The love between Queen Camilla and King Charles has endured all things. The royal couple celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary last month.
But their unconventional romance has even deeper roots, tracing back to before either’s first marriages.
Nonetheless, the public memory of Princess Diana loomed large for many years over their relationship. It also affected how royal fans regarded both Camilla and the then Prince of Wales.
But beyond that, the perception also had ramifications on how Camilla, as partner to the future monarch at the time of their wedding, was subsequently positioned as a member of the royal family.
Queen Camilla title
Now known as Queen Camilla – which she became at King Charles’ coronation in 2023 – her status has become assured.
In 2022, the late Queen Elizabeth II called it her “sincere wish” that Camilla would become Queen Consort when Charles became monarch.
However, for many years, the public’s opinion on Camilla wasn’t great.
It’s understandable why Camilla shied away from being known as Princess of Wales.
And so, when she married the then Prince Charles in 2005, it was decided she would come to be referred to in a different manner to his first wife.
Diana became the Princess of Wales when she and Charles married in 1981.
However, instead of living a royal life in the shadow of Princess Diana, reports claim that Camilla wanted a different title.
‘Millions of people resented Camilla’
Royal author Christopher Andersen told Fox News Digital last year: “It’s understandable why Camilla shied away from being known as Princess of Wales.”
He went on to claim: “She was Princess Diana’s hated arch-nemesis. Diana called Camilla ‘the rottweiler’. Camilla’s nickname for Diana was ‘Barbie.’. The two women were fierce arch-rivals.”
The royal expert reportedly added: “Millions of people resented Camilla. And it hardly would have been in her best interest to rub their noses in it by insisting on calling herself Princess of Wales.”
And so, reports claimed Camilla took on the title of the Duchess of Cornwall to lessen comparisons.
She also assumed the title of the Duchess of Rothesay in Scotland.
Princess Kate ‘reservations’ over Princess of Wales title
Additionally, royal author Robert Jobson has also previously indicated Kate Middleton had reservations about having the title so closely associated with her late mother-in-law.
When Charles became king in September 2022, Prince William and wife Kate became the Prince and Princess of Wales.
“She knew she’d inevitably be compared with Diana, whose untimely death had provoked such a tsunami of anger and grief,” Mr Jobson wrote. “And she was right.”
Mr Jobson went on: “In the end, however, she accepted her promotion with good grace. That was out of respect for her husband and the king. Enough time had passed to make the title more palatable. And Catherine had been on the world stage long enough to be appreciated for her own qualities.”
