Queen Camilla of the United Kingdom

[Auroranorth]

I think if Diana was still alive there would be more pushback, however, at this point, it's a quarter of a century ago, and as ridha points out, people have a more nuanced view. Nobody covered themselves with glory in that mess, but Charles and Camilla have stayed together and moved forward as a unit. There may be some people who object, but for the most part I think it's pretty much a done deal.

[royalwave]

You know, the question of what might have happened if Diana were still alive is an impossible one to answer but I would like to think that she would have moved on by now. With time and distance, maybe even a happy marriage of her own, and a bit of maturity gained, perhaps Diana would have been happy to bury the hatchet with Camilla. I think she would have wanted to support her sons and William's future role as well. As the boys aged and started families of their own, an ongoing feud with their father and Camilla would likely have been untenable. Certainly it wouldn't have been pleasant for her grandchildren. Diana would have been in the picture at weddings, christenings, etc. and they all would have needed to find a way to coexist peacefully.

Again, playing the "what if" game is impossible because the course of so many events may have been different had Diana not died. Would Will and Harry even be married to the same people? Supporting the same causes? Certainly they wouldn't be dealing with the same traumas. But I tend to believe that either way Charles would have ended up with Camilla over time and that public support would have grown for her being queen. To me it seems those two were fated to be together.

[Ladybug]

Camilla had her first engagements since the Queen endorsed her as future "Queen Consort."

On Tuesday, the duchess was supporting the work of charities in two areas she cares passionately about: domestic abuse victims and children’s literacy. She visited a refuge for victims of female violence in Bath and also went to a primary school to support children’s learning and reading. On Tuesday, Camilla met the survivors of domestic violence, an area where she does a lot of campaigning, at a Bath charity called ‘Voices’. On her first engagement on Tuesday, at Roundhill Primary School, the duchess stopped to chat and wave to the youngsters who were leaning over the school gates waving flags. Camilla joined the very youngest pupils at the school in a Language for Life class, where they were making fruit smoothies, and visited a reading group.

She's built up a lot of credibility on these issues because she's been supporting them for years. Particularly in the area of domestic violence, which the royals probably would've seen 20 years ago as too sensitive a topic to engage with.

[Lwaxana]

I didn't think it would bother me if Camilla was called Queen but surprisingly I am a little bothered. I don't think Diana was a saint, that she caused a ton of her own problems, but it just seems wrong. She lost so much: her marriage, her children, her life. And now she's lost this too.

[Ginger]

It bugs me that there is still a gender bias, in that Queen Consort is a thing, but King Consort is not.

Even in supposedly progressive Sweden, the female heir to the throne will one day be Queen, but her husband will only be "Prince Consort" so as not to appear to outrank her by being called "King".

If a female monarch is of the same value as a male monarch, then Queen should should be a title reserved only for the monarch and should be treated with equal esteem as the male equivalent. Which means every spouse should get bumped down to Prince/Princess Consort.

Although that does take the fun out of "the King and Queen".

[gremlin45]

Feb 8, 2022 15:34:56 GMT -4 Lwaxana said:

I didn't think it would bother me if Camilla was called Queen but surprisingly I am a little bothered. I don't think Diana was a saint, that she caused a ton of her own problems, but it just seems wrong. She lost so much: her marriage, her children, her life. And now she's lost this too.

I can see why you feel sad for Diana. She'd be devastated about Harry and William being estranged, and Harry being on the outs with the entire family. Seriously, I'm sad about that.

But even if Diana were alive, she wouldn't be Queen Consort. The Queen Consort has to be married to the King. Diana hasn't lost anything. I know it feels like she has - like surely her place as the next King's mother would count - but it isn't about King William's mother, it's about King Charles's wife, and that's not Diana.

[Lwaxana]

Feb 8, 2022 17:15:04 GMT -4 gremlin45 said:

Feb 8, 2022 15:34:56 GMT -4 Lwaxana said:

I didn't think it would bother me if Camilla was called Queen but surprisingly I am a little bothered. I don't think Diana was a saint, that she caused a ton of her own problems, but it just seems wrong. She lost so much: her marriage, her children, her life. And now she's lost this too.

I can see why you feel sad for Diana. She'd be devastated about Harry and William being estranged, and Harry being on the outs with the entire family. Seriously, I'm sad about that.

But even if Diana were alive, she wouldn't be Queen Consort. The Queen Consort has to be married to the King. Diana hasn't lost anything. I know it feels like she has - like surely her place as the next King's mother would count - but it isn't about King William's mother, it's about King Charles's wife, and that's not Diana.

Thanks. I do agree with the end of your post, and it's not necessarily that I feel bad for Diana, but I think the title issue was just a reminder of how sad the situation is in general. It made me think a lot about that saying, quiet women don't make history and what the cost usually is, and wondering if making history is even worth it? In royal history, Anne Boleyn lost her head, Diana died, Meghan has been a trainwreck and then you've got Jane Seymour and Catherine and Camilla who are quiet and succeed. Tho maybe Camilla is an Anne Boleyn that went right. Probably overthinking things, wouldn't be the first time! It's just royal gossip.

[Deleted]

Covid positive now too. link

[Ladybug]

I wondered why she continued to go to engagements unmasked after Charles tested positive. Not great, Camilla. Hope both she and Charles get better soon and that they didn't infect anyone!

[tiggertoo]

I had the same thought! I guess she was following the protocol in England?