Camilla, Her True Story
su-t...@webtv.net
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Camilla: Her True Story, by Caroline Graham, 2001
quote: "I am also grateful to Stuart Higgins for so generously
providing so much information for this book and for writing the
introduction."
--------------------
Quotes from Stuart Higgins:
(speaking of Diana): "She knew I had been friendly with Camilla; she
knew that I had been the happy recipient of stories as editor of the
Sun, from her husband's camp during the so-called 'War of the Waleses'
.." (Diana's then press adviser was Jane Atkinson.)
(speaking of Camilla): "Through this telephone relationship -- probably
best called Higgygate --, ... she guided me as to what may be right or
wrong, with a clear bias in favour of the man she loved, Prince
Charles."
St. James Palace: "This is the Prince Charles war room where the loyal
spin doctors work their modern miracles. Sometimes one feels, that
their 'surgery' could bring back the dead."
"Camilla & Charles' circle of friends -- Lord and Lady Romsey, the Van
Cutsems, Nicholas Soames -- all kept a united front. They did believe
that Diana was unstable and 'clinically mad'."
Camilla: "She enjoys life in the countryside, she paints, she sunbathes
in a bikini in the privacy of her garden. Royal valet Michael Fawcett
now runs her errands ..."
"She invites her pals round to lunch and she attends her charity events
.."
"She enjoys tending her gardens in Wiltshire & her coffee mornings with
her friends."
"... she does not want high profile exposure." "Camilla does not crave
the limelight or the banquets."
Charles & Camilla: "Whatever the state of their relationship, Charles &
Camilla will not be walking down opposite sides of the street shaking
hands and cuddling babies, in the way that Diana so famously did ..."
" ... they enjoy each others company, they share the same interests,
.."
" ... they can do an awful lot of good for charity."
Polls: "I think Diana's death killed off an awful lot of interest in
the Royal Family, so even the polls that increasingly show less
resistance to a Charles and Camilla wedding are not really
representative -- I think they show a general apathy towards the issue,
rather than a growing feeling of sympathy for them."
"... the more we see of Camilla, the more we remember Diana."
-----------------
-----------------
Some quotes, etc.:
Charles & Camilla, who met in 1970: "From their very first meeting on a
rain-soaked polo field, the Prince declared she was 'the one'. But
Camilla rejected his marriage proposal twice."
"...Camilla has been the one 'non-negotiable' factor ..." " ... a woman
who has always loathed the spotlight ..."
Diana: " ... she fought to understand why the only man she had loved,
did not love her back."
----------------
Camilla Rosemary Shand: was born at 7 AM on July 17, 1947, to the
Honourable Rosalind Shand. "Like the members of the generations before
her, she would be educated in the ways of nobility, groomed in the joys
of huntin' and fishin' -- and then she would land herself a rich
husband."
Two years after Camilla's birth, her sister Annabel was born. Eighteen
months later, her brother Mark was born.
Mother: "Her mother, the Honourable Rosalind, was the daughter of the
fourth Lord Ashcombe, whose forefather, Thomas Cubitt, founded the
powerful Cubitt construction company, which built the bulk of Mayfair
and Belgravia."
Father: "Her father, Bruce Shand, was the partner in a Mayfair wine
merchants, and had been a major in the 12th Royal Lancers. Twice
decorated with the Military Cross for bravery in the Second World War,
he spent two years as a German prisoner of war. He was a Master of Fox
Hounds, and once held the position of Vice Lord Lieutenant of East
Sussex."
Parents: "They were not titled, but they were as close to the
aristocracy as they could be, without having a title of their own."
-------------
Grandmother: Alice Keppel was the long-time mistress of Charles'
grandfather Edward VII in the 1870s.
"Camilla's notorious link with the royals is something she was not only
proud of, but something in which she would positively revel."
"Her favorite anecdote was the family story of Alice's famous saying:
'My job is to curtsy first ... and then jump into bed'."
Every year, Alice would go to Biarritz in Switzerland with the King.
"Camilla was always saying: 'My great-grandmother was practically
royal, you know. She may not have been Queen, but she had the ear of
the King. That made her jolly powerful'."
-----------------
Camilla: "She was raised in The Laines, a five-bedroomed Tudor country
home in Plumpton, Sussex ..."
She was a tomboy.
"She was always supremely confident in her own abilities." And highly
competitive with others. Fearless.
"At five years old, she was sent to her first school, Dumbrells in the
village of Ditching, three miles from the family home."
"Spartan & tough, Dumbrells was run along lines similar to Gordonstoun,
the rigid Scottish boarding school where Prince Charles spent his
formative years."
" ... Camilla positively blossomed at Dumbrells."
She excelled in hockey & in "stoolball".
Dumbrells: "It was a classic upper-class school. The most important
thing was to learn how to suffer and endure in silence."
---------------
"The Shands had a home in London, & when Camilla was ten years old, she
was sent to the fashionable Queen's Gate School for young ladies in
South Kensington. It was a school proud of its unofficial function of
'providing wives for half the Foreign Office and most of the nobility'."
"She was a Sloane Ranger, before Sloane Rangers were invented."
"Milla was always in twin sets, tweed suits and pearls."
---------------------
"After school, Camilla spent six months at finishing schools in
Switzerland and Paris, before returning to London for her grand entry
into society." She learned to cook, learned French, & learned to have a
European attitude about sex.
In 1965, Camilla became a debutante, & threw herself into 'the Season'.
Since her parents didn't have fabulous wealth, some of her dresses were
off-the-peg numbers & not designer gowns.
"She oozed confidence & sexuality."
---------------------
Susan, Su_Texas my opinions
su-t...@webtv.net
quotes, etc.:
" 'The Season' was a four-month period between the end of Match and
July, when the most socially desireable girls would enjoy endless rounds
of parties, dinners, dances, & 'top' social functions like Royal Ascot
and Henley -- in the hope of meeting equally socially acceptable men tto
marry."
For Camilla's season (which opened on March 25, 1965), her mother threw
a cocktail party at 30 Pavilion Road, which was a place you could
hire/rent.
"Two days after her coming-out bash, Camilla went to bed with her first
lover." to "find out what all the fuss is about."
"She (Camilla) was always mentioning Alice Keppel. It was constantly on
her mind. It was almost like a talisman, something she wanted to equal,
if not better."
-------------------
"Camila's first love was Kevin Burke.", whom she "ditched" after a year,
for Andrew Parker Bowles. (1967)
[The Queen Mother was a frequent guest at Donnington House, the Parker
Bowles' family home on a 1,000-acre shooting estate near Newbury in
Berkshire. Derek Parker Bowles was Andrew's father. Andrew's younger
brother is named Simon.]
"At this time, Camilla was sharing a two-bedroomed, ground-floor flat at
No. 1 Stack House in Ebury Street, Chelsea with Virginia Carrington,
daughter of Mrs. Thatcher's one-time Foreign Secretary Lord Carrington."
A friend said: "... Camilla has this inability to hang anything up on a
hanger. And she has an aversion to cleaning fluids of any description."
Her nails were often short, broken, & dirty, & she didn't care much
about fixing her hair.
Camilla was working as a secretary part-time.
Camilla spent most of her time at Andrew's bachelor pad, in Portobello
Road in Notting Hill.
Andrew was a ladies-man & had a "roving eye", which seemed to prompt
Camilla to compete with him for sexual conquests.
-------------
In 1970, Camilla (then 23) walked up to Charles (who was 22, & had just
graduated from Cambridge Univ.), & she introduced herself to him, at the
Polo Fields at Windsor Great Park.
Camilla was fearless, knew she was his equal, & spoke to him naturally,
which he found refreshing. She made him feel safe & special.
She was worldy-wise, fun, & could joke about anything.
"Even in his darkest depths of depressions, Camilla could always make
him laugh; see the lighter side of life."
C & C loved the "Goon Show", & they gave each others the names Fred &
Gladys, based on this.
--------------------
Charles' uncle Lord Louis Mountbatten was approving of the relationship,
& thought Camilla was excellent mistress material.
Her past lovers all said, that Camilla is great/mind-boggling in the
bedroom, knows what she wants, is adventurous & uninhibited, & is an
expert at satisfying a man.
Mountbatten hoped that Charles might later marry his granddaughter, Lady
Amanda Knatchbull, who was then only 14.
Mountbatten invited C & C to spend weekends at this Broadlands estate,
where Camilla was always given the Portico Room (the same room where the
Queen and Prince Philip had stayed for their honeymoon in 1950), & where
Charles was given the Lady Louis Suite next door.
Mountbatten commented on how much Camilla looked & acted like Alice
Keppel.
Charles spent weekends with Camilla & her family (the Shands) in Sussex,
which gave him the chance to experience a normal, happy, intimate family
group.
-----------------
Camilla didnt want to marry Charles, to become Princess of Wales, or to
live her life in a fishbowl, ... because she wanted a quiet life, to
marry well, & to have a family.
"Andrew had been sent to Germany with his regiment.", but Camilla
thought of Andrew all the time, she was in love with him, & she was
determined that he marry her.
In Sept. 1971, Charles enrolled at Dartmouth Naval College, which would
mean/involve long periods away at sea.
C & C wrote to each other every day.
In Oct. 1971, Andrew Parker Bowles returned.
Camilla continued to write to Charles, & to see him on his weekends off,
but during the week, she was with Andrew.
In January 1972, Charles proposed to Camilla at Broadlands, & she
refused.
------------------
Charles was a great fan of the novelist Barbara Cartland (who became his
step-grandmother when he married Diana), ... he was a romantic, & he
based himself on her romantic heroes, ... his bags were packed with her
books when he came to Broadlands, ... & he had been obsessed with
marrying a virgin, until he met Camilla.
He liked the fact that Camilla had slept with other men & was so
experienced.
Charles was told, that he should marry a virgin (partly to avoid
scandals), that Camilla could remain his mistress, & that he should be
seeing other women.
Charles then had a string of affairs with some hand-picked girls from
the upper classes (who were sometimes called Charlies Angels).
Charles saw Georgina Russell, the daughter of Britain's ambassador to
Spain; Lady Jane Wellesley, daughter of the eighth Duke of Wellington;
Jane Ward, the assistant manager at the Guards Polo Club; and heiress
Sabrina Guinness.
Women said/agreed that he wasnt the best lover, seemed naive, & liked to
get the job done, preferably with the lights off.
-------------------
In Feb. 1973, Charles set sail for the West Indies for 6 months, aboard
the ship HMS Minerva.
Four weeks after Charles left, Camilla announced her engagement to
Andrew.
According to a shipmate, Charles locked himself in his cabin for three
hours, & emerged later (with red-rimmed eyes) to eat his dinner.
-------------------
Susan, Su_Texas my opinions
mhlife
<su-t...@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:21568-3D...@storefull-2136.public.lawson.webtv.net...
> Women said/agreed that he wasnt the best lover, seemed naive, & liked to
> get the job done, preferably with the lights off.<
___________________
Whoa!! - hang on minute!!, he *is* British (well, sort of,
Germano/Greek/British), you know!
Bedroom fol-de-rols, such as 'lights on' are all very well for Johnny
Frenchman and all those other Continental lotharios - but British women
neither want, nor expect, their menfolk to act like a garlic stuffing
gigolo!
Crisp starched sheets, flannelette pyjamas, plenty of fresh air through
opened windows, and a brisk (but mutually satisfying) bout of sexual
intercourse twice a week! - that's the British way.
Then, it's straight to sleep, and an early start in the morning to add more
territory to the Empire!
su-t...@webtv.net
some quotes, etc.:
On July 4, 1973, Camilla & Andrew wed at the Guard's Chapel.
Camilla wore an antique lace gown, a L2000 (in cost) dress designed by
the Queen's dressmaker Belville Sassoon, ... a ten-foot-long white veil
flowed from her upswept hair, & she had diamonds in her hair.
The Queen Mother & Princess Anne were there.
The chief bridesmaid was Mary Muir, the Duke of Marlborough's niece.
"One of the pageboys was Maurice Roache, now Lord Fermoy and Princess
Diana's first cousin."
There was a reception at the St. James Club following the wedding, which
was attended by Princess Margaret, Lord Fermoy, Earl Alexander of Tunis,
Lady Jane Wellesley, Lord Charles Spencer Churchill, etc.
Andrew & Camilla left for their new home (the Tudor mansion Bolehyde
Manor in Wiltshire), in a vintage Rolls-Royce.
Charles was 3000 miles away at sea.
