HAPPY BIRTHDAY MA’AM
AS THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL TURNS 70, KATHY LETTE SPILLS THE BEANS ON THE REAL CAMILLA
THE FIRST TIME I MET CAMILLA PARKER BOWLES AT A PARTY ABOUT 15 YEARS AGO, I ENQUIRED ABOUT THE PRESSURES OF BEING IN THE MYOPIC GAZE OF THE MEDIA SPOTLIGHT. CAMILLA IMMEDIATELY ENDEARED HERSELF TO ME BY REVEALING HOW WELL-MEANING AMERICAN MATRIARCHS, TAKING PITY ON HER WEATHERED COMPLEXION, CONSTANTLY POSTED THEIR COSMETIC SURGEONS’ DETAILS. INSTEAD OF TAKING UMBRAGE, CAMILLA CHORTLED, SELF-DEPRECATINGLY, THEIR EFFORTS ONLY SERVING TO GIVE HER MORE LAUGHTER LINES.
I HADN’T EXPECTED THE FUTURE QUEEN OF ENGLAND TO BE MORE DISARMING THAN A UN PEACE-KEEPING FORCE, BUT READING BETWEEN THOSE LINES THAT DAY, WHAT I SAW WAS WARMTH, WIT, COMPASSION AND GREAT STRENGTH OF CHARACTER. CAMILLA WOULD NEVER WANT A FACIAL EXPRESSION BY TAXIDERMY. HER ANIMATED COUNTENANCE IS ALIGHT WITH CURIOSITY, PERSPICACITY AND AMUSEMENT. THIS IS A WOMAN AT HOME IN HER SKIN AND AT EASE WITH HERSELF.
IN THE TOWER. THE FIRST TIME I ANNOYED THE ETIQUETTE EXPERTS WAS AT CLARENCE HOUSE WHEN I HOBBLED IN WITH A JOGGING INJURY. CAMILLA ASKED ME VERY KINDLY WHY I WAS ON CRUTCHES. “I FELL OFF MY TOY BOY,” I JOKED FACETIOUSLY. THE INTAKE OF BREATH FROM THE GUESTS WAS BORDERING ON THE ASTHMATIC, BUT THE TOTALLY UNPRETENTIOUS CAMILLA
JUST THREW BACK HER HEAD AND LAUGHED.
Groovy granny
INDEED, IT’S A TESTAMENT TO HER CHARACTER THAT SHE HAS SO MANY LOYAL, LONG-STANDING GIRLFRIENDS. ONCE A YEAR SHE HOSTS A “GROOVY GRANNY” PICNIC FOR HER BEST MATES. “A WHOLE GAGGLE OF GRANNIES ARRIVE WITH OUR RAUCOUS GRANDCHILDREN IN TOW,” ACTRESS JOANNA DAVID TELLS ME. “CAMILLA IS JUST LIKE EVERY OTHER DEVOTED, DOTING GRANNY IN THE WORLD.”
THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL’S LOVE OF CHILDREN HAS A WIDE REACH. THE UNICORN, THE UK’S LEADING CHARITABLE THEATRE FOR CHILDREN, WAS IN DESPERATE NEED OF A NEW BUILDING AND IN DIRE FINANCIAL STRAITS BEFORE CAMILLA CAME ON BOARD. “SHE WAS TOTALLY HANDS-ON FROM THE BEGINNING, CLIMBING UP THE SCAFFOLDING IN A HARD HAT, DESPITE HER VERTIGO,” JOANNA ENTHUSES. “SHE IS NOW OUR ROYAL PATRON AND REGULARLY ROCKS UP WITH HER GRANDCHILDREN FOR PERFORMANCES, WITH NO FUSS. SHE DOESN’T SUPPORT A CAUSE UNLESS SHE REALLY BELIEVES IN IT AND THEN SHE GIVES 300%.”
A real woman’s woman
SHE OFFERS THE SAME DEDICATION TO THE WOMEN OF THE WORLD FESTIVAL, AN ANNUAL CELEBRATION OF FEMALE ACHIEVEMENT. TO MY MIND, WOMEN SHOULD BE EACH OTHER’S HUMAN WONDER BRAS – UPLIFTING, SUPPORTIVE AND MAKING EACH OTHER LOOK BIGGER AND BETTER – AND CAMILLA IS DEFINITELY A HUMAN WONDER BRA. FEMINISM MAY SEEM INCONGRUOUS WITH HER ROLE AS THE PRINCE’S CONSORT. BUT CAMILLA USES HER POSITION AND POWER TO HIGHLIGHT IMPORTANT ISSUES
FOR WOMEN, SUCH AS DOMESTIC ABUSE.
