Scandal, passion and history.. the perfect tale for my old friend Prince Charles
Pal of future king Pens Bridgerton-style novel author, 73, reveals royal link
One of Prince Charles’s oldest friends has written a Bridgerton-style historical romantic novel.
Lady Cecil Cameron – whose daughter was bridesmaid at Charles’s wedding to Diana – said she thought publishers might be put off by her male-sounding name so submitted it under a pseudonym.
But the 73-year-old is optimistic the future king will approve of The Italian Scandal, which is set in 19th-century Italy and packed with historical detail.
Cecil said: “He loves history. I did a great deal of research on the historical background and I think he’d like that.
“I submitted the manuscript under Rosie Cecil because I didn’t think Cecil Cameron was romantic enough. People often think I’m a man.
“I’m so proud of the book and glad it’s coming out under my name. Young women say it’s just like Bridgerton.”
Cecil is still considering whether to send Charles a signed copy.
The book – published by Harper North, £14.99 – is based on Cecil’s colourful grandmother and is set against Gar ibald i ’ s
1860 revolution and the unification of Italy.
Cecil, who lives on the family’s Highland estate, Achnacarry, near Spean Bridge, said: “The story has been smouldering away for years. I longed to write it but other things got in the way. I’ve been a mother to four children and had my work with Save The Children.
“I’ve always written stories and poems for my children. After I retired, I settled down to write it.
“My grandmother was the starting point. She came from Naples and her great uncle was a cardinal in Sicily at the time of the revolution so there’s a strong link there.
“I was always fascinated by Garibaldi. He went there with 1000 volunteers and rusty old weapons and took on an army of 25,000 men.
“People thought he was mad but he succeeded. It’s a terrific backdrop for
a novel.” Cecil researched letters and diaries written by Garibaldi’s red shirts.
She said: “They were very exciting and colourful first-hand descriptions. It gave me such a feel for it.”
She hopes Charles will appreciate all the period detail. They met when they were students in the 60s.
Cecil recalled: “We were both reading history. We were at different universities but met and became good friends. I was nevenever a girlfriend, just a good ffriend.”
Their friendship concontinued when Cecil left university and went to war- torn Vietnam witwith charity Save The ChChildren.
ShShe said: “Before I went to Vietnam,Vi I thought I’d becobecome a historian. When I came back, I only wanted to work withihSSave ThThe ChChildren
“I had four children and was particularly interested in the effects of conflict on children. “I went to Gaza, the West Bank and Northern Ireland. After one trip I came home and found a card from my five- year- old saying,, ‘Mummy, I hope you didn’t get shot.’”” Cecil married Donald Cameron,n, now chief of Clan Cameron, andnd their first child, Catherine, is Princece Charles’s goddaughter. Catherinene famously had the sniffles when he married Diana in 1981.
We were t differen at ities. I univers his was never d, just a girlfrien good friend