-----------
Camilla & Andrew had a brief honeymoon in Cap d'Ail in the south of
France, before Andrew (now a major) returned to his regiment in London.
He would leave Bolehyde on Sunday night, & return the following Friday.
"Camilla never liked the bitchy world of life among the officers' wives.
She would make an appearance at certain dinners and functions, but only
when she absolutely had to. When she did appear, she never dressed up."
"When you met Camilla, she always looked like she'd been dragged through
a hedge."
"Bolehyde was kitted out in furniture they had acquired from both sides
of the family ...", & it was "shabby-grand".
Camilla loved that house, the country, her dogs, & working in the garden
in her smelliest clothes.
Camilla refused to talk about Charles.
------------------
In Dec. 1973, Charles started writing to her & phoning her. He wanted
to keep her as a confidante & friend at least.
Andrew was outgoing & racy, & Charles seemed more deep-thinking &
stuffy. Both men loved horses and country life, had this deep-rooted
sense of duty, & loved Camilla.
Charles kept a picture of Camilla on display, in his cabin.
Dec. 18, 1974, Camilla gave birth to Thomas Henry Charles, & Charles
became his godfather. Four years later, Laura Rose was born.
-------------------
Aug. 27, 1979, Lord Louis Mountbatten was killed. Lord Mountbatten had
served as Charles' friend, father, older brother, confidant, adviser.
Charles made a second marriage proposal to Camilla, just days after
this, which she refused.
Camilla did comfort Charles, & she assured him that she would always be
there for him.
Charles threw himself into a string of unsuccessful love affairs.
Stephen Barry (his former equerry who later died of AIDS), said that
Charles seemed reluctant to fall in love again, & that he treated a lot
of girls like sh*t.
One of Charles' girlfriends was Lady Sarah Spencer, (the elder sister of
Princess Diana).
Charles would call/phone Camilla constantly, asking for advice.
------------------
In late 1980, Andrew Parker Bowles (now a lieutenant-colonel) was sent
to Rhodesia.
At this time, Charles was buying HIghgrove, Gloucestershire, the former
home of Prime MInister Harold Macmillan's son Maurice.
Camilla had helped Charles choose Highgrove, which was about a 15-minute
drive from her home (Bolehyde Manor).
Charles' Aston Martin Volante would be seen parked outside Bolehyde
Manor when he arrived on a Friday evening, & it would remain in the same
spot until Sunday afternoon.
C & C were openly displaying, that they were sleeping together again.
In late 1980, Camilla was the cause of a minor royal scandal, when she
came down with the mumps while staying at Balmoral.
--------------
Camilla gave Charles advice on his girlfriends.
She told Charles that he should find himself a younger woman (for his
wife), ... one who hadn't had time to develop too many of her own
opinions, & who wouldn't be too much bother.
It was Camilla who told Charles, that he should look more closely at
Diana Spencer.
----------------
Susan, Su_Texas my opinions
su-t...@webtv.net
some quotes, etc.:
Diana was first pushed/presented, as being a possible bride for Charles,
in the summer of 1980.
----------------
Diana (16) & Charles had first met in November 1977, on a muddy field at
Althorp (the Spencer's 1000-acre estate), while Diana was on a weekend
break from West Heath Boarding School, & while Charles was dating Sarah.
Diana watched Charles walking forlornly across a ploughed field, & she
recalled: "My only thought was 'what a sad man'. He had such a forlorn
expression. I felt quite sorry for him."
In Nov. 1978, the Queen Mum suggested that Charles invite Diana to his
30th birthday party, which is where Diana caught her first glimpse of
Camilla Parker Bowles.
Diana was thrilled to be invited, but she wasn't asked to dance all
night, ... & Charles danced the night away with Camilla.
------------------
Diana was born the Honourable Diana Frances Spencer on July 1, 1961 at
Park House on the Queen's Sandringham estate. [Lady Ruth Fermoy
(Diana's grandmother), was a friend of the Queen Mum.]
When she was seven, Diana's father Johnnie (the eighth Earl Spencer) &
her mother Frances chose to part. Her father sank into depression,
locking himself in his bedroom for weeks, & refusing to speak to anyone.
Diana adored her mother. A custody battle followed, which her mother
eventually lost.
Diana decided then, that when she did marry, she would never divorce.
------------------
Diana was a very bright child, but not much interested in academics.
Diana developed her motherly, nurturing side at school, ... she knew
what it felt like to feel alone, abandoned, & afraid, ... & it was she
who comforted the other girls, when they felt down or miserable.
In July 1977, her father married Raine at Caxton Hall. Raine was the
former Countess of Dartmouth & the daughter of the romance novelist
Barbara Cartland. Diana was 16, & she & Raine did not get along.
Diana enjoyed her time at West Heath School.
School was a welcome relief from the turmoil of her home life.
After leaving school with no qualifications, Diana spent six months at
finishing school in Switzerland.
In Sept 1978, Diana said that she had a premonition about her father's
health. At that time, Diana was staying at the home of an old
schoolfriend, Caroline Harbord-Hammond, the daughter of Lord Suffield.
The following morning, Diana was told that her father had collapsed with
a massive cerebral hemorrhage in the courtyard at Althorp. Diana rushed
to her father's side at Northampton General Hospital.
Raine fought hard, to keep the children from seeing their father. There
were screaming matches in the hospital hallways.
------------
In 1979, Diana moved into a three-bedroomed flat at No. 60 Coleherne
Court, Pimlico in London, which had been given to her by her father.
The flat cost 50,000 pounds.
Diana got a job at the Young England kindergarten, & she worked weekends
as a "char lady" for her sister Sarah who lived nearby.
Diana didn't live the high life. She would spend her free time going to
dinner parties at the homes of her Sloane Ranger friends, or making up
the numbers at bridge. She seemed to have no thoughts yet for the
future.
Diana knew nothing about sex or men. She was fun-loving & flirted a
little, but was also slightly aloof & shy. "She was young, naive, &
happy to be living in London."
Diana shared the flat with old schoolpals Virginia Pitman, Carolyn
Bartholomew, and Anne Bolton.
------------------
In the summer of 1980, both of the women whom Charles trusted (Queen
Mother & Camilla), were putting forward the same name as a prospective
bride, Diana Spencer.
In early July 1980, their meeting was arranged at a weekend party, at
the Sussex home of Prince Philip's polo-playing friend Commander Robert
de Pass.
Diana was sitting on a bale of hay, & Charles was standing. Diana
commented on Mountbatten's funeral, & how sad Charles had looked then.
Charles was impressed. (Charles is said to be very sensitive about his
feelings.)
The courtship began. Diana did become concerned that Camilla was so
often there, too.
Diana was repeatedly assured that Camilla was just an old & trusted
friend, & nothing more.
--------------
Diana did dislike some of Charles' interests, such as hunting, shooting,
fishing, & standing around for hours on freezing grouse moors.
----------------
In Oct. 1980, Charles arranged for Diana to stay at Bolehyde Manor for a
weekend.
Diana confided to Camilla that she was terrified of horses, after having
broken her arm as a child in a fall, ... so Camilla knew that she would
always be able to meet & be with Charles, in the safety of the hunting
field.
Camilla & Diana were never friends.
Charles & Diana did have a long conversation about marriage, while in
Camilla's cabbage patch, but he did not propose to her there.
----------------
"Diana was so naive, she thought the Prince was pursuing her because he
was madly in love with her." "... his main reason for continuing the
relationship, was that Camilla was so positive about Diana."
"Diana was scared of Camilla." She distrusted her. Camilla
wanted/tried to instruct & "guide" Diana.
Camilla had misjudged Diana, as being rather dumb, dense, & easily
moldable.
Diana wrongly assumed, that once she married Charles, Camilla would
disappear from the picture, ... but that wasn't going to happen.
It disturbed & baffled Diana, that Camilla knew the most intimate
details of her romance & conversations with Charles.
-------------------
In Nov. 1980, Charles was seen with a blond woman (Camilla), aboard the
royal train in a siding in Holt, Wiltshire.
On Feb. 6, 1981, Charles proposed to Diana in the nursery at Windsor
Castle.
Stephen Barry said: "The Prince was becoming more agitated by the day.
The engagement was imminent, but he knew then that he was being forced
into a marriage he really didn't want, with a woman he really didn't
know or love."
Charles was 33, marriage was inevitable, a bride had been chosen for
him, he had proposed & she had accepted, & the engagement was to be
announced.
On Feb. 26, Diana was examined by the Queen's gynecologist Dr. George
Pinker, & she was pronounced to be fit & a virgin.
On Feb. 27, Diana was taken by her new Scotland bodyguard Paul Officer
to Clarence House (the Queen Mother's London home). Diana found a
letter/note on her bed. It was from Camilla.
On Feb. 28, the engagement was announced.
--------------
When Charles left for a five-week visit to Australia, Diana was seen at
the airport, holding his arm & crying. She had been upset by one of his
phone calls with Camilla, right before he was scheduled to leave.
A friend is quoted, as saying that Charles said: "Either I am so old &
fuddy-duddy that I dont know what's going on, or she (Diana) has some
kind of psychological problem."
Five days before the wedding, Charles spoke with John Barratt.
John Barratt said: "I knew Charles was still very much in love with
Camilla and was having difficulties with Diana. Literally the week
before the wedding, he told myself & Lord Romsey that Camilla was the
only woman he had ever loved. He told us: 'I could never feel the same
way about Diana as I do about Camilla.' "
Charles was fascinated that Diana was still a virgin.
------------------
In July, less than a week before the wedding, Diana saw & opened a gift
Charles had bought for Camilla. It was small gold bracelet with a blue
enamel disc and the initials "GF", for Gladys & Fred. This gift was in
the office Diana shared with Michael Coleborne (the man in charge of
Charles' finances).
Diana had also overheard Charles ordering flowers for Camilla (who had
the flu): "To Gladys. Get well soon old girl, love Fred."
Charles assured Diana that Camilla was just a friend.
-----------------
Diana voiced her fears to her closest friends & family, but they told
her that it was too late. Her sister Sarah said: "Bad luck, Duch.
Your face is on the tea towels, so it's too late."
By this time, both Charles & Diana wanted to call off the wedding.
However, the engagement had been announced, the wedding date set, St.
Paul's Cathedral was being prepared, & Charles was duty-bound to marry
someone suitable soon, of whom his family approved. Diana fit the bill.
At this point, Charles had to do & say whatever was necessary, in order
to get Diana to the altar.
----------------------
Susan, Su_Texas my opinions
su-t...@webtv.net
some quotes, etc.:
On July 29, 1981, Charles & Diana were married.
Diana wore a L25,000 wedding gown, designed by Elizabeth and David
Emmanuel.
--------------
24 hours before the wedding:
Charles was in bed with Camilla.
On the Monday before the wedding, Charles had arranged to meet Camilla
at the "safe house" of a friend, & to give her the GF bracelet which
Diana had found & opened earlier.
That night, there was a formal wedding dance for eight hundred friends,
which Charles, Diana, & Camilla attended. Charles danced with Camilla
twice.
As Diana left the party, Charles' valet handed her a small package which
contained a gold signet ring (engraved with the Prince of Wales
feathers), and a card which read: "I am so proud of you. When you come
up, I'll be there at the altar for you tomorrow. Just look 'em in the
eye and knock 'em dead."
The card & present reassured Diana.
At about half past two that Tuesday morning, the day before the wedding,
Charles & Camilla slipped away from the party together. Then, Camilla
left at about five by private car.
Diana had refused to invite Camilla to the pre-wedding breakfast banquet
at the Palace.
Camilla did attend the wedding, but was not invited to the reception.
---------------
Charles & Diana spent their first three days of honeymoon, at Lord
Romsey's Broadlands estate in the Portico Room, ... the same room where
Charles had made love to Camilla for the first time, fifteen years
earlier.
Then the newlyweds flew to Gibraltar, to board the royal yacht Britannia
for a two-week cruise around the Mediterranean. It was not smooth
sailing.
When Diana picked up Charles' official engagement book (the diary which
listed all royal visits for the coming three months), two private
snapshots of Camilla fell out.
A few days later, Diana noticed Charles was wearing new gold cufflinks
of intertwined C's. (They were his wedding gift from Camilla).
" ... Charles had already decided not to give up Camilla's charms."
Charles made ship-to-shore phone calls to Camilla from the Britannia, &
he sent her a letter.
Once back in Britain, Charles phoned Camilla every day, & he wrote her
letters. Charles had to be in constant contact with Camilla, or he
could not function properly.
