Queen Camilla experienced anxiety over a potential revival of the public disdain she experienced post-Diana's demise, following Queen Elizabeth II's passing on September 8, 2022, according to her ex-daughter-in-law, Sara Parker Bowles.
Sara Parker Bowles, previously married to the Queen's son, Tom Parker Bowles, from 2005 to 2018, revealed to a media outlet, "Tom expressed his concern that the past hostility might resurface following the Queen's death. Surprisingly, the public's reaction has been quite the contrary."
As a fashion editor, Sara bore witness to what she labels as Camilla's "hate years," a period when she grappled with gaining the favor of the British public. The resentment primarily stemmed from the collapse of the marriage between then-Prince Charles and Diana, Princess of Wales, intensified by Diana's premature death on August 31, 1997. Diana herself had famously insinuated her husband's extramarital affair with Camilla in a 1995 interview with the BBC's Martin Bashir, stating, "There were three of us in this marriage."
Sara further remarked, "[Camilla] faced a total lack of acceptance. She bore it with great courage and grace, never complaining."
The nation was deeply affected by Diana's sudden death, leading to the decision to keep Camilla away from public scrutiny, despite her evolving relationship with the future king. Camilla and the future monarch made their first public appearance as a couple in 1999, an event that was relatively well-received.
With their wedding in 2005, Camilla embarked on a journey spanning over 17 years to familiarize herself with her future subjects. When Queen Elizabeth II expressed her desire for her daughter-in-law to ascend as "Queen Consort," it was met with little public uproar. This response was unexpected, given the initial plan to appoint the Duchess of Cornwall as "Princess Consort" alongside her husband's ascension.
Despite these developments, a section of the populace remains hesitant to accept the woman rumored to be "Charles' true love." However, Queen Camilla's image underwent a significant transformation during Charles III's coronation on May 6. As Sara Parker Bowles noted, "Camilla was incredibly anxious. She sought the comfort of her loved ones. [The king] remained unfazed, but Camilla never sought any of this."
Queen Camilla, despite her moments of stress, has emerged as "the human face of the royal family," as per her former daughter-in-law's observation.
These insights were shared with The Times by Sara Parker Bowles.
