When Did Prince William and Prince Harry First Meet Camilla Parker Bowles?
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall is famously known as Prince Charles’ mistress when he was still married to Princess Diana. Nowadays, Camilla is Charles’ second wife and a part of the royal family.
Being Charles’ sons, Prince William and Prince Harry, have encountered Camilla many times. However, when was the first time the two princes met Camilla?
When did Prince Charles have an affair with Camilla Parker Bowles?
Charles and Camilla dated for a short time in the early 1970s, when they were both young adults. Their families did not approve of the relationship, which led to their split. After they broke up, Charles and Camilla continued to keep in touch despite being married to different people.
In the late 1980s, Charles and Camilla began an affair together. During this time, William and Harry were young children.
After a few years, the affair became public knowledge. Diana also talked about it with journalists. Her version of events became the book Diana: Her True Story, and she spoke about it publicly during an interview with BBC’s Panorama as well.
When did Prince William and Prince Harry meet Camilla Parker Bowles?
Given the press circus surrounding Charles and Camilla’s affair, it’s likely William and Harry knew about it when their parents were still married. However, they reportedly did not meet Camilla until after Diana died.
According to an article by The Guardian in 1998, William first met Camilla in June of that year. It was not a planned meeting, however.
“The 30-minute meeting took place at St James’s Palace last month, with Charles present,” the outlet wrote. “The encounter, on Friday June 12, came about when 16-year-old William dropped in unexpectedly at the Palace, where Mrs Parker Bowles has become a regular visitor.”
The Guardian said that William and Camilla met for tea and lunch twice after that initial meeting. There were also plans for Camilla to meet with Harry “sooner rather than later.”
Prince William and Prince Harry supported their father’s marriage in 2005
Charles and Camilla kept their relationship on the down-low in the years after Diana’s death. Nonetheless, they became more open about their romance in the early 2000s and decided to tie the knot in 2005. Because of how popular Diana was, many onlookers did not support the marriage.
However, William and Harry remained supportive of their father’s remarriage. The princes were present at the wedding, and Harry even spoke positively about Camilla.
Harry said (per Mirror), “To be honest, she’s always been very close to me and William. She’s not a wicked stepmother. Look at the position she’s coming into. Don’t feel sorry for me and William, feel sorry for her. She’s wonderful woman and she’s made our father very, very happy which is the most important thing. William and I love her to bits.”
Despite the opposition to their marriage, Charles and Camilla have been married for over 15 years now.
