Charles' 'Non-Negotiable' Love for Camilla Revealed

A new book by Catherine Mayer details how King Charles has always considered Queen Camilla a "non-negotiable" presence in his life. Anonymous friends of the monarch revealed that Charles felt he needed Camilla's support, especially after his divorce and Princess Diana's death.

Early in their relationship, Buckingham Palace reportedly viewed Camilla as unsuitable for Charles, citing her past and lack of aristocratic pedigree. She was seen as a woman for 'fun,' not marriage, a perspective that historical accounts suggest hindered their union.

Despite these objections, Charles and Camilla maintained a connection, even as Charles married Diana in 1981. Their relationship reportedly reignited in the mid-1980s, a fact that would later become a source of distress for Diana, who famously stated, 'There were three of us in this marriage.'

Charles and Diana separated in 1992 and divorced in 1996, with Diana tragically dying in a car crash a year later. Charles and Camilla eventually married in 2005, and she was crowned Queen Camilla in 2023. Royal broadcaster Ian Pelham Turner noted that Camilla gave Charles a sense of masculinity and treated him like a man.

Helena Chard, a royal broadcaster and photographer, agreed that Camilla was 'non-negotiable' for Charles. She explained that despite palace attempts to keep them apart, Charles chose love over protocol. Camilla's steady demeanor and dedication to her royal duties ultimately made her an indispensable asset, leading to her becoming Queen without a 'plan B'.