a "mouse" when Charles asked her what she thought of her.
Camilla also gave regular stories to the tabloids about "mad Diana".
Cruel woman.

Basseting · 05/02/2018 18:08

At 32 the heir to the throne married a teenager from a broken home.

He and his (main) mistress then carried on their affair, before during and after the wedding and during the production of his children.

I think he is despicable. I dont have much more time for Camilla.

PinkSparklyPussyCat · 05/02/2018 18:35

@Basseting, do you think Diana was ‘despicable’ for her affairs with married men?

Basseting · 05/02/2018 18:44

I don't think she behaved well later on, no, but the thread is about Camilla, not Diana... It was Charles whom I called 'despicable'.
And yes I think his behaviour was far far less excusable than Diana's.

I could never take seriously a King to be who apparently said he wanted to be someone's sanitary protection?
(much he cares I am sure, but that is my opinion)

AgathaF · 05/02/2018 18:50

Charles could choose not to have a coronation, but instead use the title of the Duke of Cornwall and let the crown pass to William. I think his ego is too huge to do that, though - why should or would he do that. His whole life has been training to be king. I actually think he'll make a reasonable king, but what I think doesn't matter. It is what it is, and if he's still alive when the time comes then he'll be king.

Butterymuffin · 05/02/2018 18:55

That's not going to happen. It would be almost unheard of for an heir to pass on the throne without ever attempting to take on the role. It'd be different if he had already done it for 30 years.

Primarkismyonlyoption · 05/02/2018 18:57

I agree agatha as firstborn his life has been towards being king. Whilst i respect the queen her mothering was second to the role and very with its time in the aristocracy. Hands off and weeks away. Charles in particular had less choices and freedom as future king. He was married off in a way that never happens now. He has done A LOT for charity particularly for young people. He has been vilified for something which he was not culpable beyond being an unfaithful men. Loads of men are unfaithful every day. I used to think badly of him but i actually feel sorry for him. He didnt go running to do documentaries to put his story forward. I think as harry and wills' father he deserves the crown. And also to be loved and to love the woman at his side.

RoseAndRose · 05/02/2018 19:02

"I'm not suggesting it's a popularity contest. Charles could choose not to have a coronation, but instead use the title of the Duke of Cornwall and let the crown pass to William. I think his ego is too huge to do that, though."

It doesn't work like that.

He becomes king when Elizabeth dies, and the two events are proclaimed together "The Queen is dead. Long live the King'

The coronation is a formality, usually a year or so into the reign.

KateMiddletonsOtherMum · 05/02/2018 19:04

Edward VII was unpopular as POW but became a very good King. It's claimed that WWI would not have happened had he stayed alive to explain to Wilhelm that was would be a very bad idea.

MrsDilber · 05/02/2018 19:08

Yes I've mellowed towards her to. I wouldn't mind her being Queen. His DC support them, that's good enough for me.

King in waiting or not, you really do only live once and you should strive to be happy.

kooshbin · 05/02/2018 19:20

Charles will automatically become king the instant the Queen dies, hence the phrase "The King is dead, long live the King". The coronation has nothing to do with the law which is what makes him king. Edward VIII didn't have a coronation, yet he was king until he abdicated. Abdication is only way for Charles not to be king and there's no way he'll do that.

The RF and aristocracy have usually done things differently from us plebs. Lots of marriages that were more like business contracts, such as the spate of impoverished Dukes marrying rich American society women. She got a title, and he got money.

One prospective bride for Charles was Amanda Knatchbull, grand-daughter of Louis Mountbatten. According to wikipedia, Charles had discussions with Amanda's mother who (by the sounds of it) politely told him to back off. Not least that Charles at that time was 25 and Amanda was 16.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lady_Amanda_Ellingworth

I would think that both Charles and Camilla were well aware that marriage at that level isn't the same as for the rest of us, and that affairs were (still are?) quite commonplace. It could be that Diana didn't fully realise that and believed in the fairy-tale.

kooshbin · 05/02/2018 19:26

x-post with RoseAndRose. I was dithering, trying to find a Terry Pratchett quote which demonstrates very well how monarchy works, and I've now found it:

www.goodreads.com/quotes/66881-the-only-thing-known-to-go-faster-than-ordinary-light

(A bit off topic, I suppose.)