On the final leg of the honeymoon at Balmoral, Diana discovered two love
letters from Camilla to Charles, which indicated the true nature of
their relationship, & that they intended for it to continue. Diana
copied both letters.
From that moment on, Diana chose to call Camilla, "the Rottweiler", ...
& Camilla called Diana, "that ridiculous creature".
For their honeymoon at Balmoral, Charles spent hours on end, tramping
the moors, hunting, & fishing. Diana asked Charles to cut the trip
short, & return to London with her, but he refused.
When she emerged from her honeymoon, people were shocked by how thin &
fragile Diana looked.
------------------
At the beginning of Oct., Charles was convinced that Diana had
psychological troubles. Camilla recommended that he get professional
help for Diana.
Throughout Oct. 1981, Diana was visited at the Palace dozens of times,
by a succession of psychiatrists and therapists, including Charles own
doctor (Michael Linnett), who in turn called in an expert in the field
of depression (Dr. Michael Pare).
Diana was also counselled in eating disorders. Charles & Diana attended
joint counseling sessions three times.
Mostly, the experts prescribed tranquilizers, which Diana refused to
take. Fourteen weeks after the wedding, she learned she was pregnant.
On June 21, 1982, Prince William was born.
------------
"Camilla's position as a royal confidante carried an enormous amount of
social kudos and clout. Her position was superior to most in the royal
household, and only marginally below that of Diana herself."
Diana overheard her husband making a phone call to Camilla from his
bath, saying: "Whatever happens, I will always love you.", ... & she
enterred the bathroom & yelled at him.
A friend of Camilla's said, that when Charles was late in getting home,
that Diana would phone Camilla's home every half hour, & hang up.
-----------------
In Sept. 1982, Diana & Charles attended a house-warming party at the
Parker Bowles new residence, Middlewick House near Corsham, Wiltshire,
which was twelve miles from Highgrove.
Diana drank a glass of water, said she didnt feel well, & Charles took
her home. She had not wanted to go to the party.
Charles began seeing Camilla regularly again.
Diana started spending more time in London, meeting friends from her
pre-Charles days at private dinner parties, or going out with them to
her favorite Knightsbridge restaurant San Lorenzo.
In early 1984, Diana became pregnant with Harry.
By this time, Charles was on the phone to Camilla five or six times a
day, & he was seeing her at every opportunity.
On Sept. 15, 1984, Harry was born.
Not long afterwards, Camilla chose to renew her physical relationship
with Charles, which had been discontinued following his marriage.
After this, Diana & Charles' sex life became non-existent. The couple
started sleeping apart in their private rooms at Kensington Palace.
--------------------
In 1984, Charles & Diana were barely speaking to each other, they were
spending weekends apart, & the only times they met were at official
engagements. This was called 'the War of the Windsors'.
Prince Philip was angry at Charles, for his placing the monarchy in
jeopardy, by continuing his relationship with Camilla, & he summoned
Charles to the palace for a one-time meeting.
"By the end of 1984, Diana was carrying out offical engagements on her
own."
In 1985, Sarah Ferguson began dating Prince Andrew, & they married in
July in Westminster Abbey.
However, Diana & Fergie's friendship & behavior further irritated
Charles.
-----------------
In July 1985, Diana & Charles spent a holiday in Majorca, as the guest
of King Juan Carlos of Spain at his Marivent Palace, ... but Charles &
Diana avoided each other.
Charles cut the holiday short, to fly back to Balmoral, where Camilla
was staying as a guest of the Queen.
By the end of 1986, Diana had moved her things out of Highgrove & into
her rooms at Kensington Palace.
Highgrove's new mistress was Camilla.
Camilla greeted Charles' guests at the door, sat at the opposite end of
the table from him at dinner, & shared his bed.
During early 1987, Diana was still required to pay the occasional visit
to Highgrove, which she referred to as "the prison". Diana would take
her sons there for the weekend.
-----------------
" ... Diana always secretly nursed the hope, that Charles would realize
the error of his ways and run back to her."
In 1987, Diana developed a friendship (not an affair) with Philip Dunne.
This ended when Dunne received a phone call from Prince Charles' private
secretary, who ordered him to stop seeing Diana.
After that, Diana embarked on some flirtations with men from "the right
background", probably trying to get her husband's attention.
In 1988, Diana met Major James Hewitt (a Life Guards officer), who began
giving Diana & her sons riding lessons at Conermere Barraks near
Windsor, ... & he became the boy's unofficial "uncle".
Diana took her sons to spend weekends at Hewitt's parent's home in
Devon, to which Charles voiced strong objections.
Hewitt's girlfriend (Emma Stewardson), told of Diana & Hewitt's affair,
.. & Hewitt sold his story to the Daily Express.
In 1988, Charles had reached his "breaking point" & he referred to Diana
as "the mad woman".
--------------------------
On March 10, 1988, there was the terrible Klosters skiing tragedy in
Switzerland, where Major Hugh Lindsay (a former equerry to the Queen)
was killed, & Patti Palmer-Tomkinson injured.
The following day, the royal party flew back to RAF Northolt.
At this time, Diana was receiving treatment for her bulimia at Guy's
Hospital in London, from Dr. Maurice Lipsedge.
At about this time, Diana confronted Camilla, during the fortieth
birthday party of Camilla's sister Annabel Elliot, & said: "Why dont
you just leave my husband alone?"
Camilla turned & left the room, & Charles followed her.
After that, Camilla never spoke to Diana again.
---------------------
In June 1990, Charles broke his right arm badly in two places, during a
polo match at Cirencester Park, Gloucestershire. The initial operation
was unsuccessful, & the recuperation long & painful.
He spent months recovering at Balmoral or Highgrove, & Camilla hardly
left his side. Camilla was given her own suite of rooms, adjoining
Charles'.
Charles did not want to see Diana, and he consulted the Queen about his
wanting out of his marriage.
The Queen wrote to Diana, & invited her to dine with her privately.
The Queen stressed the importance of making the marriage work, ... she
said that Charles was willing to try again, & that Camilla was not a
threat.
???
Jean Sue Libkind
su-t...@webtv.net at su-t...@webtv.net wrote on 9/23/02 7:06 PM:
> ???
>
The only question is why you are posting this drivel.
Jean Sue Libkind
su-t...@webtv.net at su-t...@webtv.net wrote on 9/22/02 9:10 PM:
> Camilla was working as a secretary part-time.
Well, su-texas's impeccable research has at least netted us information that
Camilla had a job. Weren't some of you nattering on about how she had never
"worked."
Nynthlyfe9
Well, su-texas's impeccable research has at least netted us information that
Camilla had a job. Weren't some of you nattering on about how she had never
"worked."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Ellie was, and PK too I think, eons ago.
However it was stated in the Kings Mistress{the book from which Sue Ann is now
quoting} that the parkerbowles did indeed have a part time job.
there must be a circus town
with all the clowns
can i get a witness?
t
quondam
I think it's interesting. Considering how much time is spent discussing Camilla, most people
on this board actually know very little about her. -- Q
Loreen
>> Camilla was working as a secretary part-time.
>
>
>Well, su-texas's impeccable research has at least netted us information that
>Camilla had a job. Weren't some of you nattering on about how she had never
>"worked."
>
>
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>Ellie was, and PK too I think, eons ago.
>However it was stated in the Kings Mistress{the book from which Sue Ann is
>now
>quoting} that the parkerbowles did indeed have a part time job.
>
Without knowing Camilla's employment history, I think it is important to note
that *having* a job is not necessarily tantamount to *needing* that job.
>^..^<
su-t...@webtv.net
Some quotes, etc.:
In May 1988, Prince Harry was taken to hospital for an emergency hernia
operation.
In June 1991, Prince William was hit in the head by a golf club, which
resulted in a compressed fracture of the skull. He was rushed from
Royal Berkshire Hospital to Great Ormond Street Hospital for the
surgery.
-----------------
As early as Nov. 1989, Diana had asked Charles for a separation, because
she was tired of "living a lie".
She confronted Charles in his study at Kensington Palace, & told him she
wanted out of their marriage.
He dismissed her demands as being 'ridiculous'.
"He told her: 'There is absolutely no way a separation would be
acceptable either to me, my family or the palace. If you find me
intolerable, you do not have to see me. But the marriage remains. I
shall never, ever allow a separation to occur."
No matter how bad the marriage was, a separation could spark a
constitutional crisis, such as with Edward VIII & Wallis Simpson.
An advisor to Edward VIII had told him: "Sir, you can have the throne,
or you can have the woman. You cannot have both."
Charles confided to friends: "That statement went round and round my
head. I was in the same d*mnable situation. And I did not know what
to do. I was trapped between the devil & the deep blue sea."
----------------
Princess Anne never like Diana, she sided with Charles, she blamed Diana
for the problems with (& attention from) the media, ... she refused to
talk to Diana, & avoided her.
Prince Philip viewed Diana as being a "silly little girl", but he was
furious with Charles for not taking a firmer stand against her.
A former equerry said, that it was Philip who forced Charles to marry.
Charles would have been happy staying a bachelor all his life.
Charles' only ally was the Queen Mother, with whom he began spending a
lot of time, both at her London home (Clarence House), and at her
Scottish estate (Birkinhall).
When Camilla was not available, Charles would talk to the Queen Mum.
Charles began seeing a psychotherapist, Dr. Allan McGlashan.
Charles blamed all the problems in the marriage on Diana's bulimia, ...
& on the psychological problems which he believed she had acquired &
suffered from, since childhood.
---------------------
In March 1992, Buckingham Palace decreed that Charles, Diana, & the boys
would take a skiing holiday together in Lech, Austria.
Charles flew in separately, & was photographed with the his sons outside
the hotel. This was a photocall for the world's press, from which Diana
had been banned.
When news came that Diana's father had died, Diana wanted to return on
her own, ... but the Queen phoned & finally convinced her to travel back
with Charles.
They drove to Kensington together, then Charles left for Highgrove &
Camilla. Charles did attend funeral, then left to meet Camilla.
----------------------
By June 1992, Andrew Parker Bowles was a brigadier with the illustrious
title of Silver Stick in Waiting to the Queen, & he was also in charge
of the Army Veterinary Corps.
That year, he & Camilla were invited to Ascot as personal guests of the
Queen.
In June 1992, Camilla was invited to the Queen's Cup polo match at
Smith's Lawn in Windsor Great Park, as the personal guest of the Queen,
.. & she was warmly welcomed by her. Camilla wore a two-piece Prince
of Wales check suit.
------------------
Camilla was deeply devoted to both Andrew & Charles. She ran her own
household & Highgrove.
Camilla & Andrew enjoyed a passionate, if volatile, relationship. They
loved each other very deeply. They had a strong (but open) marriage.
However, the public jibes about his wife's ongoing affair with Charles,
were starting to wear on Andrew, & the marriage was slowly falling
apart.
A & C were spending less time together. However, they wanted to remain
married, until their children were grown.
-----------------
On Aug. 24, 1992, the Sun ran the "Squidgey" tapes, of Diana & James
Gilbey.
The tape had been made when Diana was alone in her bedroom at
Sandringham, shortly after Christmas 1989.
Diana once again asked Charles for a separation.
The Queen suggested a three month cooling-off period.
Prince Philip explained to Diana, that if she got a divorce, she would
lose custody of her sons.
Diana made the agreement that she would stick with the marriage until
the end of the year, ... that she would accompany Charles & her sons on
a summer cruise in the Mediterranean, & she would go on a tour of Korea,
.. but if she felt the same way when she came back, then a separation
would be announced.
After that, Charles met with Camilla, to start a major refurbishment of
Highgrove, ... to replace the pretty pastels and flowery prints of the
Diana-era, with a more "manly" style.
Charles also moved out of Kensington Palace.
---------------
In the summer of 1992, Charles, Diana, & their sons went on a cruise of
the Mediterranean, on a luxury yacht owned by Greek shipping tycoon John
Latsis. It was billed as their 'second honeymoon'.
They were accompanied by Princess Alexandra & her husband Sir Angus
Ogilvy, Lord and Lady Romsey and their children, & Princes William &
Harry.
Charles & Diana barely exchanged a word. Diana ate separately with the
children, & she slept in a small cabin at the other end of the yacht
from her husband. Charles ignored her when they did meet.
When Diana picked up the phone to make a ship-to-shore call, Charles was
in conversation with Camilla.
-------------------
That summer, Andrew Morton's book was published.
Diana refused to sign a statement, which said that she had not
cooperated with the book.
She refused to disown the book's contents, or her friends who had
cooperated with the publication.
