Camilla gets a nod from Queen
2002-06-02 10:28
London - Short of ascending to the throne soon, Prince Charles could create the next major British royal event after the queen's
jubilee, if he were to marry his lover of 30 years, divorcee
Camilla Parker-Bowles.
The death of the traditionalist Queen Mother on March 30
relaunched speculation of an official union between the two
long-time lovers.
Queen Elizabeth has softened her stance after years of refusing to acknowledge Camilla's existence.
Charles's longtime companion was invited by the sovereign to her mother's funeral at Westminster Abbey in April, although she was sat away from the other royals.
During the jubilee celebrations which opened on Saturday - in what was deemed an officialisation of their relationship - she was pictured publically for the first time with the queen since their relationship went public.
She joined Charles in a royal box for a special classical
concert in the gardens of Buckingham Palace to celebrate 50 years
of the queen's reign.
Polo pals
But, it has not been an easy road to acceptance for Camilla.
Born Shand on 17 July 1947, Camilla, 54, is a year older than
Charles. They met in the 1970s at a polo match.
The following year, at a party, Camilla reportedly asked him:
"My great-grandmother and your great-great-grandfather were lovers,
so how about it?"
Since, the Prince of Wales has never denied his feelings for
Camilla and even publically stated that she occupies a
non-negotiable place in his heart.
But, in 1973, while Charles dedicated himself to a naval career,
Camilla married Andrew Parker-Bowles with whom she would have two
children.
Prince Charles then married Diana Spencer in 1981 but later
admitted being unfaithful to his wife with Camilla.
Diana, mother of princes William and Harry, said of her rival:
"There were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded."
In 1992, the Prince and Princess of Wales split after
"Camillagate": the scandal erupted when the press released secretly
recorded, intimate and explicit, telephone conversations between
the two lovers.
Public opinion was firmly behind Diana, "Queen of hearts." In
the eyes of many Britons, Camilla will remain the woman who broke
up the most beautiful of royal marriages.
After Diana
Diana's tragic death in a car accident in 1997, a year after
divorce from Charles, made it even harder for a public closening of
Camilla and Charles's relationship.
Two years elapsed between their first public appearance together
in 1999 and their first kisses in front of cameras in June 2001 ...
on the cheek.
But in royal language this meant their relationship had become
more official.
Even the Church seemed to give its blessing to the remarriage of
its future figurehead, preferring to see a married king, rather
than a king with a mistress.
According to the latest opinion poll in May, nearly half the
country, 49 percent, are in favour of the couple getting married.
However, there is still a problem with Camilla. Only 30 percent
of Britons would like to see her reign while 66 percent of those
polled thought she should not even accede to the title.
"The fundamental question is whether they (the royal family)
want to do it," the British royal historian Philip Ziegler said.
According to him, a "compromise position in which she would be
called the Duchess of Inverness or something and would not be
formally queen if he came to the throne," could be found.
"I am quite certain it would not be pursued if it were to become
a constitutional crisis," he concluded. - Sapa-AFP
- SAPA