Expert Explains Why Camilla Parker Bowles Is Less Popular in the U.S. Than in the U.K.
Camilla Parker Bowles has been a part of the royal family since 2005—the year she married Prince Charles. She has often been a controversial figure, though she has risen in popularity in the United Kingdom.
However, in the United States, the Duchess of Cornwall is still not very well-liked by the public. A royal expert recently explained the differences between the two country’s perceptions of Camilla.
Camilla Parker Bowles has risen in popularity in the U.K.
Camilla first rose to fame in the 1990s when she was identified as Charles’ mistress during his marriage to Princess Diana. She was vilified by the media, and some members of the public accused her of tearing Charles and Diana apart.
However, she married Charles in 2005 with both of them having divorced their respective spouses in the mid-1990s. Since becoming a royal, Camilla has dedicated a lot of time and energy to supporting causes such as literacy and women’s health. She also works with organizations that support sexual abuse victims.
Thanks to her work, Camilla’s popularity has risen in the past several years. According to YouGov, Camilla is the 11th most popular royal, and she has an approval rating of 34 percent. She is more popular than royals like Meghan Markle and Princess Beatrice.
An expert explains why Camilla Parker Bowles is still not as popular in the U.S.
Despite Camilla getting some love in the U.K., she is reportedly not as popular in the U.S. Lee Cohen, an expert on U.S./U.K. relations shared with Express why this might be the case.
“I haven’t come across any polls on the topic here, but my sense is, here in the US where most people don’t understand the nature of a constitutional monarchy… and where people are often guided less by reason and fact and more by emotion, that there is less of a warm reception for the Duchess of Cornwall here than in the UK,” Cohen said. “This is owing largely to what Americans have concluded about events surrounding Diana, Princess of Wales.”
Cohen added, “Here, in the land of Housewives of Beverly Hills, where celebrity and glamour are king, Camilla’s genuine charms, professionalism and dedication to her husband and his position are less likely to move people. On this side of the Atlantic, someone who acts admirably can be less valued than someone with superficial notoriety or celebrity.”
He also shared that many people still remember Diana’s tragic life, which they see as a story of a “beautiful young woman wronged by a husband and failed by a monarchical system.” This would lead many people to view Camilla negatively.
Queen Elizabeth approves of Camilla Parker Bowles becoming queen consort
Charles will become king after Queen Elizabeth dies, and there have been some questions about which title Camilla would take. Previously, the palace had shared that Camilla would take the title of princess consort. However, Queen Elizabeth recently gave her approval for Camilla to be queen consort.
“When, in the fullness of time, my son Charles becomes King, I know you will give him and his wife Camilla the same support that you have given me,” she said in a statement during her Platinum Jubilee. “And it is my sincere wish that, when that time comes, Camilla will be known as Queen Consort as she continues her own loyal service.”
