Pariah who became a loved royal

SHE was once dubbed the most hated woman in Britain, so loathed she was said to have been pelted with bread rolls outside her local supermarket.

At best, she was one of the world’s famous mistresses. Even the Queen once referred to her as “that wicked woman” and that she “wanted nothing to do with her”.

Which makes her transformation to our Queen Camilla all the more remarkable. In fact the woman once seen as a national pariah is now well on the way to becoming a national treasure.

That’s taken resilience and a public relations strategy.

PR guru Marc Boland is widely considered to be the brains behind her “reputation management”.

Despite the vitriol after Princess Diana’s death, he is believed to have advised her to say little publicly, while engaging in charitable works.

With her understated wardrobe – old pumps, a safety pin used to hold up her cords –

The Queen saw Camilla had been supportive and loyal during her marriage

people’s minds changed about her. Then there were stories about her wry humour, her no-nonsense attitude and stoicism. Perhaps most importantly, she won over her mother-in-law.

When during her Diamond Jubilee in 2022, Elizabeth had to decide who to accompany her on her carriage ride through London, she chose Camilla.

And when the Queen said it was her “sincere wish” Camilla be known as Queen Consort when the time came, there were few voices of dissent.

Tina Brown, author of The Palace Papers, believes the Queen went through the same process as the rest of us.

“The Queen saw that Camilla had been absolutely supportive and loyal during her marriage to Charles, and that she has done every royal duty she’s been required to do with grace and charm,” she said.