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As Camilla prepares to celebrate her 72nd birthday later this week, a historical glance back at her time in the Royal Family shows how perception of her has changed ever since her relationship with Prince Charles became public in 1994. At one time, her affair with the Prince of Wales meant the Queen reportedly shunned her own son while the public accused her of breaking up his marriage with Princess Diana. After Diana and Charles’ divorce was finalised in 1996 — Camilla had already been separated from her husband Andrew Parker Bowles for a year — the Prince of Wales began to ease his longtime love into the limelight.
It was allegedly around this time that the now Duchess of Cornwall began to consider the future opportunities she could have on Charles’ arm.
In 2016, one of Diana’s friends, Lady Elsa Bowker, told the New York Post: “Camilla started plotting to become the next queen [after the divorce].
“She thought the most she could hope for was to someday be the King’s mistress, but now Diana was out of the way and Camilla wanted more.”
In the article, royal biographer Christopher Andersen explained that there was even a supposed ‘Operation PB’, short for Parker Bowles.
It was supposed to increase Camilla’s popularity and make her “acceptable as Diana’s successor”.
Then by 2004, Camilla and Charles were considering making their relationship more official.
The New York Post explained: “Pressured by his mistress, Charles now made it abundantly clear to his mother that he was going to go ahead and announce the couple’s engagement — whether Her Majesty approved or not.”
Writing in The Daily Mail in 2012, royal columnist Richard Kay commented: “And whatever Mrs Parker Bowles wants, Mrs Parker Bowles gets.”
READ MORE: How Diana used to make ‘threats’ towards Camilla
Indeed the Queen stood in the way of Camilla’s supposed plan to sit besides Charles too.
She only allowed Camilla to become part of the royal fold once Charles agreed not to make Camilla his queen.
Camilla would have to take the title of Princess Consort instead, to show respect to his first marriage and to Diana.
However, as Mr Andersen pointed out: “Charles’ new wife had no interest in being Princess of Wales now or Queen later, Charles insisted.
“Whether he’ll stick to that promise remains to be seen.”
As Mr Kay added, Camilla is now “at the heart of the Royal Family” and is often found seated at “place of pride” across from the Queen.