CAMILLA HOSTS THE ANNUAL WOW
LAUNCH PARTY, DURING WHICH POSHER PALACE COURTIERS MUST UNDERGO A COLLECTIVE CARDIAC ARREST AS 60 OR SO OF US FEISTY FEMALES DESCEND ON CLARENCE HOUSE.
BUT IT’S CAMILLA’S ACCEPTANCE OF DIFFERENT PEOPLE THAT MAKES HER POPULAR ACROSS THE POLITICAL DIVIDE. FOUNDER OF THE WOW FESTIVAL, JUDE KELLY, SUMS UP CAMILLA WELL. “HER UNFLAGGING INTEREST IN THE LIVES OF WOMEN, HER UNFAILING HUMOUR IN THE FACE OF LIFE’S CHALLENGES AND HER INDEFATIGABLE BELIEF IN MAKING A DIFFERENCE HAS MADE THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL ONE OF MY FAVOURITE PEOPLE.”
THE FEELING’S MUTUAL, AS CAMILLA TELLS ME ABOUT HER ENTHUSIASM FOR THE FEMALE-CENTRIC FESTIVAL. “IN THESE TURBULENT TIMES, I BELIEVE THAT IT’S MORE IMPORTANT THAN EVER FOR WOMEN OF
ALL AGES, AND FROM EVERY WALK OF LIFE, TO UNITE. WOW PROVIDES THAT PLACE.”
“IT’S A TESTAMENT TO CAMILLA’S CHARACTER THAT SHE HAS SO MANY LOYAL, LONG-STANDING GIRLFRIENDS”
Inside Clarence House
WHEN THE ROYAL COUPLE WERE ABOUT TO EMBARK ON THEIR FIRST TRIP TOGETHER TO AUSTRALIA A FEW YEARS BACK, CAMILLA ASKED ME TO DROP BY FOR A CUPPA TO DISCUSS THE ITINERARY. I’VE ATTENDED
MANY SOIRÉES AT CLARENCE HOUSE, BUT WONDERED WHAT TO EXPECT IN THE ROYAL COUPLE’S PRIVATE QUARTERS. WOULD IT BE STUFFILY FORMAL WITH FOOTMEN AND FLUNKIES?
WITH SOME TREPIDATION I MOUNTED THE STAIRS… TO FIND MYSELF IN THE MOST COSY SITTING ROOM, CRAMMED WITH BOOKS AND DOGS, PAINTINGS WAITING TO BE HUNG AND DELICIOUS KITCHEN SMELLS… A ROOM THAT IS COMFORTABLE WITH ITS LOT IN LIFE – AS CHARLES AND CAMILLA SO OBVIOUSLY ARE TOO. THIS IS A COUPLE CLEARLY BESOTTED WITH EACH OTHER. AT OFFICIAL FUNCTIONS I’VE ATTENDED, WHEN CHARLES IS DELIVERING A SPEECH, HE CONSTANTLY GLANCES OVER TO HIS WIFE FOR AN APPROVING SMILE, CLEARLY MORE ELATED THAN THE MIR SPACE STATION.
“WITHOUT A DOUBT, SHE’S ENRICHED HIS LIFE AND MADE IT POSSIBLE,” SAYS JOANNA. HELENA AGREES: “THEIRS IS THE REAL LOVE STORY AND IT HAS STOOD THE TEST OF TIME.”
FOR HER BIRTHDAY, WHICH IS ON 17 JULY, THE DUCHESS REVEALS TO ME SHE WILL BE THROWING A PARTY AT CLARENCE HOUSE FOR ALL HER CHARITIES AND THOSE WHO HAVE WORKED WITH HER OVER THE 12 YEARS. SHE WILL ALSO BE HAVING A PRIVATE PARTY FOR FAMILY AND CLOSE FRIENDS. AND I’M SURE SHE’LL BE THE LIFE AND SOUL OF BOTH.
SO HAPPY 70TH BIRTHDAY, CAMILLA. AND IF YOUR LETTER BOX STARTS GROANING WITH EVEN MORE COSMETIC SURGEONS’ CARDS, I’VE NO DOUBT YOUR TOP WRINKLE-AVOIDING TECHNIQUE WILL BE TO SIMPLY TAKE OFF YOUR GLASSES – AND THEN GET EVEN MORE LAUGHTER LINES CHUCKLING ABOUT IT WITH ALL YOUR EARTHY GIRLFRIENDS.
Best Laid Plans BY KATHY LETTE (BLACK SWAN) IS OUT NOW. W&H