----------------------
In Nov. 1992, Diana & Charles undertook a four-day trip to South Korea,
which was a disaster. The media labelled them "the Glums".
A few days after she returned, Diana went to see a solicitor Paul Butner
of Wright, Son and Pepper in London. Diana asked him to work out a
separation agreement with the Queen's solicitor Sir Matthew Farrer.
On Dec. 9, the official separation of the Prince & Princess of Wales was
announced. John Major made this announcement to the House of Commons.
On Dec. 12, Princess Anne married Commander Timothy Laurence.
The palace informed Diana, that William & Harry would be spending
Christmas with their father at Sandringham.
Diana spent the Christmas with her brother Earl Spencer at Althorp
estate.
----------------
About a month later (Jan. 13, 1993), the Camillagate scandal broke. The
tape had been recorded on Dec. 18, 1989.
Charles had been aware (for about six months), that the media had these
tapes, as had Camilla & her husband.
The affair which Charles had denied & tried to hide, was now public.
That morning, Prince Charles was awakened by Sir Robert Fellowes (the
Queen's private secretary). Fellowes had always been one of Charles'
closest friends, & he telephoned to let Charles know that the tapes had
been made public. Fellowes was also the husband of Diana's sister (Lady
Jane Spencer). After the Morton book & Squidgygate, Fellowes had cut
all ties with Diana.
Charles felt disillusioned, fed up, & depressed. He blamed Diana for
all the problems, & he was angry about it. He started to take sleeping
pills.
"According to those close to him, he (Charles) seriously considered
leaving Britain, renouncing the throne, and 'running away' to his
beloved Italy."
The Queen Mother started speaking with Charles every day.
After the scandal broke, Andrew went home to comfort his wife.
Andrew, Camilla, & their family made a public show of force, by holding
a picnic lunch in the grounds of Eton school, where their son Tom was in
his finaly year.
Camilla's father Major Bruce Shand & her sister Annabel Elliot joined
the outing.
Grrarrggh
>> >
>> The only question is why you are posting this drivel.
>
>
>I think it's interesting. Considering how much time is spent discussing
>Camilla, most people
>on this board actually know very little about her. -- Q
Yeah, but Su_Texas is posting rumour and drivel about her. As in that she
spent the night before Charles's wedding in bed with him. Something that has
been discounted many, many times.
quondam
>
> >> > ???
> >> >
> >> The only question is why you are posting this drivel.
> >
> >
> >I think it's interesting. Considering how much time is spent discussing
> >Camilla, most people
> >on this board actually know very little about her. -- Q
>
> Yeah, but Su_Texas is posting rumour and drivel about her.
She's posting material from Caroline Graham's CPB bio. I read it a long time ago and don't
have it anymore, but I'm assuming Su-texas hasn't added anything to the text.
As in that she
> spent the night before Charles's wedding in bed with him. Something that has
> been discounted many, many times.
Has it? By whom? Remember, until the time when the Camillagate tape was released,
Charles and Camilla were denying they were having an affair at all.
I think people have to read everthing critically, including what people write about
themselves. Graham is (or used to be) a reporter with the Daily Mail and is as good a source
as any of the other commentators. -- Q
JBSARTIN
>spent the night before Charles's wedding in bed with him. Something that has
>been discounted many, many times.
>
But it's in the book and it's also in the book by Christopher Wilson, 'The
Windsor Knot.'
Julia
su-t...@webtv.net
Some quotes, etc.:
Nine days after Camillagate broke, Charles had a meeting with Camilla's
father (Major Bruce Shand) in Charles' private rooms at Buckingham
Palace.
Major Shand had written to Charles, demanding this meeting. Shand was
nearly eighty years old.
Shand refused to shake Charles' hand.
For ninety minutes, Shand spoke to Charles, starting off in a bewildered
& sad voice, which became increasingly angry, until he was red-faced
with rage.
Shand said: "My daughter's life has been ruined, her children are the
subject of ridicule and contempt. You have brought disgrace on my whole
family."
The Prince bowed his head & said nothing. Major Shand had been like a
second father to Charles, since the mid-seventies.
Shand told Charles that his wife was an invalid, who had been 'deeply
and profoundly upset' by the scandal, & that the Prince had 'made a
mockery' of his entire family and their good name.
Shand demanded that Charles sever all ties with Camilla, 'get out'.
He criticized Charles' abilities as a father & husband.
He said that Charles should have known better, than to continue the
affair with Camilla so publicly.
No one had ever spoken to Charles in this manner before.
Charles told Shand, that he would 'think about it'. Then, Charles burst
into tears.
Charles said later, that this was the worst moment of his life.
-------------
Charles had wrongly assumed that Camillagate would merely cause a blip &
then be over.
It had become a full-blown crisis, which jeopardized Charles' future.
It had embroiled the royal family in a scandal, which was similar to
Edward VIII & Wallace Simpson.
"Shortly after his harrowing meeting with Major Shand, Charles was
summmoned to a meeting with the Queen, Prince Phiilip, the Queen's
private secretary Sir Robert Fellowes, and the Prince's private
secretary Commander Richard Aylard, an unstuffy former naval officer who
was to become the kingpin in the almost military-style campaign to
revamp Charles's image."
The Queen agreed that Charles needed to embark on a "positive
public-relations" campaign.
The following Sunday, Charles walked over to photographers, & he posed
for pictures with his two sons, outside the church.
Charles' duty lay in succeeding to the throne, & he had placed the
throne in jeopardy.
Charles recounted one of his favorite historical quotes to friends:
"The monarchy is like virginity, once you have lost it, you can never,
ever get it back." (the former German Kaiser Wilhelm)
-----------------
There was criticism from the Church of England, of which Charles was to
become the future Head of Church.
The venerable George Austin, Archdeacon of York, said (on the radio
program Today): "My view would be that Charles made solemn vows before
God in church about marriage, and it seems, if it is true about Camilla
Parker-Bowles, that he began to break them almost immediately. He has
broken his trust and vows to God on one thing. How can he then go into
Westminster Abbey and take his Coronation vows?"
Austin was one of the most respected churchmen in the land.
The Archbishop of York (Dr. John Habgood) said: "He must resolve his
personal problems before becoming king."
The Queen summoned senior Church leaders to a meeting at Lambeth Palace
(the Church of England's headquarters), in order to defend Charles & to
say that he would be king.
Afterwards, the Archbishop of Canterbury announced publicly, that he was
"in full support" of Charles' becoming king.
----------------
In April 1993, Charles made a PR mistake.
He chose to fly to the funeral service of King Juan Carlos of Spain's
father, Don Juan de Bourbon y Batterburg, in Madrid.
At the same time, the British public's attention was focused on the IRA
bombing of a shopping center in the northern town of Warrington, where
two young boys Jonathan Ball & Tim Parry had been killed, & many others
injured.
The palace had refused Diana permission to attend a memorial service in
Warrington for the two boys, ... so Diana phoned the families to offer
her condolences.
Charles had visited Warrington, a couple of days after the bomb had gone
off, ... & he was seen on BBC saying to a woman who had lost her leg in
the blast: "Your courage has made my day."
--------------------
The Palace realized, that it needed to get its public relations machine
in order.
The Queen announced that she would start paying taxes for the first time
ever.
"Then it was announced that Buckingham Palace would be opened to the
public for two months each summer -- August and September -- for the
first five years, beginning in 1993."
At L12 entrance fee, this proved to be a tremendous financial success,
raking in L2 million profit in fees, and another L1.2 million in
souvenir sales.
The Queen also agreed to pay a major part of the rebuilding costs of
Windsor Castle, which had been devastated by a fire in Dec. 1992.
In June 1993, another meeting was called at St. James Palace, where Sir
Richard Aylard called on professional help in rebuilding Charles' image.
Among those chosen were Harvey Goldsmith, the TV arts presenter Melvyn
Bragg, and the editor of the Times Peter Stothard.
Charles didn't show up.
"Commander Aylard sent a handwritten memo to his boss, stressing the
importance of him co-operating 'in the work we have before us'. On the
bottom on the memo was the underlined word 'please'."
Charles has attended every meeting since.
------------------
Throughout 1993, Charles continued to talk to & depend on Camilla, which
he tried to keep secret from everyone including his family.
They met at safe houses. He needed her emotionally & sexually. The
crisis had brought them closer together. Charles was reluctant to trust
anyone but Camilla.
Diana's friends were quoted as saying, that Diana did not care about C &
C any more, & that she just wanted to get on with her life.
------------------------
A solo tour of Australia was being planned for Charles for Jan. 1994, as
a major make-or-break PR-type trip.
Every tiny detail of this trip was planned & discussed with Charles.
Then Charles' aides talked directly to him, about what had been referred
to in royal circles for years as "that matter" (his relationship with
Camilla).
Charles was asked to choose between Camilla & the crown. He chose the
crown.
The end came the week before Christmas 1993, when Camilla could not get
through on her private phone line to Charles. When the phone was
finally answered, Camilla was told that Charles was not available.
The number that Camilla had dialed, was a private 'hotline' set-up in
Charles' private study at his Highgrove estate in Gloucestershire. "It
was Camilla's number."
Charles told a friend: "If being king is my duty, Camilla was my fate.
But duty always comes before fate."
Charles called Camilla from Sandringham on Christmas day.
The media reported to the public, that the Camilla affair was over.
The Queen had always been fond of Camilla & felt sad for her, but was
also proud of her son's decision to end the affair.
The Australian tour was a PR success.
Charles phoned Camilla from Australia, to tell her he was OK.
------------------
Susan, Su_Texas my opinions
Holly W.
Thank you! I wondered the same thing, especially when we can all
easily order it from Amazon.com, buy it from Barnes and Noble or any
other bookstore, or possibly check it out from our local libraries,
and read the book for ourselves, should we have the desire.
Mrs.H
:
> >
> > > ???
> > >
> > The only question is why you are posting this drivel.
>
> Thank you! I wondered the same thing, especially when we can all
> easily order it from Amazon.com, buy it from Barnes and Noble or any
> other bookstore, or possibly check it out from our local libraries,
> and read the book for ourselves, should we have the desire.
Cos were too cheap to buy it?
Keep posting Sue
Mrs.H
Mrs.H
<su-t...@webtv.net> wrote in message
news:1671-3D9...@storefull-2137.public.lawson.webtv.net...
> Camilla: Her True Story, by Caroline Graham
>
> Some quotes, etc.:
>
> Nine days after Camillagate broke, Charles had a meeting with Camilla's
> father (Major Bruce Shand) in Charles' private rooms at Buckingham
> Palace.
>
> Major Shand had written to Charles, demanding this meeting. Shand was
> nearly eighty years old.
>
> Shand refused to shake Charles' hand.
>
> For ninety minutes, Shand spoke to Charles, starting off in a bewildered
> & sad voice, which became increasingly angry, until he was red-faced
> with rage.
>
> Shand said: "My daughter's life has been ruined, her children are the
> subject of ridicule and contempt. You have brought disgrace on my whole
> family."
Excuse me Major Shand, your daughter was 50% of that affair. Your righteous
indignation cames a little too late, you should have taken care of it when
first hearing about the whole sordid mess.
> The Prince bowed his head & said nothing. Major Shand had been like a
> second father to Charles, since the mid-seventies.
>
> Shand told Charles that his wife was an invalid, who had been 'deeply
> and profoundly upset' by the scandal, & that the Prince had 'made a
> mockery' of his entire family and their good name.
>
> Shand demanded that Charles sever all ties with Camilla, 'get out'.
>
> He criticized Charles' abilities as a father & husband.
=================
Seems it was not all in Diana's head.
> He said that Charles should have known better, than to continue the
> affair with Camilla so publicly.
>
> No one had ever spoken to Charles in this manner before.
>
> Charles told Shand, that he would 'think about it'. Then, Charles burst
> into tears.
===================
Ugh! Pass the bucket - please.
>
> Charles said later, that this was the worst moment of his life.
>
> -------------
>
> Charles had wrongly assumed that Camillagate would merely cause a blip &
> then be over.
===================
duh........and this guy is going to be a king one day.
> It had become a full-blown crisis, which jeopardized Charles' future.
>
> It had embroiled the royal family in a scandal, which was similar to
> Edward VIII & Wallace Simpson.
>
> "Shortly after his harrowing meeting with Major Shand, Charles was
> summmoned to a meeting with the Queen, Prince Phiilip, the Queen's
> private secretary Sir Robert Fellowes, and the Prince's private
> secretary Commander Richard Aylard, an unstuffy former naval officer who
> was to become the kingpin in the almost military-style campaign to
> revamp Charles's image."
