At 65, a Prince at ease with himself
ONLY a day after becoming a pensioner, Prince charles is reaching another landmark – representing his mother at the commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting for the first time.
But if tonight’s grand event is an historic moment for the prince, spare a thought for the woman in the designer evening gown by his side.
For while charles sets out to prove he is a worthy king- in- waiting, camilla will be there as his queen, laughing, chatting and gently massaging the egos of 50 world leaders and their spouses.
Much has already been made of the significance of the Prince’s role at the bi-annual meeting of the Family of nations – an organisation deemed historic by some, but one which the 87- year- old monarch considers among the most significant legacies of her reign.
But as one official put it: ‘this is not just an historic moment for the Prince of Wales, it is a huge leap forward for the Duchess too.
‘She’s gone from effectively being a country housewife to holding court with world leaders in the space of just a few years.’
It is a remarkable turn of events for the woman who was once such a pariah she was said to have been pelted with bread rolls outside her local supermarket.
Slowly but surely, camilla, now 66, has won over the doubters. It has been a slow process. But she has surrounded herself with a small coterie of advisers, largely women, who are fiercely loyal and helped her prepare for this, one of her biggest tests so far on the world stage.
FOR someone once considered to be one of the most famous mistresses in the world, it is surely telling that the Duchess of cornwall is able to inspire genuine friendship and loyalty in so many of her own sex.
the gate-keepers to her inner sanctum are her approachable but astute private secretaries: Joy camm, a former sister at St Bart’s Hospital who is known for her unflappable coolness, Sophie Densham and Amanda MacManus. All are fiercely protective of their boss, and act as her eyes and ears, carefully watching the goings- on at clarence House for camilla.
She relies on a chirpy Geordie dresser called Jacqui Meakin, who formerly worked at Buckingham Palace and has been with camilla since her wedding to charles. It is Jacqui who has helped camilla assemble a working wardrobe appropriate for a woman of her age, largely with the help of the discreet couturier to ladies who lunch, Anna Valentine.
From her chic but sensible pastel suits and the flowing Asian shalwar kameez- style tunics that she favours in private (and has worn to such great success on tour in India this week) to her oversized Philip treacy hats, camilla’s style is not at all cutting edge.
But it projects the image she wants: a mature, regal woman. certainly, when charles selected her for the ‘Girls in Pearls’ frontispiece in a special edition of country Life to commemorate his birthday, she won plaudits for her style and elegance.
And yet old habits die hard. take a closer look at camilla’s shoes over the past week and you will find her wearing slightly scuffed at the heels beige pumps. Bought from russell and Bromley for £160 eight years ago, she has worn them pretty constantly since then.
Don’t forget this is the same housewife who famously used to wear a safety pin to hold up her cords because she couldn’t be bothered to mend the zip.
Of course, there are indulgences, most recently the fiveday spa break in India that charles treated her to before the tour started (she stayed in the presidential suite costing up to £2,500 a night and enjoyed daily massages).
And then there is the presence of her suave personal hairdresser, Hugh Green, on the couple’s private jet. A well-known stylist who is popular with the ladies who lunch around Belgravia, 68-year-old Green has cut and styled camilla’s hair for years.
While the plane is taxpayerfunded, the crimper is not, but charles is happy to put his hand in his pocket if it makes his darling wife happy.
though far from obsessed about her looks, camilla has ensured she is in top shape for the tour, with regular visits to skincare guru Deborah Mitchell. She has a salon in Shropshire, but travels to London, Wiltshire and Scotland to treat camilla.
Sources say Deborah has created an ‘afternoon tea ritual’ for the Duchess, which involves pouring hot wax from jasmine, grapefruit and white tea- scented candles on her hands and feet to create a feeling of total relaxation.
camilla has been having bimonthly treatments with Deborah in the run-up to the trip, as well as using a pot of her ‘gold label’ bee sting facial cream – described as the best non- surgical face-lift money can buy – containing venom safely extracted from Kenyan bees, which is said to encourage the skin to heal itself.
Alongside having a manicure and pedicure before she left, camilla also popped into her long- standing Mayfair colourist, Jo Hansford, who has been tinkering with her hair dye as she ages, adding flattering honeycoloured highlights to her trademark blonde flicks.
And then there are the regular yoga and pilates classes which have honed her figure (according to sources at the Indian spa camilla was able to do even the most challenging yoga poses with ease).
It’s something that isn’t always conveyed in photographs, but camilla is remarkably trim in the flesh, with a great pair of legs.
LOOKING good is not the be all and end all for the Duchess, but it has helped her growing confidence on the international stage. this latest nine- day tour has seen her tackle her public engagements with self-assurance and lately she has cultivated a series of core themes to her public work – but without any of the desire to take centre stage that Diana had.
‘[When they got married], the emphasis was very much on supporting her husband and that still is the case, but she has also gathered the confidence to strike out on her own,’ said one source close to the Duchess.
She has also never lost her earthy and slightly politicallyincorrect sense of humour (no wonder she gets on so well with Prince Philip). And at any royal function she is one of the few royals who insists not just on having a glass of red in her hand – but drinking it with vigour.
Her workload might not yet match that of the other royals, but officials insist she has fully ‘embraced’ her role.
And above all else, she has the backing of the only person who really matters: the Queen. the two women recently undertook a joint engagement in London and the body language between them was notably relaxed.
As she stands by her husband’s side tonight, camilla would be the first to admit it’s been a long and rocky road. But the way things are going, the future glitters as bright as the rather lovely diamonds her mother-in-law has lent her for this milestone event.