They present themselves as a well-coordinated unit in the service of the monarchy, but things don’t always run smoothly between King Charles and Prince William. The heir to the throne occasionally seems to lack proper respect for his father, a behavior Queen Camilla is not willing to accept.
In public, they demonstrate unity, appearing as a well-coordinated team: King Charles, 75, and Prince William, 42, along with their wives, form the spearhead of the British monarchy and are its figureheads. Their relationship appears solid, even cordial. But like any family, not everything is always sunshine and roses behind the scenes for the royals. In the past, the heir to the throne has sometimes been known for his stubbornness, which has infuriated his father. Queen Camilla, 77, could not accept this behavior and put a stop to it in her own unique way.
Queen Camilla in the Stepmother Trap
The evil stepmother? Well, it certainly wasn’t easy for Camilla when, just a few years after the death of their beloved mother Princess Diana, †36, Charles introduced his longtime affair as the woman by his side to his sons. Prince Harry, 39, recalls in his January 2023 memoir “Spare” that they had practically begged their father not to marry her.
But they couldn’t stand against the long-hidden love. On April 9, 2005, the then Prince of Wales and Camilla said “I do.” William and Harry had to come to terms with the new situation.
William seems to have managed, but the younger one still finds his father’s second wife a thorn in his side. In his memoirs, he makes severe accusations, claiming she leaked information to the press to rehabilitate her image and did so ruthlessly.
Camilla Teaches Prince William a Lesson
While exile-royal Harry lets his hurt feelings run free, William has apparently come to terms with the situation. Appearances with Camilla now seem well-coordinated, even familiar. The cancer diagnoses of Charles and Catherine, Princess of Wales, 42, in recent months have supposedly united them in mutual concern, or so it is hoped.
The assumption that Camilla is restrained in criticizing her husband’s firstborn for the sake of peace is now challenged by a new book.
The relationship between Charles and William hasn’t always been easy. It was said that the current monarch was sometimes much closer to his now estranged son Harry. But Kate, above all, helped bring father and husband closer together.
Nevertheless, William hasn’t always treated his father with the utmost respect, and Camilla reportedly stepped in during such incidents. She subtly but firmly reminded her stepson of the hierarchy, according to Robert Jobson in his new book “Catherine, The Princess of Wales: The Biography.”
The author describes how the current heir and his wife once requested to join Charles and Camilla’s security convoy when leaving Windsor Castle. But then they simply didn’t show up, leaving the older couple waiting.
It was time for the stepmother to act decisively. “When Charles had to wait several minutes for the couple, Camilla insisted they leave without them. When William and Catherine appeared, they only saw the blue lights of the motorcycles disappearing in the distance,” writes Jobson.
Respect and Trust
A lesson likely learned. Today, William and Camilla obviously share mutual respect. They present a united front in public appearances. Privately, they have likely supported each other particularly over the past months.
Since Charles and Catherine were diagnosed with cancer earlier this year, the two have been in the same boat privately as well. The concern for their loved ones while continuing their duties as the faces of the monarchy might have brought the Queen and the Prince of Wales closer together, former BBC correspondent Jennie Bond suggests: “They had to, almost literally, keep the crown while the King and the Princess recovered,” the journalist told “OK!”.
“Times of crisis often bring people closer together. Despite all the advances in cancer treatment, the disease is still a frightening thing. And while Camilla and William put on a brave face for the world (and undoubtedly for their spouses), there will be times when they confide in each other about how they’re coping with it all.”
Bond is certain: The relationship between stepmother and stepson is currently reaching a new level. “When the late Queen died, William spoke of her being there during the ‘happiest moments’ and ‘saddest days of his life.’ Now Camilla shares some of these moments with him, and that will surely strengthen their relationship.”