================
I knew there was a master plan.
>
> The Queen agreed that Charles needed to embark on a "positive
> public-relations" campaign.
>
> The following Sunday, Charles walked over to photographers, & he posed
> for pictures with his two sons, outside the church.
>
> Charles' duty lay in succeeding to the throne, & he had placed the
> throne in jeopardy.
==================
Yes he did!
> Charles recounted one of his favorite historical quotes to friends:
> "The monarchy is like virginity, once you have lost it, you can never,
> ever get it back." (the former German Kaiser Wilhelm)
>
> -----------------
>
> There was criticism from the Church of England, of which Charles was to
> become the future Head of Church.
>
> The venerable George Austin, Archdeacon of York, said (on the radio
> program Today): "My view would be that Charles made solemn vows before
> God in church about marriage, and it seems, if it is true about Camilla
> Parker-Bowles, that he began to break them almost immediately. He has
> broken his trust and vows to God on one thing. How can he then go into
> Westminster Abbey and take his Coronation vows?"
================
Why was he not excommunicated from the church for committing adultery?
> Austin was one of the most respected churchmen in the land.
>
> The Archbishop of York (Dr. John Habgood) said: "He must resolve his
> personal problems before becoming king."
>
> The Queen summoned senior Church leaders to a meeting at Lambeth Palace
> (the Church of England's headquarters), in order to defend Charles & to
> say that he would be king.
>
> Afterwards, the Archbishop of Canterbury announced publicly, that he was
> "in full support" of Charles' becoming king.
>
> ----------------
>
> In April 1993, Charles made a PR mistake.
==============
Only one!
>
> He chose to fly to the funeral service of King Juan Carlos of Spain's
> father, Don Juan de Bourbon y Batterburg, in Madrid.
>
> At the same time, the British public's attention was focused on the IRA
> bombing of a shopping center in the northern town of Warrington, where
> two young boys Jonathan Ball & Tim Parry had been killed, & many others
> injured.
>
> The palace had refused Diana permission to attend a memorial service in
> Warrington for the two boys, ... so Diana phoned the families to offer
> her condolences.
>
> Charles had visited Warrington, a couple of days after the bomb had gone
> off, ... & he was seen on BBC saying to a woman who had lost her leg in
> the blast: "Your courage has made my day."
==============
Like father, like son - foot in the mouth disease.
>
> --------------------
>
> The Palace realized, that it needed to get its public relations machine
> in order.
>
> The Queen announced that she would start paying taxes for the first time
> ever.
>
> "Then it was announced that Buckingham Palace would be opened to the
> public for two months each summer -- August and September -- for the
> first five years, beginning in 1993."
>
> At L12 entrance fee, this proved to be a tremendous financial success,
> raking in L2 million profit in fees, and another L1.2 million in
> souvenir sales.
>
> The Queen also agreed to pay a major part of the rebuilding costs of
> Windsor Castle, which had been devastated by a fire in Dec. 1992.
>
> In June 1993, another meeting was called at St. James Palace, where Sir
> Richard Aylard called on professional help in rebuilding Charles' image.
>
> Among those chosen were Harvey Goldsmith, the TV arts presenter Melvyn
> Bragg, and the editor of the Times Peter Stothard.
>
> Charles didn't show up.
==============
Spoiled brat!
===========
Very sad. This man has never grown up.
Mrs.H
su-texas, susan
Camilla: Her True Story, by Caroline Graham
Some quotes, etc.:
Aylard: "The Charm Offensive"
Charles' private secretary (Commander Richard Aylard, 41) worked very
diligently on his campaign to rebuild the Prince's image, which was
dubbed "the charm offensive" behind Palace doors.
Aylard was much more accessible to the media, than any of the Prince's
other advisers had been, ... he gave interviews, he was highly
experienced & knew how to play the PR/publicity games, ... & he was
popular with the media.
Aylard was willing to speak out with the full authority of the Prince,
he had the full confidence of the entire royal family, & he became one
of the most powerful men at the Palace.
Aylard's high profile image boosted Charles' popularity. In gratitude,
Charles gave him the honour of the Royal Victoria Order in the Queen's
birthday honours list in June 1994, an honour which is personally
bestowed by the Queen.
------------------
Aylard built a small circle of experienced men and women around him,
who had the sole purpose of upgrading Charles' image.
Belinda Harley (36, an Oxford graduate who ran her own
public-relations company), was hired as an assistant private
secretary, & Charles developed a close bond with her. She officially
left Charles' staff in July 1994, but unofficially still remains close
& helps out.
Belinda & Aylard were nicknamed "The Dream Team".
Charles hired two new press secretaries to handle the media: Sandie
Henney was hired from Scotland Yard, & Allan Percival was a government
press spokesman for Northern Ireland. They made a big difference
during the Australian tour in Jan. 1994.
-----------------
Charles chose to streamline his many charity interests, under the
title of "The Prince's Trust", which organization has an annual income
of L65 million, 500 paid staff, & more than 8500 volunteers.
It was also announced that "The Prince is actively involved in a new
role as Britain's 'cultural and commercial ambassador'."
Charles was to take trips abroad to promote British business and
enterprise.
------------------------
Dec. 1993: Tiggy
Charles also hired Alexandra "Tiggy" Legge-Bourke, a 28-year-old
Sloane-type, ... who developed a close bond with Charles, who
unofficially became his social adviser, & who became a mother-figure
to his two sons.
"Officially, she (Tiggy) was hired as an L18,000-a-year assistant to
Commander Aylard. But within a few short weeks of her appointment in
December 1993, it became clear her role was much, much more."
Tiggy soon had her own rooms at St. James Palace & at Highgrove.
She looked after all aspects of the boy's lives, including her packing
their cases for school & sewing their name tags on their uniforms.
William and Harry became devoted to her & adored her.
Tiggy encouraged Charles to be photographed more often with the boys.
In Feb. 1994, Charles took his sons & Tiggy on a solo skiing trip to
Klosters, Switzerland.
Charles seemed relaxed, confident, & self-assured.
Tiggy had run her own private nursery. Her mother (the Honourable Mrs.
Elizabeth Legge-Bourke) and her Aunt (Victoria Legge-Bourke) are
ladies-in-waiting to Princess Anne.
"An ancestor, the Marquis of Lincolnshire, was George V's Lord Great
Chamberlain, and an uncle was Page of Honour to the Queen.
Tiggy's father William is with the leading City merchant banking firm
of Kleinwort Benson, and the family owns a vast 1000-acre estate in
Wales."
"After leaving school at 16, she took a nursery teacher training
course at the St. Nicholas Montessori Centre in London. She then spent
a year looking after youngsters at the Little Wandsworth School in
Balham, south London, before taking a year off to travel around
Australia."
"... she was terribly, terribly discreet & loyal."
------------------
By Feb. 1994, C & C were very much back together again, after Charles
phoned her. Less than a dozen people knew that he was seeing her
again. They were meeting at safe houses.
---------------------
D-Day
"In June 1994, the historic pageantry surrounding the fiftieth
anniversary of the Allied D-Day landings on the beaches of Normandy
was in full swing."
The Queen, Queen Mother, & Charles, had all played an active and
high-profile role in the memorial services & tributes.
The royal family was also celebrating Charles' D-Day (Decision Day),
that is, his decision to cut free of both Diana & Camilla.
On the eve of the twenty-fifth anniversary of his investiture, Charles
& his advisors felt confident that he would become king. The public
campaign had worked. The polls reported his popularity.
Thoughout 1994, Charles & the Queen had become closer.
------------------
On June 23, 1994, the Queen took the royal yacht Britannia out of
service, & this saved the taxpayers L12 million a year.
A Palace aid said: "The royal yacht has been a favourite of the royal
family for years. To announce they were giving it up voluntarily, to
save money for the country, was a remarkable thing to happen. The
Queen has always had a deep attachment to Britannia. The vessel has
been a part of her life since 1953. She perceives it as a graceful
symbol of royalty & the nation. It must have been an extremely tough
decision for her to take."
However, the yacht was being seen as luxury spending by royals.
-----------------------
On July 29, 1994, Charles gave a two and a half hour TV
interview/documentary to Jonathan Dimbleby. Charles was given advance
notice of the questions he would be asked. Their TV crew followed
Charles around for months.
In the interview, Charles told Dimbleby that he would prefer to be the
defender of all faiths and religions, & not just the Protestant
Church.
Charles referred to both his mistress and her husband Andrew Parker
Bowles, as being "dear friends".
Charles said: "Mrs. Parker Bowles is a great friend of mine. She's
been a friend for a very long time, and will continue to be for a very
long time."
In the interview, Charles never actually named Camilla as being his
mistress.
Charles referred to his family as "the organization", & he admitted
for the first time, how difficult it must have been for Diana to join
the ranks of the royal family.
"According to those close to Charles, he was 'relieved and upbeat' in
the days following the television braodcast."
Lady Colin Campbell said: "I dont think Charles owed the public an
apology over his affair."
Diana's friends were quoted as saying, that she was relieved that
Charles had finally admitted his relationship with Camilla.
"The Queen gave her full blessing to Charles' comments." She watched
the program privately in advance, & was pleased with the result.
On July 1, 1994, Charles attended a ceremony to celebrate the 25th
anniversary of his investiture as Prince of Wales at Caernarvon Castle
in Wales.
----------------
Camilla refused to comment, other than to claim that she knew nothing
about the program's contents, and said she was unlikely to watch it.
"In fact, she was fully aware of everything Charles was to say. It can
be revealed for the first time that on 17 and 18 April, the two days
during which Charles' astonishing confession was taped, he repeatedly
telephoned Camilla."
"He called her repeatedly throughout the filming of the programme."
Camilla encouraged him to tell the truth.
The day before the broadcast, Camilla & her daughter Laura secretly
boarded a flight to Spain, to stay at the 2000-acre private estate of
the Marquis of Douro (one of Charles' closest friends) in Grenada.
Charles phoned her every day.
48 hours after returning from this holiday, she left for a 2nd holiday
in the south of France.
After the documentary had put Camilla back into the public eye,
Charles gave her his full support publicly.
On July 14, 1994, Camilla's mother Rosalind died after a long illness,
osteoporosis.
Both Charles & her husband Andrew were very supportive.
-----------------
In Oct. 1994, Jonathan Dimbleby published his biography of Charles.
In the book, Charles harshly criticized his father Prince Philip for
'forcing' him into marriage with Diana, & he talked of his 'agony' at
being trapped in a loveless marriage.
Charles had allowed Dimbleby access to his diaries, & to some of his
correspondence with Camilla.
Camilla was 'dismayed' at the extent to which Charles had revealed the
details of their relationship, & felt he had told too much.
Prince Philip was outraged by Charles' portrayal of him as a cold &
uncaring father.
In the book Charles said, that he had not loved Diana.
Charles told friends, he had 'no regrets whatsoever' about the book, &
that he was pleased with it.
People were sympathetic to Charles, but his airing of his dirty linen
in public, cost him a lot of respect. And royalty needs some mystery.
-----------------
Camilla's family were not pleased.
Her brother-in-law Simon PB openly criticized Charles for the first
time: "Prince Charles does not have our sympathy at the moment. I'd be
more inclined to say 'Poor old Camilla.' " and "What he has done is
very hurtful."
"Simon accused Charles of being 'mixed-up', and of dropping Camilla
'in a heap' by telling all about their affair."
Andrew PB noticeably changed after the TV interview & book. He was
'hopping mad'. He wanted out of the whole mess. He wanted a divorce.
--------------------
Susan, Su_Texas my
su-texas, susan
which was "my opinions".
Susan, Su_Texas
su-texas, susan
Camilla: Her True Story, by Caroline Graham
Some quotes, etc.:
In 1992, when questioned about Andrew Morton's book by the Queen,
Diana said: "I cannot help what my friends say about the troubles with
my marriage. But I can categorically say, hand on heart, that I
never once, not ever, spoke to a journalist directly myself."
------------------
On Dec. 3, 1993, Diana announced that she was withdrawing from public
life, in a speech which she made at London's Park Lane Hilton.
She appealed for 'time and space' & some privacy (especially from the
media), after her more than 13 years in the spotlight. She thanked the
Queen & Prince Philip for the support they had given her.
She said that she would continue to act as patron for a handful of
charities, ... but she would not pen any official engagements into her
diary, until at least the summer of 1994.
