Video LoadingVideo UnavailableClick to playTap to playThe video will auto-play soon8CancelPlay nowSign up to our free email to get all the latest royal news and picturesMore Newsletters SubscribePlease enter a valid emailSomething went wrong, please try again later.More NewslettersWe use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More infoThank you for subscribing!We have more newslettersShow me See OurPrivacy Notice See OurPrivacy Notice×Group 28 Sign up to our free email to get all the latest royal news and picturesInvalid emailSomething went wrong, please try again later.Sign UpNo thanks, closeWe use your sign-up to provide content in ways you’ve consented to and improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and third parties based on our knowledge of you. More info×Group 28Thank you for subscribing!We have more newslettersShow MeNo thanks, closeSee our
Privacy NoticeEver since Prince William was introduced to Camilla Parker Bowles by his father, King Charles, back in 1998 during a break from Eton, there has been much speculation about the evolution of their relationship. The introduction occurred when William, then just 17, returned home from the prestigious boarding school for the weekend and met the woman who would eventually become his stepmother at Clarence House. Royal expert Christopher Andersen, author of The King: The Life of Charles III, told Us Weekly that the now Queen Consort was “shaking like a leaf,” during the meeting. “As soon as William left, she said she needed a gin and tonic.”
The pair have grown much closer over the years
Read More
Related Articles
Genius way Kate Middleton is getting Prince George ready for his future as King
Read More
Related Articles
Three surprising royals who missed out on Queen’s inheritance due to odd rule
Prior to this formal introduction, both William and his younger brother Harry knew Camilla as the ‘other woman’, due to her infamous affair with their father during his marriage to Diana, Princess of Wales. Camilla herself was married to Andrew Parker Bowles at the time. After their respective divorces and the tragic death of Diana in August 1997, Charles and Camilla were able to openly pursue their long-standing romance, eventually announcing to the world that they were officially a couple. The dynamic between Camilla, now 77, and Prince William, 42, has been intricate since their crucial encounter, but it seems to have mellowed with time. This past summer, news broke that Prince William had severed professional ties with Camilla’s sister Annabel Elliot, who had been a longstanding interior designer for the Duchy of Cornwall under Charles’ patronage.
The pair have grown much closer over the years
(Image: 2014 Getty Images)
Author Christopher clarified that this decision, while potentially causing some familial strain, wasn’t meant as a “snub” It was a necessary business move because “William wants his own team in there,” he explained. Despite the possibility of tension, the bond between Camilla and William has shown signs of warming up lately, particularly in light of King Charles and Princess Kate’s cancer diagnoses and ongoing treatments. A close source to the Parker Bowles family revealed, “William has warmed up to Camilla over time,” while another insider observed that they now enjoy “a familial relationship these days.”
The pair are much closer nowadays
(Image: (Image: Getty))
“There’s a lot to overcome,” an insider commented, referencing the deep loyalty William and Harry have towards their late mother, which initially fuelled distrust and reluctance to accept Camilla. Nevertheless, since Prince Harry stepped away from Royal responsibilities in 2020, William has notably advanced in developing a cordial relationship with his stepmother. The insider concluded: “It brought them closer,” as William and Kate have been keen to avoid any additional “drama”. A source has revealed that it was the Princess of Wales’ efforts to build bridges that helped ease the tension between her and Camilla, as she was “accepting of Camilla long before others in the royal family.”
The Princess of Wales was “accepting of Camilla” before other royals
(Image: (Image: Getty))
Both Prince William and Kate are said to appreciate Camilla’s down-to-earth nature and enjoy the sense of normality she brings to Prince Charles, with the Queen Consort “keeping it real” much like Kate. However, Royal expert Andersen disagreed, claiming that the Queen Consort initially opposed William and Kate’s relationship because she was “kind of a snob” and didn’t believe Kate was of “their class” to marry into the aristocracy. History has since disproved this assumption, with William and Kate still happily married and proud parents to three children 13 years after their 2011 wedding. Despite some minor disagreements, William and Camilla have found a comfortable balance in their involvement in each other’s lives for the sake of those closest to them. “If his dad’s happy, William is happy,” the source concluded.Story SavedYou can find this story in  My Bookmarks.Or by navigating to the user icon in the top right.Follow OK! MagazineFacebookTwitterCommentMore OnKate MiddletonPrince HarryPrince WilliamPrincess DianaKing Charles IIIQueen CamillaCharles and CamillaRoyal Family
