Camilla Parker-Bowles Was "Public Enemy Number One" After Princess Diana's Death, Tina Brown Says
People blamed her for having an affair with Prince Charles.
Camilla Parker-Bowles, the Duchess of Cornwall, is now an established member of the Royal Family, but she unfortunately still has her dissenters.
Still, this is nothing compared to the backlash she received first when tapes of a phone conversation between her and Prince Charles during his marriage to Princess Diana were released, and second when the Princess of Wales tragically died in a car crash in Paris.
Royal expert Tina Brown spoke to the Washington Post about the public treatment of Parker-Bowles following both events, and it sounds pretty grim.
"It's actually almost inconceivable how much abuse Camilla took," Brown told the publication (via Express).
"I mean, she was called hag, old bag, witch. I mean, these were the kind of words that were used about Camilla for years," Brown said.
"And when, of course, the dreaded Camillagate tapes leaked, the phone call between Charles and Camilla where he referred, unfortunately, to her as a certain kind of sanitary item." [He jokingly referred to her as a "Tampax."]
A year after the tapes leaked, Diana died and Camilla became "public enemy number one," according to Brown.
Stay In The Know
Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.
"Camilla was the sort of ugly—you know, considered the ugly sort of force that had driven, you know, Diana into such pain and sadness, you know, I mean, the love that Charles had for her," the expert said.
"So, she then has to hide again. But again, stoically just waits it out and goes forth."
For Brown, the duchess has since done a good job of keeping her composure and waiting out the storm.
"And from that moment [the wedding], really, that Camilla became the Duchess of Cambridge, she has not actually put—Duchess of Cornwall, I'm sorry—she really hasn't put a foot wrong," she said.
"She's been supportive. She's been charming. She's been hard working.
"She's taken on a lot of good appropriate causes like, you know, domestic violence for which he's very authentically involved, has a book club, always there with Charles now on the royal tours.
"And he's—she’s made him now—the best thing she's done is to make him an unapologetically happy man.
"And I mean, he's transformed since he's married Camilla, in fact, and that is her biggest service, essentially, to the monarchy so far."
Read Marie Claire's interview with Tina Brown for more insights like these ones.
Iris Goldsztajn is a London-based journalist, editor and author. She is the morning editor at Marie Claire, and her work has appeared in the likes of British Vogue, InStyle, Cosmopolitan, Refinery29 and SELF. Iris writes about everything from celebrity news and relationship advice to the pitfalls of diet culture and the joys of exercise. She has many opinions on Harry Styles, and can typically be found eating her body weight in cheap chocolate.
-
Prince Harry Reveals How Meghan Markle Is Different From Other Royal Women in Viral TikTok
The Duke of Sussex is always ready to defend his wife.
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Do Princess Kate and Prince William Take George, Charlotte, and Louis Trick-or-Treating?
Here's how the royals celebrate Halloween.
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Is Kaia Gerber Hiding a Halloween Costume Under Her Chic Black Blazer?
The model attended Billie Eilish's Halloween party in a seriously sleek outfit.
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Queen Camilla Bursts Into Tears as King Charles References Mortality Amid Cancer Treatment
"I hope that I survive long enough to come back again and see you."
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Prince William Shares Rare Comments About Princess Diana and Prince Harry in New Documentary
"She took Harry and I both there... And I was a bit anxious as to what to expect."
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Queen Camilla Dishes on King Charles' Strange Bedtime Routine
She made the revelation during their royal tour of Samoa.
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Queen Camilla Can't Join the Family WhatsApp Group For a Funny Reason
Tom Parker Bowles has revealed how he stays in contact with his royal mom.
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Princess Diana Once Snuck Backstage at a Dance Show Featuring a Parody of Baby Prince William
The cast got the shock of their lives.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Princess Diana Relied on "A Revolving Door" of "Clairvoyants, Psychics and Spiritual Advisors" Amid Marital Troubles
"Most…told her what she already knew."
By Kristin Contino Published
-
King Charles Is Hiring for a Seriously Risky New Job Role With the Royal Family
You'll need a very particular set of skills to apply for this position.
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
King Charles and Queen Camilla Just Recreated Meghan and Harry's Famous Sydney Opera House Photo
They're channeling the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in Australia.
By Amy Mackelden Published