Diana had been stripped of royal duties, was being forbidden to attend
some events/etc., & was being frozen-out socially by the royals.
She needed to form a new way of life & living.
"Her announcement came just days after the Sunday Mirror published
photographs of the Princess working-out in a gymnasium."
Diana took legal action, 'to put a stop to the gross invasion of
privacy'.
--------------
Diana dismissed her private bodyguards, except for those occasions
when she was with her sons.
With the boys away at boarding school, Diana was filling her days with
gym, shopping, meeting friends for lunch, playing tennis, swimming.
Diana was trying to establish a private life.
When she tried to walk down sidewalks, she was sometimes mobbed by
photographers, whom she would sometimes yell at, run from, & try to
avoid.
Scotland Yard secretly assigned a four-man police squad to follow her
(during her solo shopping trips & regular lunches with friends). It
was code-named "Pink Panther".
---------------
On May 1, 1994, Diana was photographed bare-breasted on Spain's Costa
del Sol, ... where she had flown to the Hotel Byblos Andaluz in
Malaga, with two of her friends, Kate Menzies and Catherine Soames.
While beside the pool, she had removed her swim top, to wrap a towel
around her.
The photos were run in a magazine.
In the spring of 1994, Diana was photographed with Richard Kay, a
correspondent for the Daily Mail. Diana spent an hour in
conversation with Kay, who was writing a book about her.
Kay later said, that he had heard Diana was in town, & he had
requested an interview with her, concerning her recent trip to Spain.
-----------------
Two weeks later, the Palace revealed Diana's financial records in
detail, and her upkeep bill was L160,000 a year.
The Sun reported that Charles was 'furious and incredulous' at her
spending.
Charles had announced a massive cost-cutting exercise, to encompass
every area of his Duchy of Cornwall estate, & he had agreed to pay
taxes for the first time.
---------------------
On Aug. 21, 1994, the News of the World gossip-sheet said, that Diana
had been behind a series of telephone calls to a married art dealer
Oliver Hoare (who specialized in Islamic art), & who had acted as a
go-between while trying to help save Charles & Diana's marriage.
The phone calls started in Sept. 1992.
If Hoare's wife Diane or his children answered, then the caller would
hang up.
Scotland Yard was alerted in Oct. 1993.
Some of the calls were traced back to phones which Diana could have
used.
When Hoare was informed of this, he ordered the investigation stopped.
Diana & Hoare continued to be friends.
A week after the Hoare story, the News of the World reported that
James Hewitt had received ten hanging-up-type phone calls, during a
three-week period in the summer of 1993, shortly after his friendship
with Diana ended. [This book reports them breaking up in 1991 and in
1993. ???]
And Camilla said that she had received some hanging-up-type phone
calls also, which she had chosen not to report before.
-------------------
In Oct. 1994, James Hewitt decided to tell all.
He collaborated with author Anna Pasternak, in describing his
five-year affair with Diana (from 1986 to 1991), in his book "Princess
In Love", for which he was reportedly paid a million pounds. [This
book reports the affair starting in 1986 and in 1988. ???]
Diana called him "Winkie", he called her "Dibbs".
Diana didn't deny his allegations. She was heartbroken by his
betrayal.
Hewitt fled to France, where he was tracked down (by the media) living
in a converted pig-sty.
In Feb. 1995, Hoare was revealed to have been Diana's lover. Their
affair had begun in 1991, shortly after she dumped Hewitt, according
to Hodge. Hoare's chauffeur Barry Hodge told of how his boss and Diana
talked passionately on the phone, & of how Hoare left love messages
for Diana on a royal pager.
-----------------
Jan. 10, 1995, Andrew & Camilla PB announced their divorce.
Charles was officially told of the announcement, while he was on
skiing holiday in the Swiss Alps, ... but Camilla had pre-warned him.
A friend said: "Andrew just got to the point where he wanted to make a
fresh start. He retired from the army still a relatively young man,
and he wanted the freedom to enjoy his retirement, out of the constant
glare of publicity surrounding Camilla's affair with Charles."
The children: Tom was 20 and away at university. Laura was 16 and at
boarding school. They were old enough now to deal with the split.
On Jan. 19, the divorce decree was granted. In court papers, Andrew
stated that he had spent less than 30 nights at the family home in
Corsham, Wiltshire in the previous 3 years.
Andrew & Camilla had been living a lie. They cited 'irretrievable
differences' for their split. After 21 years of marriage, it was
over.
Friends said of Andrew & Camilla: "Basically, the Prince didn't want
to share his mistress with anyone, not even her husband." "... they
had not shared a bed for a decade." "Andrew was never allowed back
into the marital four-poster bed, after Charles and Camilla's affair
resumed, shortly after the birth of Prince Harry." "Andrew put up with
it for lots of reasons, but mostly because of his loyalty to the
Crown. He would have petitioned for divorce sooner, but Prince Charles
felt an earlier divorce would have damaged the monarchy. So Andrew
agreed to continue with the lie, for as long as he could stomach it."
"... Camilla was finally free to be with the one great love of her
life."
-----------------
Susan, Su_Texas my opinions
---------------
----------------
Date: Tue, Sep 24, 2002, 7:40pm From: su-t...@webtv.net
Camilla: Her True Story, by Caroline Graham
Some quotes, etc.:
After Charles had given the Dimbleby interview (where he acknowledged
the ongoing affair), & after Camilla's divorce had gone through, ...
then their friends & employees felt much more free, to openly discuss
their affair.
One of the first was Ken Stronach. Charles' valet & trusted servant
for 15 years. Stronach was a 50-year-old ex-marine, who had become one
of Charles' closest confidantes.
Stronach told how C & C would make love in the bushes, while Diana
slept upstairs.
He told of the framed photograph of Camilla, which Charles had kept on
his bedside table for years.
The photo showed a smiling Camilla, sitting on a bench outside the
Queen Mother's Scottish estate Birkhall, with Prince William in the
background romping with his father's Jack Russell terrier.
This showed that the Queen Mother had given her full approval & had
cooperated, for C & C to be there together as lovers.
One of Stronach's duties, was to scrub the grass stains, mud, & muck
off of Charles' pajamas, after his romps with Camilla on the grounds.
"When Diana was staying at Highgrove, Camilla knew she would not be
welcome, so she and Charles had to meet in the huge gardens."
Stronach said that Camilla would often spend the night at Highgrove,
when Diana was in London.
When expecting Camilla, Charles would disable the elaborate, high-tech
security system in his room.
Stronach said: "It was a big risk, a stupid thing to do. But he's
blind to everything where the lady is concerned." "We were told to
treat Camilla as if she was mistress of the house. It was as if
Princess Diana had never existed."
The valet went to extraordinary lengths, to keep the C & C affair a
secret, such as his placing used pillows in unused beds, ... &
circling TV programs in a TV magazine, to make it appear as though
Charles had spent the night at home.
Stronach said he had decided to speak out now, because of Charles' own
public confession of the affair.
Stronach said: "All through my time with him, we've all been told not
to speak to anyone about anything. We all kept the secrets. Then he
does a TV show and book, telling the world what we spent years hiding.
I feel let down."
Stronach resigned from his L12,000-a-year job admitting 'gross
misconduct', after his story appeared.
---------------------
Camilla's House
Charles would arrive under cover of darkness, for trysts lasting all
night long.
On Sunday evenings, Charles would show up just minutes after Andrew PB
had left for his job in London.
Nearly every Sunday from 1989 to 1994, Charles would arrive between 9
and 10 PM in summer, & as early as 7 PM in winter.
"Often he came on Thursdays, and sometimes on Wednesdays and Tuesdays
too."
"Charles was known as the Prince of Darkness, because he never turned
up in broad daylight."
------------------
When Charles was scheduled to arrive, the staff would know because
Camilla would black-out the house. She would turn off all the security
lights, close the shutters downstairs, & draw all the curtains. After
about an hour, Charles would show up.
Normally, the house would be a blaze of light until late night.
On the night of Charles' visit, Camilla would spend hours getting the
house & herself ready for him.
She would try to make sure the house was perfect, then she would soak
for hours in a bath.
She really made an effort to dress for Charles.
She has good shapely legs, & loved to show them off to Charles.
She had two outfits which were Charles' favorites: a scooped neck
black dress, that ended just above the knee, ... and a figure-hugging,
military-red dress which was calf-length & had a slit up the side.
-----------------------
Charles would park his car in the back, next to Camilla's old green
Subaru.
They would sit at the kitchen table to have a supper of chicken salad,
followed by strawberries and cream from Sainsbury's supermaket. Then
wine glasses in hand, they would go to the bedroom, which was always
lit by candlelight.
Just before daylight, Charles would leave.
------------------
Charles was so open about his visits, that he liked to wave to locals
as he drove past them.
A local poacher once saw C & C enjoying an intimate supper on the
darkened terrace of her home. The candlelight flickered on Camilla's
face, & she looked ten years younger.
----------------------
"When she was not with her lover, Camilla would ease her loneliness by
burying herself in romantic novels. She would spend hours curled up on
the sofa devouring her favourite books by Catherine Cookson, endless
cigarettes burning in an ashtray beside her."
"Camilla rarely lifted a finger to help the staff keep her house in
order until Charles was expected. Most of the time she would just
lounge around reading these novels. They helped pass the time and
eased her heartache, while she was waiting for the Prince to show up."
"The only time Camilla ever made a meal was for Charles. She didn't
even make her own breakfast."
-------------------
Camilla began to wear identical outfits to Diana.
A source said: "I once saw Camilla in the garden with Charles. She was
wearing a bright red sweater and black-and-white checked skirt. A few
days earlier, I had seen a newspaper with a picture of Diana in it
wearing the identical outfit."
"Camilla loathed Diana but she admired her style."
-------------------
"Another friend revealed how Camilla only lost her temper once, when
the Sun newspaper revealed how Diana had nicknamed her 'The
Rottweiler'."
"She was boiling mad and furious as hell." "She was screaming abuse at
Diana." "She raced into the kitchen and grabbed the paper from the
cook's hands." "I'd never heard Camilla so outraged."
"Another friend from Camilla's inner circle revealed: 'Camilla was
always secretly obsessed by Diana. She would read every word ever
written about the Princess. She would scour newspapers and magazines
looking for stories about Diana. When a newspaper compared her
unfavorably to Diana, Camilla cancelled it instantly.' "
-----------------
Camilla would go to any lengths, in order to keep her dates with
Charles.
In the summer of 1989, Camilla was meant to join Andrew for a London
party for his senior officer, for which it was a privilege to be
invited, so Andrew was very excited.
A few hours before the dinner, Camilla cancelled in order to be with
Charles. "Andrew was livid."
During Ascot week in 1990, Camilla's mother was taken ill & rushed to
the hospital. Camilla spoke to her sister by phone, but told her she
would not be coming. A few hours later, Charles showed up.
Another time, when she & Andrew were due to stay overnight with
friends at Newmarket in Suffolk, ... Andrew was travelling from
London, & Camilla was due to catch the train from Wiltshire, ... but
she didnt. Around 9 PM, Charles showed up.
----------------
Charles did keep away from the house, when Camilla's children (Tom and
Laura) were there on school holidays, which the staff referred to as
"the closed season".
The C & C affair cost Camilla a lot: her freedom, her private life,
her marriage, & it brought her some negative press.
It has also brought her power, privilege, & wealth.
-------------------
Susan, Su_Texas my opinions
----------------------
-----------------------
Date: Tue, Sep 24, 2002, 11:28pm From: su-t...@webtv.net
Camilla: Her True Story, by Caroline Graham
Some quotes, etc.:
Diana first met Pakistani heart surgeon Hasnat Kahn, about eleven
weeks before the Panorama interview of November 1995.
-------------------
The BBC reporter Martin Bashir smuggled some compact cameras into
Kensington Palace, where he taped the Panorama interview with Diana,
which aired in November 1995.
" ... she (Diana) spoke openly of the Palace campaign to portray her,
as a psychologically damaged loony."
She said: "Friends of my husband's side were indicating that I was
unstable, sick, and should be put in a home of sort. I was almost an
embarassment."
She confirmed her affair with James Hewitt, whispering: 'Yes, I adored
him. Yes, I was in love with him. But I was very let down.' "
When asked if she thought she would ever be Queen, Diana said she
would like to be known as "the queen of people's hearts".
Of her marriage, she said: "Well, there were three of us in that
marriage, so it was a bit crowded." "I don't want a divorce but
obviously we need clarity."
