Queen Camilla’s Six-Word Stunner: Future Queen’s First Meeting With Prince William Had Royal Mistress Needing Some Reinforcements

One weekend in June 1998, Prince William, 16, told his father, Prince Charles, heir to the throne, that he would be returning to York House, which apparently caught the future monarch “on the hop.”

Camilla, staying with Charles at the stately home, initially planned to leave but was convinced to stay. The future queen was about to meet a future king.

At that time, both Prince William and his brother, Prince Harry, were gradually introduced to Camilla by their father. The introduction that evening was part of Charles’ efforts to integrate Camilla into the family and normalize her presence in their lives, especially considering the public and familial complexities surrounding her relationship with Charles.

Prince William was around 16 years old at the time of this first meeting with the woman who would become the queen his mother, Diana, Princess of Wales, was once destined to be. The process of meeting and accepting Camilla into the family was reportedly gradual and sensitive, given the circumstances surrounding their father’s previous marriage to Diana.

The princess had not even been dead for a full year by the time Camilla met the future king, which was all part of a long-term plan by the Prince of Wales and his team to rehabilitate the mistress’ image.

When the unlikely duo finally met, the future stepson got acquainted with his stepmom-to-be “for about an hour,” royal author Penny Junor revealed in her new book, Queen Consort: The Life of Queen Camilla.

After the pair got to know one another privately, Her future Majesty jokingly quipped: “I need a gin and tonic.”

In her research for the book, Junor spoke with PR guru Mark Bolland who told the scribe of both William and Harry: “It was difficult for them; it was a natural thing. You want your mum, you don’t want her, and she had her own family. To be fair to Camilla, she never tried to be mummy, but she was the ‘other woman’ and she was there taking daddy’s time.”

In his 2023 memoir, Spare, Harry claimed that both he and William were “unhappy” about their father marrying “the other woman” in the spring of 2005.

Former royal butler Grant Harrold dished: “It was also complete nonsense that William and Harry were unhappy. I promise you that wasn’t the case. I was there.”

After nearly eight years following Diana’s tragic death, the Prince of Wales, petitioned his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, to allow him to marry his mistress and his ex-wife’s longtime rival. The duo were granted the right to wed in a registrar’s office on April 9, 2005, with a “blessing service” afterward at St George’s Chapel on the grounds of Windsor Castle.

Harry, who was only a few months removed from his worldwide scandal of wearing a Nazi uniform to a costume party, beamed with happiness and smiles alongside his brother, during the service.

Daily Express reported on Junor’s book.

Prince William had an ‘awkward’ first meeting with Camilla Parker-Bowles in 1998. MEGA
Prince William had an ‘awkward’ first meeting with Camilla Parker-Bowles in 1998. MEGA © The Royal Observer (AU)
Prince William had ‘a one-hour chat’ with his stepmother-to-be in June 1998.MEGA
Prince William had ‘a one-hour chat’ with his stepmother-to-be in June 1998.MEGA © The Royal Observer (AU)
Diana, Princess of Wales, had not been dead a full year before Prince William met Camilla.MEGA
Diana, Princess of Wales, had not been dead a full year before Prince William met Camilla.MEGA © The Royal Observer (AU)
Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles went public with their relationship in early 1999.MEGA
Prince Charles and Camilla Parker-Bowles went public with their relationship in early 1999.MEGA © The Royal Observer (AU)
The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall on their wedding day, April 9, 2005.MEGA
The Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall on their wedding day, April 9, 2005.MEGA © The Royal Observer (AU)
Expand article logo Continue reading
The Royal ObserverVisit The Royal Observer
Prince Harry Is Being Pressured to Find ‘More Sensational Material’ for Paperback Copy of ‘Spare’: Source
Stay in Your Lane, Fergie: Prince Andrew’s Ex-Wife Ditches Planned Australia Visit ‘With Regret’ as King Charles Launches Tour Down Under
Sponsored Content
More for You

Kate Middleton’s flawless hairstyles
Catherine, the Princess of Wales, constantly impresses with her various hairstyles and headpieces. Check out some of her stunning looks throughout the years. Click on!
Kate Middleton’s flawless hairstyles StarsInsider

12

more
20:07
The Woman Who Nearly Destroyed The Monarchy Factinate Media Group

97

3
more
Brief security scare for King and Queen during royal visitBrief security scare for King and Queen during royal visit Sky News Australia

37

3
more
How the British royal family got the name WindsorHow the British royal family got the name Windsor Showbizz Daily (English)

74

38
more
What really happened on The Beatles’ wedding days!
In this exclusive book extract, insider Peter Brown tells all. The post What really happened on The Beatles’ wedding days! appeared first on Now To Love.
What really happened on The Beatles’ wedding days! Now To Love

1

more
Fascinating stories behind the world’s strangest royal homesFascinating stories behind the world’s strangest royal homes Love Exploring

16

more
09:51
The Truth About Henry VIII’s “Reject Queen” Splash Travels

4

more