Sports
UK News
When King Charles III and Camilla Parker Bowles officially tied the knot on April 9, 2005, their wedding marked the end of a decades-long journey, and the beginning of a new chapter for the royal family.
But behind the smiles on the steps of St George’s Chapel in Windsor was a history of resistance, emotional complexity, and firm opposition from some of the people closest to the king.
According to Prince Harry‘s 2023 memoir Spare, both he and his older brother Prince William made a heartfelt plea to their father during a private conversation, urging him not to marry Camilla.
“We support you,” we said. “We endorse Camilla,” we said. “Just please don’t marry her. Just be together, Pa,” Harry wrote in Spare.
Their request came after their first official meeting with Camilla in 1998-just one year after Princess Diana‘s tragic death in Paris. The brothers expressed concerns that a royal wedding would reopen public wounds, especially given the press’s fixation on their late mother.
Harry later wrote, “It would incite the press. It would make the whole country, the whole world, talk about Mummy, compare Mummy and Camilla, and nobody wanted that. Least of all Camilla.”
Royal Roadblocks and Public Perception
The Prince of Wales’ path to marriage with Camilla wasn’t just fraught with family objections-it also faced institutional resistance. Queen Elizabeth II herself was originally against the union.
According to royal biographer Tom Bower, the late Queen once reportedly told Charles that she would “not condone his adultery, nor forgive Camilla for not leaving Charles alone to allow his marriage to recover.” She also allegedly referred to Camilla as “that wicked woman.”
Despite this, the Queen eventually softened her stance. By 2000, she attended a lunch with Charles and Camilla, signaling public acceptance of the relationship. While she skipped the civil ceremony in 2005, she did attend the religious blessing, a key moment in legitimizing the union within royal circles.
Camilla also faced harsh criticism from the public following the collapse of Charles and Diana‘s marriage in 1992. She was vilified by many as the “other woman,” prompting Charles to enlist the help of spin doctor Mark Bolland to reshape public perception.
One of Bolland‘s first strategic moves came in 1999, when Charles and Camilla were photographed leaving the Ritz Hotel together-an orchestrated moment known as “Operation Ritz.”
Harry alleged that Camilla‘s efforts to win public favor came at a personal cost to him. He wrote that she played the “long game,” and accused her of leaking stories to the press that painted him in a negative light.
Nevertheless, the wedding went ahead in 2005. While it was postponed by a day to allow Charles to attend Pope John Paul II‘s funeral, the ceremony was largely celebrated without controversy.
Queen Elizabeth even lightened the mood during her speech, joking about the event coinciding with the Grand National horse race.
From “Controversial” to Crowned
Despite earlier concerns, Camilla has since proven herself a vital and beloved member of the royal family. Queen Elizabeth II gave her full approval in 2022, expressing a wish that Camilla be known as “Queen Consort” when Charles took the throne.
Since Charles became King following his mother’s death in September 2022, Camilla has stepped into a central royal role.
Her public approval has grown steadily, reaching 55% in September 2022. And when King Charles was diagnosed with cancer in February 2024, Camilla increased her royal engagements significantly, further endearing herself to the public.
Meanwhile, Prince Harry, who stepped back from royal duties in 2020, has seen a decline in public support in the UK. In an unexpected twist, Camilla-once feared to be the cause of renewed royal controversy-now commands greater public approval than her royal stepson.
Two decades on, what was once a controversial romance has become a cornerstone of modern royal life. Camilla‘s evolution from outsider to Queen is not just a personal triumph-it reflects the monarchy’s capacity to evolve and endure.
This news was originally published on this post .
About the author
U.S. Open: Rains, lightning halt tournament at Oakmont
OAKMONT, Pa.—Rain and lightning have halted the U.S. Open on its final day. Sam Burns (-2) and Adam Scott (-1) are atop a leaderboard that's suffering through a wickedly difficult Oakmont course, and the wind and rain rolling in over the course of the afternoon made play even trickier.The suspension of play came at 4:01 ET. Play will resume if and when the weather clears.Oakmont was soaked in the weeks prior to the U.S. Open, then largely dried out until a deluge dropped more than an inch of rain on the course on Friday evening.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementOn Sunday, dark clouds gathered as Scott and Burns played their first few holes. Raindrops began falling as they were playing the sixth hole and suspended as they were standing on the tee at No. 8.Jon Rahm is currently the clubhouse leader at +4.
