Camilla Parker Bowles’ Family Is ‘Fearful’ For Her When Prince Charles Becomes King
Over the last two decades, the public’s view on Prince Charles‘ wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall has changed a lot.
Immediately following Princess Diana’s death in 1997 Camilla was labeled public enemy No. 1. But as time went on many stances against her began to soften and when she and Charles announced their engagement in 2005 their choice to wed was mostly accepted by royal fans. What no one seems to want though is Queen Camilla and that has her family “fearful.”
Camilla Parker Bowles’ father didn’t want her to marry Prince Charles
Some members of Camilla’s family never wanted her to marry the Prince of Wales in the first place, especially her father Bruce Shand.
Camilla’s dad had been a big fan of his daughter’s first husband Andrew Parker Bowles. So when Camilla and Charles’ affair was found out, he was less than pleased. The Guardian reported that Shand called for a private meeting with the prince in which he accused him of “ruining his daughter’s life.” Charles was reportedly left in tears following the meeting and there were rumors that the two had multiple confrontations after that.
Shand, however, did eventually have a change of heart. In 2005, he attended the couple’s wedding and sang Charles’ praises calling him “very fair-minded and sincere.” He also said that he felt the royal would “make a perfect king” one day.
Why a member of Camilla’s family is ‘fearful’ for her
According to royal biographer Penny Junor, another member of Camilla’s family is “fearful” for her when Charles does become king.
The Express noted that in her book The Duchess Junor wrote, “At least one member of her family doesn’t want her to become queen for fear of a backlash.”
The author said that the same family member told her, “I think it would be better for [Camilla] if she became princess consort. I do so want her to be alright and I do worry that she won’t be. How is she going to be judged? That’s the thing I feel fearful about.”
The Duchess of Cornwall’s relative added, “Between Diana and [Queen Elizabeth] is a hard place to be. People might go a bit wild. The queen who’s been in our lives forever, the worship of Diana, and suddenly Queen Camilla. It’s going to be such a shake-up. I fear for them both.”
The title Camilla said she will take once Charles ascends the throne
It’s not just Camilla’s family, it’s also the duchess herself who doesn’t want to be queen consort. Junor explained that the prince’s wife never wanted any parts of that queen title.
“Friends and family know it is not something she wants — she has said as much,” Junor revealed in The Duchess. “[Camilla] is in this position because of her love of the man, not because of her desire to be anything more than a support to him. The whole business of his accession is something she dreads and, in her inimitable way, is choosing not to think about.”
In March, a rep for Charles and Camilla told the Daily Star, “The intention is for the duchess to be known as princess consort when the prince accedes to the throne.”
