Princess Diana's Former Bodyguard Shares What Really Happened When the Royal Confronted Camilla About Prince Charles Affair
"And Camilla sort of said something, to which still to this day I have never really understood," the protection officer said.
Much has been written about the beginnings of King Charles and Queen Camilla's relationship, especially their affair while he was married to Princess Diana. Their romance became one of the biggest royal scandals of the 20th century, and now a former royal bodyguard is discussing what happened on one fateful night in 1987 when Diana confronted her husband's mistress.
Ken Wharfe, who worked as a protection officer for the princess, told ITV (via the Mirror) that Diana had been invited to a party hosted by Camilla Parker Bowles's sister, Annabel Elliot—but no one expected she'd actually show up.
"Diana didn't have any particular friendships at that party but when we arrived there, it was almost like freeze-framing a scene in a movie because there was this surprise that Diana had even arrived," Wharfe recalled.
Diana herself went on to describe the bash in Andrew Morton's biography Diana: Her True Story. “I was a total fish out of water. But I decided to try my hardest. I was going to make an impact," she told the biographer. But apparently, things got awkward about an hour later.
"I went out and there was Diana, who said 'You've got to come with me, I can't find my husband or Camilla,'" Wharfe told ITV, adding that the princess "was in some distress" and he "couldn't say no."
He continued that they "found the Prince and Camilla sat on a sofa in the basement of this property just talking." Rather than slink away, Diana found the "confidence" to confront Parker Bowles, as the former royal bodyguard recalled.
"I didn't know quite what Diana was going to do at that point but, with a great deal of confidence, Diana just went up to both of them and said to Camilla 'please don't treat me like an idiot, I know what's going on,'" Wharfe told ITV.
Stay In The Know
Get exclusive access to fashion and beauty trends, hot-off-the-press celebrity news, and more.
“It must be hell for both of you,” Diana said, per Morton's biography, telling Camilla, "I wasn’t born yesterday."
During the confrontation, the protection officer admitted that Parker Bowles's reply to the princess mystified him. "Camilla sort of said something, to which still to this day I have never really understood what she meant by," Wharfe revealed, explaining that the future queen told Diana, "Well you know, you have two wonderful boys."
While he wasn't sure what Camilla meant by her remark, Wharfe shared that the encounter "was an incredible moment for me and certainly for them as well."
Diana—who divorced Charles in 1996—would later go on to admit in her BBC Panorama interview that "there were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded." But when it came to that fateful party, Wharfe said it "was a defining moment in their life because I think at that point...this was an indicator the end was nigh."
Kristin Contino is Marie Claire's Senior Royal and Celebrity editor. She's been covering royalty since 2018—including major moments such as the Platinum Jubilee, Queen Elizabeth II’s death and King Charles III's coronation—and places a particular focus on the British Royal Family's style and what it means.
Prior to working at Marie Claire, she wrote about celebrity and royal fashion at Page Six Style and covered royalty from around the world as chief reporter at Royal Central. Kristin has provided expert commentary for outlets including the BBC, Sky News, US Weekly, the Today Show and many others.
Kristin is also the published author of two novels, “The Legacy of Us” and “A House Full of Windsor.” She's passionate about travel, history, horses, and learning everything she can about her favorite city in the world, London.
-
Princess Eugenie Seeks "Guidance" With Meghan Markle's North Star Earrings Amid Prince Andrew Scandal
The princess wore the symbolic jewels to a royal Christmas lunch.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Nancy Meyers Didn't Mean for 'The Holiday' to Be a "Christmas Movie"
Oops!
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
Shakira Says Chris Martin Supported Her Through Gerard Piqué Breakup: "He Was Checking In Every Day"
The most wholesome.
By Iris Goldsztajn Published
-
Princess Diana "Escaped Even Before Lunch" During Dreaded Royal Christmases
"I remember her passing me on the motorway coming back once."
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Sarah Ferguson Reveals She's "So Close" With Queen Camilla Despite Princess Diana Having Been Her "Best Friend"
"It’s rather nice, and she reminds me of Mum."
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Sandringham at Christmas was "Like a Pressure Cooker" for Princess Diana, Former Royal Butler Says
"Some can stand it, some can’t. Diana couldn’t stand it."
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Princess Diana Once Hid a Racy Gift in Prince William's Stocking "to Make Him Blush," Former Royal Butler Reveals
In an exclusive interview with 'Marie Claire,' Paul Burrell says "you could hear the squeals and laughter" from Diana and her sons.
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Every Time the Royal Family Broke Protocol in 2024, From Minor Rule Changes to Huge Mistakes
Meet the usual suspects: King Charles, Queen Camilla, Prince William, and Kate Middleton.
By Amy Mackelden Published
-
Queen Camilla's Son Reveals He "Learned a Long Time Ago" to Stay Out of Prince William and Prince Harry's "World"
Tom Parker Bowles said "it was appalling what they went through."
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Princess Diana's Friend Reveals Donald Trump Once "Bombarded" the Royal With Flowers in Attempt to Pursue Her
"Trump clearly saw Diana as the ultimate trophy wife."
By Kristin Contino Published
-
Princess Charlotte Has Inherited One of Princess Diana's Favorite Passions
Talent runs in the family.
By Kristin Contino Published