Diana’s death overshadows Camilla’s 70th celebrations

A S WIFE of the heir to the throne, the Duchess of Cornwall might expect her 70th birthday to be celebrated with grand public events.

I hear that the July milestone will, however, go largely unmarked amid fears that it would be overshadowed by extensive commemorations of the 20th anniversary of Princess Diana’s death the following month. ‘Camilla is going out of her way to be as low-key as possible for her 70th, so that she doesn’t appear to be clashing with Diana,’ a royal source tells me.

‘There were originally plans for a television documentary on Camilla for her birthday, presented by Paul O’Grady, but this all seems to have been dropped as well, as it would have seemed to have been too attention-grabbing during the Diana commemorations.’

Comedian and presenter O’Grady declines to comment on the claims,

but a source at Clarence House, the London residence Camilla shares with Prince Charles, confirms there are no public events planned to mark the milestone.

‘Her Royal Highness has always been very low-key about her birthdays,’ says the source.

‘There will be a small event for the charities she’s involved with — possibly a tea at Clarence House.’

A wide range of events are planned to mark Diana’s death, including the unveiling of the first sculpture of her at Kensington Palace, where an exhibition of her dresses is already proving hugely popular.

A Clarence House spokesman declines to comment on Camilla’s 70th birthday plans.

The Diana Award — a charity established to promote the Princess’s belief in the positive power of young people — will commemorate her life with a range of events from the launch of a major international award, a groundbreaking app and a national Kindness Day.

Perhaps for Camilla there could be a national Marry Your Mistress Day?