Early in Prince Harry and Meghan’s relationship, the gossip was that Meghan liked Prince Charles a great deal, and that she also had a pleasant enough relationship with the Duchess of Cornwall. I seem to remember the Sussexes visiting Charles and Camilla shortly after Harry and Meghan’s 2018 wedding, and I also remember the Sussexes postponing their honeymoon so that they could appear at an event with Charles and Camilla. It all went to hell though. While the Charles-Harry fallout is the bigger story, I’ve come to wonder what role Camilla played in the larger campaign to drive Harry & Meghan out of the country and the larger campaign to smear Meghan. Because after the Sussexit, it became clear that Camilla was quite pleased to have seen off another “rival.” Meghan’s beauty, hard work and charisma must have been quite triggering for Camilla, and even her own biographer makes it sound like Camilla was jealous of Meghan from the start, and Camilla hated how much attention Meghan got. Well, now that we’re in the midst of Camilla’s big birthday “refocus the narrative” extravaganza, Emily Andrews is here to tell us that Camilla has a “good relationship” with both Kate and Meghan:
It is that relationship [with Prince Charles], that love and constancy that has sustained her – they share a sense of humour, laugh at each other’s jokes and like nothing better than to holiday at Birkhall (Charles’ Scottish estate) together.
A friend says: “He’s settled and happy, and they have an incredibly warm relationship. It’s instinctive and none of it is for show. She’s very protective of him. She sees the whole business of royalty as a team effort. She takes it very, very seriously but is not always serious.”
They have also revelled in becoming grandparents. Camilla is very close to her children Tom and Laura, and sees as much of her five grandchildren as she can – going to southern Europe every year for a ‘bucket and spade’ holiday with them.
She kept her house Ray Mill in Wiltshire, as an “escape” and will often be driven back there after a formal dinner at Charles’s Cotswolds house Highgrove, so she can kick off her shoes, put on a dressing gown, pour a glass of wine and watch TV (Strictly Come Dancing is a favourite) while Charles works into the small hours.
Always welcoming of other royal women, she extended the hand of friendship to both Kate and Meghan – and enjoys a good relationship with both.
O RLY? Because for the past year, royal commentators were definitely gleefully reporting consistently that Camilla hated Meghan on sight and thought Meghan was “scheming” and “too American” and too glamorous. They said Camilla hated Meghan for “what she did to Charles,” as in… Meghan was supposed to stay in the UK to be abused “for Charles.” Now Camilla wants credit for being friendly with both Kate and Meghan? Nope. And I’ll say this too – I think the fact that Camilla and Kate get along speaks unfavorably about both. Camilla sees Kate as a useful idiot, Kate sees Camilla as a manipulative a–hole, just like her own mother.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red, Instar, WENN.
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USA Rights Only – London, UK -20190608- The Royal family enjoy a day out as they participate in the Trooping the Colour ceremony, taking place at Horse Guards Parade, as they Queen celebrates her official birthday.
-PICTURED: Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge
-PHOTO by: Dominic Lipinski/PA Images/INSTARimages.com
-43392459.jpgThis is an editorial, rights-managed image. Please contact Instar Images LLC for licensing fee and rights information at [email protected] or call +1 212 414 0207 This image may not be published in any way that is, or might be deemed to be, defamatory, libelous, pornographic, or obscene. Please consult our sales department for any clarification needed prior to publication and use. Instar Images LLC reserves the right to pursue unauthorized users of this material. If you are in violation of our intellectual property rights or copyright you may be liable for damages, loss of income, any profits you derive from the unauthorized use of this material and, where appropriate, the cost of collection and/or any statutory damages awarded
- Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, meets young women who have been supported by The Prince’s Trust, ahead of the charity’s ‘Brilliant Breakfast’ campaign, at Clarence House, London.,Image: 630371072, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: ©Eddie Mulholland / Avalon
- Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, meets young women who have been supported by The Prince’s Trust, ahead of the charity’s ‘Brilliant Breakfast’ campaign, at Clarence House, London.,Image: 630371090, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: ©Eddie Mulholland / Avalon
- (Strictly for editorial use only and available until December 12th 2018) In this handout image provided by Clarence House, HRH Prince Charles Prince of Wales poses for an official portrait to mark his 70th Birthday in the gardens of Clarence House, with Their Royal Highnesses Camilla Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Willliam Duke of Cambridge, Catherine Duchess of Cambridge, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, Prince Harry Duke of Sussex and Meghan Duchess of Sussex, on September 5, 2018 in London, England.
- The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall with the Duchess of Sussex (right) at a garden party at Buckingham Palace in London which she is attending as her first royal engagement after being married. The event is part of the celebrations to mark the70th birthday of the Prince of Wales.
- The Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall and the Duchess of Sussex, listen as the Duke of Sussex (not in view) speaks during a garden party at Buckingham Palace in London, which the newly weds are attending as their first royal engagement as a married couple. The event is part of the celebrations to mark the70th birthday of the Prince of Wales.
- The Duchess of Cornwall (left) the Duchess of Sussex at a garden party at Buckingham Palace in London which she is attending as her first royal engagement after being married. The event is part of the celebrations to mark the70th birthday of the Prince of Wales.
- The Duchess of Cornwall (left) the Duchess of Sussex during a garden party at Buckingham Palace in London which she is attending as her first royal engagement after being married. The event is part of the celebrations to mark the70th birthday of the Prince of Wales.
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Royal Ascot 2018 – Day 1
Featuring: Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, meghan markle, Meghan Markle
Where: Ascot, United Kingdom
When: 18 Jun 2018
Credit: David Sims/WENN.com
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The official birthday of the British Sovereign has been marked by The Trooping of the Colour for more than 260 years. The royal spectacle sees over 1400 parading soldiers, 200 horses and 400 musicians take part in the annual event which is followed by an RAF fly-past over Buckingham Palace.
Featuring: Meghan Duchess of Sussex, Camilla Parker Bowles, Kate Middleton Duchess of Cambridge
Where: London, United Kingdom
When: 08 Jun 2019
Credit: Wheatley/WENN