U.S. Open: Rains, lightning halt tournament at Oakmont
OAKMONT, Pa.—Rain and lightning have halted the U.S. Open on its final day. Sam Burns (-2) and Adam Scott (-1) are atop a leaderboard that's suffering through a wickedly difficult Oakmont course, and the wind and rain rolling in over the course of the afternoon made play even trickier.Oakmont was soaked in the weeks prior to the U.S. Open, then largely dried out until a deluge dropped more than an inch of rain on the course on Friday evening.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementOn Sunday, dark clouds gathered as Scott and Burns played their first few holes. Raindrops began falling as they were playing the sixth hole and suspended as they were standing on the tee at No. 8.Jon Rahm is currently the clubhouse leader at +4.
Bengals, Trey Hendrickson reportedly resume contract negotiations after edge rusher skipped minicamp
Defensive end Trey Hendrickson skipped the Cincinnati Bengals' minicamp this past week amid a contract dispute. The eight-year veteran is looking for an extension with his contract set to expire after this season.Hendrickson, 30, is set to be paid a base salary of $15.8 million but insists that he will not play this season under his current deal. He's seeking a long-term agreement that would put him among the NFL's highest-paid pass rushers.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHowever, not attending minicamp may have moved the negotiation process forward. Hendrickson and the Bengals have resumed discussions on a new contract, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports. How much of a gap exists between the two sides has not been reported.Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett is currently the league's highest-paid pass-rusher after agreeing in March to a four-year extension that pays him an average annual salary of $40 […]
Bengals, Trey Hendrickson reportedly resume contract negotiations after edge rusher skipped minicamp
Defensive end Trey Hendrickson skipped the Cincinnati Bengals' minicamp this past week amid a contract dispute. The eight-year veteran is looking for an extension with his contract set to expire after this season.Hendrickson, 30, is set to be paid a base salary of $15.8 million but insists that he will not play this season under his current deal. He's seeking a long-term agreement that would put him among the NFL's highest-paid pass rushers.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHowever, not attending minicamp may have moved the negotiation process forward. Hendrickson and the Bengals have resumed discussions on a new contract, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports. How much of a gap exists between the two sides has not been reported.Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett is currently the league's highest-paid pass-rusher after agreeing in March to a four-year extension that pays him an average annual salary of $40 […]
Nick Castellanos crushes a grand slam, extending the Phillies’ lead over Blue Jays
Nick Castellanos crushes a grand slam, extending the Phillies' lead over Blue Jays | FOX Sports <!--> --> Video Details Nick Castellanos crushed a grand slam, extending the Philadelphia Phillies' lead over Toronto Blue Jays. 26 MINS AGO・mlb・0:23
Trey Hendrickson, Bengals reportedly in contract talks after minicamp holdout
<!--> All-Pro edge rusher Trey Hendrickson's contract dilemma with the Cincinnati Bengals seems to have taken a positive turn, with both sides reportedly resuming discussions this weekend.Hendrickson, who led the NFL in sacks last season with 17.5, voiced his displeasure over his contract situation all offseason. He has one year remaining on his current deal and is owed $16 million. He didn't participate in any of the Bengals' offseason, skipping out on the team's mandatory minicamp practices this past week and risking being fined up to roughly $105,000 as a result.The only time Hendrickson was seen for Cincinnati's offseason program was during voluntary workouts in May, when he expressed his disappointment with how the Bengals were handling contract talks. "We’ve tried to keep it the least amount personal as possible, but at some point in this process it becomes personal," Hendrickson […]
Related
U.S. Open: Rains, lightning halt tournament at Oakmont
OAKMONT, Pa.—Rain and lightning have halted the U.S. Open on its final day. Sam Burns (-2) and Adam Scott (-1) are atop a leaderboard that's suffering through a wickedly difficult Oakmont course, and the wind and rain rolling in over the course of the afternoon made play even trickier.The suspension of play came at 4:01 ET. Play will resume if and when the weather clears.Oakmont was soaked in the weeks prior to the U.S. Open, then largely dried out until a deluge dropped more than an inch of rain on the course on Friday evening.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementOn Sunday, dark clouds gathered as Scott and Burns played their first few holes. Raindrops began falling as they were playing the sixth hole and suspended as they were standing on the tee at No. 8.Jon Rahm is currently the clubhouse leader at +4.
