The real Camilla…
Has quarantine introduced the true Camilla to the outside world?
For years, even decades, Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, had a ‘difficult’ relationship with the British public – but that same public has warmed considerably to Prince Charles’ wife in recent years. Now, at 72, particularly after the ‘quarantine effect’, has she become one of the most popular Royals?
Camilla – who first dated Charles in 1970 – was vilified for the breakdown of his marriage to the ‘people’s
Princess’, Diana. She was dubbed one of the ‘most hated women in Britain’ by the press in the Nineties – her popularity taking a further nosedive in 1997, after Diana’s tragic death in a car crash in Paris.
But now, over 20 years later, it seems Camilla’s reputation has, step by baby step, been rehabilitated. These days, she is said to be close not only to the Queen but to Diana’s sons, William and Harry.
Her warm personality, some careful choreography by the Palace (initially, she wasn’t with Charles for public events), and her dedication to public engagements have helped transform her image, from a supposed ‘marriage-wrecker’ to a national treasure.
We’ve also heard tidbits in recent years that have led us to love her more. Her soft spot for all things Strictly, for instance, is well-known – and celebrity friends of this magazine have spoken highly of her.
One is best columnist Eamonn Holmes, who told us previously that she is possibly his ‘favourite Royal’ – wife Ruth Langsford agreed, adding, ‘She’s just so much fun. I don’t think people on the outside realise just how much of a giggle she is!’
And now, ironically when she couldn’t go outside, we’ve been introduced to the loving,
caring, funny Camilla.
Since lockdown began, Camila has fully embraced social media. It has given us fascinating glimpses of her home life with Charles, 71, reminding people of how relatable she is – and how genuinely passionate she is about good causes.
Early on, isolating at home with Charles as he recovered from Coronavirus, Camilla revealed that she’d got to grips – like the rest of the nation – with video app Houseparty, to catch up with family.
And her down-to-earth manner was evident when she guest-edited her first radio programme, The Emma Barnett Show on the BBC’s Radio 5 Live. She confessed, ‘I’ve never done this before, so anything could happen, but I’m delighted to be able to give it a go!’
But it’s not only on the airwaves that Camilla broke ground. Alongside her husband, the future Queen Consort has been one of the most prominent Royals during the crisis.
Though she didn’t leave the house– the couple were staying at their Scottish home, Birkhall House – we saw plenty of her, as anyone who follows their social media account, Clarence House, will know.
Knowing she couldn’t meet the public – which she does so often – she had to find another way to connect. For someone who once confessed to detesting the internet, and whose natural stance is to remain quietly beside her husband, careful not to steal the limelight, it can’t have been easy.
But get on with it she did, as Camilla always has. Their social media accounts don’t quite rival Kate and William’s, or the Sussexes – but this Royal couple now have almost a million Twitter followers and 1. 1 million on Instagram.
Casual, comfy and dresseddown during videos from home, and taking the lead in social media tributes for the nation on VE Day, not only does Camilla seem to have embraced the spotlight, it suits her. She’s positively glowing.
Fans were delighted when she also shared a favourite cake recipe (a chocolate biscuit cake) for the Big Virtual Lunch, and spoke of favourite books to encourage followers to ‘escape’ through the world of reading.
And who could forget the video of she and Charles opening their front door to thank their local postie for getting mail to people throughout lockdown?!
She showcased her acting skills – and sense of fun – in a celebrity-filled reading of Roald Dahl’s James and the Giant Peach for charity.
Reading glasses perched on her nose, Camilla joined Oscar-winner Lupita Nyong’o, actor Josh Gad and Academy Award-winning filmmaker Taika Waititi as they read in character.
She told Taika: ‘I’m not much of an actor, but I shall do my best,’ before delivering an entertaining reading – complete with accents, as she exclaimed: ‘Holy cats! Send a message to the Queen at once! The country must be warned!’
As for the Duchess’s role as doting granny to five, there wasn’t a grandmother in the land not nodding in agreement when she admitted simply that, after umpteen Zoom calls and socially-distanced meetups, ‘I can’t wait to hug my grandchildren.’
There were serious moments, too – such as when the Duchess, patron of the charity SafeLives, spoke about the elevated risk of domestic violence amid lockdown, and how victims could ask for help.
‘It’s been such a taboo subject for so long… but it has to be talked about,’ she told 5 Live. ‘What some of these women go through beggars belief.’
Now, husband-and-wife team Charles and Camilla have begun carrying out their Royal engagements again – all with strict social distancing.
Yet this time, as Camilla meets staff at an Asda depot, or chats to factory workers making scrubs for frontline NHS staff, it feels like we know the lady behind that unassuming smile just a little bit better…