She spoke of her "deep, deep, profound sadness. Because we had
struggled to keep it (the marriage) going, but obviously we'd run out
of steam. I come from a divorced background, and I didn't want to go
into that one again."
She said she was unsure whether Charles would ever become King.
---------------
Immediately, the Queen wrote letters to both Diana & Charles, ordering
them to make plans for an early divorce.
In the press at this time, Diana was being linked with Will Carling.
She began taking sleeping pills.
"Diana issued a statement: 'The Princess of Wales has agreed to Prince
Charles' request for a divorce. The Princess will continue to be
involved in all decisions relating to the children and will remain at
Kensington Palace, with offices in St James Palace. The Princess of
Wales will retain the title and be known as Diana, Princess of Wales.'
"
The divorce negotiations began.
-------------------
Diana had a 30-minute meeting with the Queen, from which she fled in
tears.
The Queen & Prince Philip were determined, that Diana not keep her HRH
title.
Diana got a three-paragraph letter from Charles, in which he agreed to
the divorce.
Diana said: "It was cold and unemotional. Just like Charles."
On August 28, 1996, the divorce was finalized.
Diana would remain at Kensington Palace, would receive a lump sum cash
settlement of L17 million, and also would receive L400,000 a year to
maintain her offices.
------------------
Diana struggled to forge a new identity. She met with Prime Minister
Tony Blair, to discuss her taking a permanent 'ambassador'-type role
for Britain.
A friend said: "Diana was shattered by the divorce. It was what she
had always tried to avoid. When it happened, she was torn apart. But
by then, she was also a stronger woman. She knew that in order to
thrive, she had to survive and carve out a new niche for herself. She
started slowly rebuilding her life."
------------------
------------------
In the summer of 1997, Diana had ended her affair with Hasnat Kahn,
after he had accused her of leaking details of their relationship to
the press.
In July, Diana received a phone call from Mohammed Al Fayed, inviting
her & her sons to spend a holiday aboard his yacht (Jonikal) in St.
Tropez.
Her good friend & travelling companion was Rosa Monckton.
On holiday with her sons, Diana was enjoying the sun, the attention
from the Fayeds, & the safety their wealth provided.
Diana chose to have a summer fling/romance with Mohammed's son Dodi.
----------------
Diana flew to Milan for the memorial service for the designer Gianni
Versace, who had been gunned down on the steps of his Miami mansion.
Then she went to Paris, for a romantic weekend with Dodi at the Ritz.
The following day, they went to the villa of the exiled Duke and
Duchess of Windsor on the outskirts of Paris.
At one point, Diana became overcome with emotion & said: "... now I
will have to live my life in exile. I am the most famous woman in the
world, and yet I feel so lonely. I have never had a 'home'."
Diana had just been through a divorce, she was missing Hasnat Kahn, &
she was missing Charles.
A friend said, that Diana had never stopped loving Charles. "She
always thought -- right to the end -- that one day they would be
together again." He was her first love.
-----------------
Later that week, Diana sent her sons to Balmoral to go hunting with
their father, & she returned to the yacht which was to sail from Nice
to Sardinia.
At Balmoral, Charles & Camilla watched the headlines in the news about
Dodi & Diana.
"Charles was dumbfounded. His main reaction was: 'Why him?'. He was
genuinely perplexed." "He banned the tabloids from Balmoral."
-----------------
Diana returned to London.
On Aug. 21, Diana & Dodi flew to Nice. They played aboard the yacht, &
Dodi went to pick up the L125,000 diamond ring from the Monaco
jeweller's Alberto Repossi.
Kelly Fisher, his one-time fiancee said: "He gave all his women
jewels. I dont think Diana was anything special to him. He was having
that relationship for his father. Dodi was in love with me; I will
never stop believing that."
When Kelly tried to contact Dodi, Mohammed intercepted the calls.
Of Mohammed, Kelly said: "I think more than anything, Mohamed wanted
them to get married. It would have been his ultimate revenge against
the British Establishment, that he felt had always snubbed him and
treated him badly. But it was just not meant to be."
------------------
On Aug. 30, Dodi and Diana flew to Paris.
Diana phoned one of her closest girlfriends (Annabel Goldsmith), &
assured her that she was Not thinking of marriage.
She told Richard Kay: "I have decided I am going to radically change
my life. I am going to complete my obligations to my charities and to
the anti-personnel landmine cause, but in November, I want to
completely withdraw from formal public life."
That night, Dodi and Diana had dinner in a private suite at the Ritz
Hotel in Paris.
-------------------
At 12:20 AM, a jet-black Mercedes S280 driven by Henri Paul,
approached the Alma Tunnel in Paris at a speed estimated at 110 mph.
It clipped the thirteenth pillar of the bridge, & slammed into the
tunnel wall. Henri Paul & Dodi were killed instantly.
"She (Diana) was found facing backwards on the floor between the back
& front seats. Externally, she showed little sign of injury.
Internally, she was bleeding to death."
"Her eyelids were fluttering, but she didnt open her eyes.", recalled
motorcyclist Eric Petel.
She never said a word.
Charles & Diana's two sisters flew to France, to collect her body. She
was in a dress which had been borrowed, from the wife of the British
ambassador to France.
In Britain, mourners gathered by the thousands to lay flowers outside
Diana's home at Kensington Palace. There was such silence & shock.
---------------
Behind the scenes, there was a passionate war of words raging.
Charles insisted that Diana be given a fitting funeral.
The Queen & Prince Philip were adamant that Diana should Not be
restored to royal status, even in death.
One senior courtier said: "She (the Queen) could not stand Diana
towards the end."
----------------
"The Queen's outward lack of emotion caused near rebellion among her
subjects. The tabloid press was unanimous in their daily tirade
against the Royals. The Sun asked: 'Where is our Queen? Where is her
flag?' Eventually, when she returned to London, the Queen did fly the
flag -- at half mast."
"Three days after Diana's death, Charles had an angry meeting with his
mother. He demanded Diana be buried with full honours in a State
funeral. He also implored her to make a public statement immediately."
"The country, & the world, was in deep shock." "The people were
disgusted by the Queen's lack of obvious grief, & they demanded more."
The Queen did make a public statement, after which, the teetotal Queen
allowed herself a stiff sherry.
"At Diana's funeral, Charles, William, Harry, Prince Philip, and
Diana's brother Earl Spencer, marched behind the funeral cortege, as
it wound its way through the streets of London towards Westminster
Abbey."
"As they passed Buckingham Palace, the Queen, stony faced, bowed her
head. It was the first time in living memory, anyone could recall the
monarch bowing."
"The gesture was not lost on anyone. Queen Elizabeth was, finally,
showing her respect to a woman who, in death, was still a profound
threat."
"Diana was buried on an island where she had played as a child at the
family home, Althorp."
----------------
-----------------
At 1 AM on Aug. 31 at Balmoral, Charles had received a phone call from
Robin Janvrin, the queen's deputy private secretary: "Sir, there has
been a serious accident in Paris. Dodi is dead and the Princess of
Wales has been injured."
Charles called Camilla (who was at her home in Wiltshire), & they
spoke for the rest of the night.
At 3:30 AM, the news came through that Diana had died of her injuries.
C & C spoke until 6:45 AM, then Charles went to William's room to tell
him. They both went to tell Harry. The three hugged each other &
sobbed.
The royal family remained at Balmoral.
"On the morning of her death, Diana's sons, ex-husband, and former
in-laws sat stoically through a morning service in Scotland, at which
Diana's name was not mentioned -- on the advice of the Queen."
------------------
Camilla stayed out of sight in Wiltshire, but kept in touch with
Charles by phone. She was concerned about her safety, & increased her
security.
"With a nation, and two young boys, raw with grief over Diana's death,
Charles and Camilla were forced back into the shadows", for a while.
Then, the games & PR played on.
su-texas, susan
I am not so much quoting the book, as picking out some of the
factual-type information, & then posting it for discussion purposes.
(That is what we do here, right?)
If you get a copy of the book, & then compare it to what I have
written, you will see this.
Much of this information has been listed in other places anyway, that
is, in other royal biographies and/or in gossip-sheets.
-----------
At present, I am attempting to read, learn, & do psych-type profiles
of some public figures, for relaxation purposes. [I am about to start
radiation therapy for cancer, am rather concerned/worried about it, &
needed some distraction.]
I am also trying to come up with a detailed time-line for some of the
royals, just for fun.
It's sort of like playing a game of solitiare, putting all the facts &
dates together.
--------------
This book seems a very pro-Camilla, pro-Charles, anti-Diana.
It is important to remember this bias, when reading the factual-type
information in it.
If you would like to git down & waller real hard, in what might be
Camilla's mind & mindset, then this here book's fer you. :)
Personally, I admired/liked some things about Diana, & dont enjoy
seeing her "trashed". YMMV
Susan, Su_Texas my opinions
su-texas, susan
Camilla: Her True Story, by Caroline Graham
Some quotes, etc.:
Camilla's New House
Camilla wanted a "fresh start in a fresh place".
In May 1995, Camilla moved out of her marital home, Middlewick House
(which was sold to Pink Floyd drummer Nick Mason for L1.3 million),
... she & Andrew split the proceeds down the middle, ... & she moved
into Ray Mill House (L850,000), which is a Regency mansion set in 17
acres in the village of Lacock, near Chippenham, Wiltshire, & which is
16 miles from Charles' Highgrove.
Art historian Worthy Gilson and his wife Gill, who had lived there for
20 years, sold it to her.
Charles helped Camilla with moving costs, ... he gave her a priceless
antique Louis XIV chair as a house-warming gift, & a silver-framed
photo of her father, ... & then, while sitting on two wooden
deckchairs, they celebrated with gin and tonics, & spoke of the
future.
Once Camilla's divorce was final, & Charles was separated, then they
were able to settle more openly into domestic life together. They
spent every weekend together.
-------------
Money
Camilla was not broke, ... she did take half the proceeds from the
sale of the family home, ... but she was not independently wealthy.
She also took a considerable loss, as a Lloyds name, when the
insurance market collapsed.
A Palace source confirmed that Charles spends an average of L200,000 a
year on his mistress.
Shortly after Diana's death, he presented Camilla with a L8,000 leased
Vaxuhall Omega, ... he pays L45,000 a year for her chauffeur, ... he
pays approx. L75,000 a year on her holidays and airfare, ... he pays
L100,000 a year for her domestic staff & office, ... he funds the
livery & stabling of her hunter horses, ... he has started picking up
her clothes bills, ... the New York tour cost about L20,000.
A senior aide said: "Charles is determined that Camilla's lack of an
official royal position, will not affect the manner in which she
lives."
-------------
Gradual steps were being taken to 'introduce' Camilla to the public.
In Sept. 1995, she accepted the job of Patron of the National
Osteoporosis Society.
--------------
---------------
1997
Camilla's 50th Birthday
On July 17, 1997, Charles officially hosted Camilla's 50th birthday
party at Highgrove, for 150 of their closest friends.
Andrew PB and his new wife Rosemary were there, & Camilla told friends
that she & Andrew enjoyed 'the best divorce ever'. They were amiable &
civil for the sake of their children.
She said: "I am glad he has found contentment in his life. I wish I
could find peace in mine."
Camilla's friend Charles Benson said: "I know for a fact, that there
are those among their closest friends, who feel they are being used as
part of a pro-Camilla propaganda campaign and, because of that, some
of them have turned down invitations to the party."
--------------
July 1997: C & C Determined To Marry
Meanwhile, Charles' PR dept asked PM Tony Blair to begin drawing up
'battle plans' of what should happen, should Charles choose to further
his 'non-negotiable relationship' with Camilla by marrying her.
In July 1997, the PM's private secretary (Alex Allan) prepared a
detailed memo, outlining the constitutional ramifications, ... and
Tony Blair met with Charles several times to discuss this.
The plans ruled out any children from C & C, succeeding to the throne,
.. put forward a civil marriage, but without Camilla's becoming
Princess of Wales, ... Camilla would be referred to as 'consort' not
Queen, ... & the marriage would be blessed by the church, but would
involve Charles' renouncing his position as head of the Church of
England.
Camilla had become a regular at St. James Palace, was chatelaine of
Highgrove, & was seen as Charles' de facto wife, within their inner
circle.
Charles said: "This is the closest to stability I have felt."
------------------
Aug. 1997: Diana, Dodi, Paris.
-------------------
In Sept. 1997, Charles cancelled plans to accompany Camilla to a ball
for the National Osteoporosis Society.
Camilla said: "There was simply no way we could be seen together. The
grieving process for Diana had to run its natural course."
