The wife of Prince Charles, Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, might have had a different reputation when she became part of the royal family in 2005. However, she must be acknowledged for her major role in transforming the heir to the throne from a morose prince to a happy and confident king-in-waiting.
According to royal biographer Penny Junor, Camilla's influence on Prince Charles cannot be ignored. Since being married to the love of his life, the formerly serious Prince Charles can no longer be described as a sullen royal who didn't laugh a lot in public.
Junor said that Camilla snapped her husband out of this sorry character whom wasn't well-liked. As a couple, Prince Charles and Camilla apparently share a great sense of humor together that she managed to make the future King of England endearing to the public.
Aside from their apparent good chemistry together, Prince Charles and Camilla also show exemplary teamwork. They are two of the most hard-working members of the royal family and Camilla is aware of her role as the one person who has to be by the side of the future King of England.
Camilla's efforts were not ignored by Queen Elizabeth. In 2007, Her Majesty awarded the second wife of his eldest son the highest honor of Royal Family Order of Elizabeth II.
Curiously, however, Queen Elizabeth had some misgivings about Camilla before she married Prince Charles. Junor also wrote that Prince Charles' mother actually asked his son to give up Camilla after the death of his first wife, Princess Diana.
Allegedly, Queen Elizabeth liked Camilla when she was still the wife of Andrew Parker Bowles. Her affair with Prince Charles, however, was a disaster for the royal family and it made Queen Elizabeth change her mind about Prince Charles' true love.
Queen Elizabeth refused to acknowledge Camilla's role in her son's life when Prince Charles and his true love kept on with their love affair when they were both technically single. According to reports, Queen Elizabeth would shun events if she knew Camilla was going to be there. Her Majesty also did not attend the ceremonial wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla, though she was present for the Service of Prayer and Dedication.
As time heals all wounds, Queen Elizabeth, as well as the British public, eventually warmed up to Camilla. Today, she is a valuable member of the royal family who has made Prince Charles indispensable as well.
