What Camilla Parker Bowles Will Really Be Like as Queen, According to Royal Insiders
Since Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles said "I do" in 2005, there's been endless talk about the Duchess of Cornwall one day becoming Queen. Now that Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip are in their 90s, even more tabloid speculation has surfaced, all theorizing about whether Camilla will take up the title Queen Consort or Princess Consort — the latter term being what she wanted when she and Charles got married.
But personal preference aside, various royal insiders think the Duchess of Cornwall will surely be given the Queen title when it comes time for Charles to take the throne.
"Most of the constitutional experts agree that by common law and tradition she is entitled to be Queen," author Sally Bedell Smith told People.
Of course, Camilla as Queen Consort won't necessarily assuage those who have a grudge against her after what happened between her, Charles, and Diana. But Penny Junor, reporter and author of The Duchess: Camilla Parker Bowles and the Love Affair That Rocked the Crown, tells GoodHousekeeping.com that public perception has greatly changed since the late '90s in the Duchess's favor. Further, Penny adds that those who doubt her will likely realize how great of a leader Camilla is once she's more in the spotlight.
"Camilla will be a hugely supportive consort," Penny declares to us. "She will give him [Charles] the strength and the confidence to do the job he was born to do. He will be a better king for having her by his side."
After all, since marrying Charles, Camilla has been carrying out duties on behalf of the crown for quite some time. According to PopSugar, she has become the president or patron of over 90 charities since 2005. In other words, this isn't exactly brand new territory for Camilla. But what might be, according to Penny, is the way the public treats her once she becomes closer to the throne.
"There is a big difference between being heir and duchess and being king and queen," she explains to us. "Their duties and responsibilities will be different, the public attitude towards them will be different, and I suspect that this will inevitably change them."
In terms of duties, Camilla, like Prince Philip, will be committed to accompanying the reigning monarch on official royal engagements, attending events solo on behalf of the throne, and most likely take up countless other leadership roles in various organizations (Philip was reportedly the patron of more than 780 organizations).
Just as Philip did, Camilla will likely focus on aligning with the charity work she is most invested in, which, according to her official profile, includes health, literacy, supporting victims of rape, sexual abuse, and domestic violence, empowering women, and the arts. Just as Queen Elizabeth passed on a number of patronages to other members of the royal family in 2016, Camilla and Charles will likely have to do the same.
"I am sure that they will keep up most of those charities and areas of interest, although Charles will inevitably not have time to be so hands-on," Penny says. "But overall, the workload will be shared equally between the two of them, William and Kate, and Harry and Meghan [once Charles becomes king]."
Royal responsibilities aside, Vanity Fair reports that Camilla and Charles are a very stable couple. In the publication's report, multiple sources —including various friends of the pair, Charles's former deputy private secretary, Mark Bolland, and Camilla's nephew, Ben Elliot — made it clear that the two work well as a team.
"They are both clearly great on their own. But two and two makes five in a big way here," Ben told the outlet. He added that "they enjoy each other's company so much" and that there's a "genuine, deep-down affection and love" that they have for one another.
"She does everything she can possibly do to support him. At the same time, he’s very proud of her. She’s very sharp and perceptive," Ben added.
Their love for one another might also signal a new chapter in royal protocol as well. Charles and Camilla have already become known for showing more PDA than Her Majesty and Prince Philip. And Penny says this is likely not to change even with their new titles and roles.
"I think they are a different generation and times have changed," Penny tells us. "Besides, Charles is still so besotted with Camilla, even after all these years, that it would be hard for him not to show his natural affection."
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