U.S. Open: Rains, lightning halt tournament at Oakmont
OAKMONT, Pa.—Rain and lightning have halted the U.S. Open on its final day. Sam Burns (-2) and Adam Scott (-1) are atop a leaderboard that's suffering through a wickedly difficult Oakmont course, and the wind and rain rolling in over the course of the afternoon made play even trickier.Oakmont was soaked in the weeks prior to the U.S. Open, then largely dried out until a deluge dropped more than an inch of rain on the course on Friday evening.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementOn Sunday, dark clouds gathered as Scott and Burns played their first few holes. Raindrops began falling as they were playing the sixth hole and suspended as they were standing on the tee at No. 8.Jon Rahm is currently the clubhouse leader at +4.
Bengals, Trey Hendrickson reportedly resume contract negotiations after edge rusher skipped minicamp
Defensive end Trey Hendrickson skipped the Cincinnati Bengals' minicamp this past week amid a contract dispute. The eight-year veteran is looking for an extension with his contract set to expire after this season.Hendrickson, 30, is set to be paid a base salary of $15.8 million but insists that he will not play this season under his current deal. He's seeking a long-term agreement that would put him among the NFL's highest-paid pass rushers.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHowever, not attending minicamp may have moved the negotiation process forward. Hendrickson and the Bengals have resumed discussions on a new contract, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports. How much of a gap exists between the two sides has not been reported.Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett is currently the league's highest-paid pass-rusher after agreeing in March to a four-year extension that pays him an average annual salary of $40 […]
Bengals, Trey Hendrickson reportedly resume contract negotiations after edge rusher skipped minicamp
Defensive end Trey Hendrickson skipped the Cincinnati Bengals' minicamp this past week amid a contract dispute. The eight-year veteran is looking for an extension with his contract set to expire after this season.Hendrickson, 30, is set to be paid a base salary of $15.8 million but insists that he will not play this season under his current deal. He's seeking a long-term agreement that would put him among the NFL's highest-paid pass rushers.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementHowever, not attending minicamp may have moved the negotiation process forward. Hendrickson and the Bengals have resumed discussions on a new contract, ESPN's Jeremy Fowler reports. How much of a gap exists between the two sides has not been reported.Cleveland Browns defensive end Myles Garrett is currently the league's highest-paid pass-rusher after agreeing in March to a four-year extension that pays him an average annual salary of $40 […]
Nick Castellanos crushes a grand slam, extending the Phillies’ lead over Blue Jays
Nick Castellanos crushes a grand slam, extending the Phillies' lead over Blue Jays | FOX Sports <!--> --> Video Details Nick Castellanos crushed a grand slam, extending the Philadelphia Phillies' lead over Toronto Blue Jays. 26 MINS AGO・mlb・0:23
Trey Hendrickson, Bengals reportedly in contract talks after minicamp holdout
<!--> All-Pro edge rusher Trey Hendrickson's contract dilemma with the Cincinnati Bengals seems to have taken a positive turn, with both sides reportedly resuming discussions this weekend.Hendrickson, who led the NFL in sacks last season with 17.5, voiced his displeasure over his contract situation all offseason. He has one year remaining on his current deal and is owed $16 million. He didn't participate in any of the Bengals' offseason, skipping out on the team's mandatory minicamp practices this past week and risking being fined up to roughly $105,000 as a result.The only time Hendrickson was seen for Cincinnati's offseason program was during voluntary workouts in May, when he expressed his disappointment with how the Bengals were handling contract talks. "We’ve tried to keep it the least amount personal as possible, but at some point in this process it becomes personal," Hendrickson […]
Be the first to leave a comment