Queen Camilla’s Popularity Will Never Compare to Princess Diana’s as King Charles’ First Marriage ‘Will Define His Life,’ According to Former Royal Assistant
King Charles may be living happily ever after now with Queen Camilla (formerly Camilla Parker Bowles), but no one will ever forget the woman he was married to first.
In 1981, Charles married Lady Diana Spencer in what was dubbed the “wedding of the century.” Princess Diana became such a popular figure in the royal family, and most people immediately took her side when reports of marital trouble began.
Charles’ admitted affair with Camilla had people pointing the finger at her as the sole reason his marriage to Diana failed. Then, following Diana’s tragic death in 1997, things for Camilla only got worse as she was labeled public enemy No. 1. It took several years for people to finally warm up to her. But despite being married to the king for two decades she’ll never be able to eclipse Princess Diana’s popularity, according to someone who used to work for the royal family.
Here’s more on that and why King Charles’ first marriage may always “define him.”
Former royal employee convinced Charles’ marriage to Princess Diana will always ‘define him’
Paul Burrell began working for the royal family when he was 18 years old as one of Queen Elizabeth II’s personal footmen. He joined the household of then-Prince Charles and Princess Diana in 1987. Following their separation, he remained on Diana’s staff as her butler until her death.
Burrell believes that even though the king has been married to Camilla much longer than he was to Diana, his union with his first wife is what will “define his life.”
Speaking on behalf of Genting Casino, Burrell explained: “It is odd that it’s been 20 years. But it’s not Camilla who will define his life, even though she is the love of his life. It is another woman called Diana. Isn’t it strange to think Charles has been married to Camilla longer than he was married to Diana? But it isn’t his marriage to Camilla that will define his lifetime, it’s his marriage to Diana that will.
“I find this fascinating, but he has been married to Camilla for 20 years and they’ve survived because they love each other, and I have seen the public acceptance of her grow since they became married.”
King Charles ‘adores’ Camilla but ‘she’ll never be Diana’
While Burrell acknowledged that the monarch’s second wife has been largely accepted by much of the British public, he doesn’t think she’ll never have the popularity in the U.K. and around the world that Diana did.
He opined, “Queen Camilla’s popularity is nowhere near that of Charles’ previous wife. It will never be like that. Camilla isn’t Diana … They’re two very different women.”
He added: “But Camilla’s acceptance has grown, and Charles obviously adores her. Being of a similar age, they have so much more in common. Camilla is a great influence on Charles and she is a steadying hand that can say no to him. She’s the one person who can. When she guides him and says no to Charles, he listens.
“It’s good for him and it’s good for her that they have a working relationship that is real. She has a steady influence on the monarchy and on Charles. You have to commend her for the influence and the stability which she has brought to Charles’ life.”