In private however, Diana's death allowed C & C to begin living
together as husband & wife.
St James Palace said: "Charles has vowed never to marry Camilla, they
just wish to lead a 'normal' life in private." & "Charles is devoted
to his sons, Camilla is very much in the background."
However, "Nothing could have been further from the truth."
With Diana off the world stage, Charles began looking forward to a
future, where he could walk through life with "the woman he loves".
"There was considerable pressure from certain quarters at the Palace
after the Princess died, for Charles to go public and renounce Mrs.
Parker Bowles. But when the subject was broached, he went nuts. He
literally shouted out loud, that it was not going to happen."
----------------
1997: Mark Bolland & "Operation PB"
Charles hired his first 'spin doctor' (Mark Bolland), specifically for
the 'rehabilitation of Camilla'.
Behind Palace walls, this was called "Operation PB", of which the
first goal was (and still is) marriage.
A senior aide said: "The master plan was to gradually ingratiate
Camilla into the public consciousness."
Bolland knew every Fleet Street editor & was on good terms with most,
... he began to give regular "briefings" to the editors of the
tabloids, ... he became friends with the editors of the Sun and the
Mirror, ... he regularly briefed the middle-market editors of the Mail
& the Mail on Sunday.
Within 18 months of Diana's death, C & C were being talked about as a
couple, & few objections were being voiced.
While Operation PB keeps running along smoothly, it also keeps racking
up some serious bill$ for Charles.
----------------
Mark Bolland was a former director of the Press Complaints Commission,
& he was given the official title of deputy private secretary.
In 1996, Charles' private secretary Richard Aylard had been let go.
"Senior aide Stephen Lamport replaced him, together with Elizabeth
Buchanan (Charles' assistant private secretary), and Colleen Harris
(his press secretary)."
----------------
Diary-Meetings
Camilla began to sit in on the all-important, twice-yearly
'diary-meetings', where Charles' daily schedule is planned for the
next six months.
She began encouraging Charles to accept certain causes, & to decline
those invitations which would take him away from her, for too long a
period of time.
-----------------
William
In July 1998, it was carefully "leaked" that Camilla had just met
William for the first time, ... which was not true.
This story was carefully planted to show the public, that William
approved of C & C's living together.
The story went, that "William popped home to St. James unexpectedly."
& that "The three were said to have enjoyed a 'convivial' meeting for
30 minutes, during which they had 'a cordial and general discussion
about all manner of things'."
An aide said: "The idea that William only met Camilla as late as 1998
is preposterous."
---------------
----------------
Charles' 50th Birthday
In Nov. 1998, Camilla hosted Charles' official 50th birthday party at
Highgrove -- with his two sons as honored guests, along with Andrew PB
& her children (Tom & Laura).
A few days earlier, Camilla had taken the spotlight at a smaller
function at Hampton Court, which was held to begin Charles birthday
celebrations.
Charles gave Camilla the necklace she wore that night. It had once
belonged to her great-grandmother Alice Keppel, the mistress of Edward
VII.
Charles said: "We have killed a lot of birds with one stone tonight."
--------------------
Highgrove Hostess
At the official birthday party at Highgrove, C & C danced check to
check in front of 342 guests, which included Princess Margaret, the
Duke & Duchess of Kent, the Duke & Duchess of Gloucester, Princess
Michael of Kent, King Juan Carlos & Queen Sofia of Spain, king Harald
of Norway, & ex-King Constantine of Greece.
Charles had asked each guest to give him a plant as a gift, & the
scent of roses filled the air. [Camilla's gift was a specially
commmissioned sculpture, which she presented in the garden. The
Highgrove staff gave Charles a new greenhouse.]
Camilla wore a deep-green velvet dress with a blue jacket, & an
aquamarine & diamond necklace (a family heirloom). Her hair was done
by Jo Hansford of Mayfair.
William arrived from Eton, changed into a lounge suit, & gave the
birthday toast/speech to his father.
Camilla hired a New Orleans jazz band to play some of Charles'
favorite music. The impressionist Rory Bremner performed a series of
skits, including an impersonation of Charles.
"Charles & Camilla took one spin on the dance floor, before leaving
the disco to their children."
The four-course banquet was prepared by celebrity chef Anton Mosimann:
smoked salmon, lamb, organic vegetables, & a special vegetarian dish.
The evening ended with a chocolate cake being wheeled in, everyone's
standing, & a chorus of 'Happy Birthday'. Charles put his arms around
Camilla & kissed her.
The party ended at about 2 AM.
"No expense was spared."
Cameras were not allowed inside. The press took photos of the guests
arriving.
-----------------
The Queen & Prince Philip refused to attend the official party given
by Camilla at Highgrove.
The Queen made it clear that she could not be seen at a party with
Camilla.
Prince Philip said: "I will not and cannot endorse a relationship
which I do not approve of."
---------------------
----------------------
January 1999
Photographed
The next phase of Operation PB, was for Charles & Camilla to be
officially photographed together.
The Palace let it be known, that they would agree to be photographed
leaving an event together.
It was the birthday party of Camilla's sister Annabel Elliot, at the
Ritz Hotel in London, ... where Alice Keppel had lived during her
affair with King Edward VII over a century earlier.
Camilla wore a black dress & a jewelled necklace (given to her by
Andrew PB).
At exactly midnight, Charles had a stiff drink, ... then he walked out
of the party slightly ahead of Camilla, ... he touched her arm, &
steered her towards a waiting limousine.
Cameras clicked.
This official "engagement" announcement was far different, from that
of Charles & Di.
In April, C & C went to the Lyric Theatre in London to watch Animal
Crackers (a musical comedy), ... then later, to a Royal Shakespeare
Company performance of Midsummer Night's Dream, ... & later, to a
recital at Royal Festival Hall.
--------------
Children & Drugs
The couple's children were growing closer.
William, Tom, & Laura became regulars at the Chelsea restaurant
Foxtrot Oscar, & they spent regular weekends together at Highgrove.
In May 1999 at the Cannes Film Festival, Tom was caught offering to
sell cocaine to an undercover reporter.
Tom agreed to give up drugs, he gave up his PR job, & he started his
own internet company.
Tara Palmer-Tomkinson (daughter of Patti) checked into a drug rehab
clinic to battle cocaine addiction.
Lord Frederick Windsor, son of Prince and Princess Michael of Kent,
was treated for a drug problem at a European clinic in the summer of
2001.
---------------
Court Events
Camilla was still not officially recognized by the Royal Family, but
she started attending 'Court' events.
She was hostess at a dinner, where Charles entertained a selection of
Lord Lieutenants from England and Wales.
She was with Charles at an official dinner for the Royal Shakespeare
Company.
---------------
Grooming
Charles gave Camilla a L25,000 clothing allowance, & she began
stocking her wardrobe with designer gowns, such as Valentino and
Amanda Wakeley.
Camilla had her hair highlighted, she got some make-up lessons, she
started getting regular facials done by a beautician at her home, &
she lost some weight.
Camilla became a regular 'lady who lunches', dropping into restaurants
like The Ivy, Wilton's, and Mosimann's.
------------
Buckingham Palace
Camilla was with Charles, as he hosted a 'thank you' dinner party at
Buckingham Palace, for 80 wealthy Americans who had helped raise money
for his charities.
The Queen was not in residence, but she had clearly given her
permission for C & C to be sitting together at a dinner party in her
home.
-----------------
Holiday
In August 1999, Camilla & her children joined Charles & his sons, for
their first official 'family' holiday together, ... a cruise of the
Aegean Sea, on the yacht Alexander owned by John Latsis, ... which
lasted a fortnight.
Other guests included Patti Palmer-Tomkinson, & Princess Alexandra &
her husband Sir Angus Ogilvy.
Next, Operation PB decided to introduce Camilla to America.
-----------------
Susan, Su_Texas my opinions
---------------
----------------
Date: Sat, Sep 28, 2002, 3:23pm From: su-t...@webtv.net
Camilla: Her True Story, by Caroline Graham, 2001
Some quotes, etc.:
---------------
Camilla Does New York
[Operation PB's next stop: To wow/woo America.]
Diana had "reigned supreme" in New York, from her first "solo tour in
1989, to her last visit in June 1997".
Charles' aides felt, that if Camilla could make a huge splash/success
in America, then the British would view her more favorably as Charles'
wife & future queen.
This trip was to be a "royal tour" in everything but name. Camilla's
aides publicly referred to it, as just "a visit to see old friends".
The schedule was drawn up by St. James, & Charles was involved in
everything, including his approving the menus. For weeks, C & C went
over every detail of her trip.
During the tour, Charles waited for Camilla's updates by phone at
Balmoral, where he was on holiday with his grandmother.
------------------
Three weeks before the tour, Mark Bolland flew to New York, to see
that everything was in perfect order for Camilla's four-day visit.
Michael Fawcett (Charles' former valet) was also sent with Camilla.
--------------------
"Camilla's first stop -- via a private jet from New York's Kennedy
Airport -- was the Hamptons, known as Manhattan's 'Millionaires's
Row', an exclusive series of villages on Long Island, where America's
powerful, elite, and downright filthy rich gather every summer to
escape the stifling city heat.
She was the guest of financier Scott Bessent, 38, a major supporter of
the Prince's trust, at his beachfront mansion called Southern Dunes,
in East Hampton."
Two years earlier, Bessent met Camilla at a Prince's Trust function at
Highgrove. "The wealthy bachelor laid his private jet and helicopter
at Camilla's disposal."
The next day, Camilla took the helicopter to Manhattan "for a
whirlwind tour of several New York Galleries, under the watchful eye
of heiress and philanthropist Eileen Guggenheim".
Camilla stayed at the Carlyle Hotel on the Upper East Side, which had
been Diana's favorite hotel in New York.
The following day, Camilla lunched at the Park Avenue penthouse of New
York socialite Brooke Astor, with guests which included Michael
Douglas & Catherine Zeta-Jones, "publisher Mort Zuckerman, United
Nations head Kofi Annan, and financier Michael Bloomberg", & Barbara
Walters (who wants an interview).
Oscar de la Renta offered to make Camilla 'a wardrobe fit for a
princess', & she accepted.
A guest said: " Diana always had the ultimate glamour pull for the New
York crowd. But everyone knows Camilla has been the real power behind
the throne for years. She was afforded the respect her position
requires. H*ll, Americans just love the royals."
There was also a cocktail party.
Then, Camilla flew home on the Concorde, to a dinner meeting with
Charles.
Charles' office declared to trip to have only cost him L20,000, & said
it was 'money well spent'.
The problem? Camilla was a chain smoker: "I could not smoke anywhere.
I tried lighting up in the car between functions, but even that was
frowned on. I was desperate for a smoke."
-------------------
Operation PB: It was time for Camilla to officially meet the Queen.
"In December 1999, Camilla flew to Edinburgh to be a guest of Charles
at the royal palace of Holyrood House."
Then, C & C chose to greet the millennium privately with close friends
at Highgrove.
"Weeks later, Camilla played hostess at Sandringham, in the
picturesque fourteenth century church on the Queen's estate."
The Queen (who was in Australia) left Camilla a small gift & a note,
as a welcoming present.
In June 2000, the Queen decided to officially meet Camilla, at a 60th
birthday lunch (a barbeque) for ex-King Constantine of Greece, which C
& C were hosting at Highgrove. [Charles was informed of her decision,
three days earlier.]
The Queen spoke to Camilla for about 40 seconds, during which time the
Queen smiled broadly & nodded approvingly, as Camilla stood by
Charles' side. William & Harry were there also.
Two weeks later, C & C attended a Prince's Foundation dinner, where
Camilla wore a pink chiffon gown & her Alice Keppel jewels.
"In private, Camilla's friends announced a new nickname for her --
'Queenie'."
"These days, Camilla is a regular visitor to royal palaces throughout
Britain."
C & C are also regulars to the Duke & Duchess (Debo) of Devonshire's
home, Chatsworth, where they like to spend three or four weeks a year.
--------------------
Holidays
"Their new-found freedom has allowed Charles & Camilla to enjoy
increasingly more frequent holidays together.
In September 2000, they stayed in a luxurious villa on the French
Riviera owned by Iraqi-born billionaire Namir Kirdar.
Villa Serenada, near Cap d' Antibes, was loaned to the couple for a
week, complete with an army of 25 staff, a Rolls-Royce, and a
luxurious yacht to whisk Camilla and Charles in style up the French
coast."
---------------
Operation PB: Camilla meets William (officially)
This official "coming out" was scheduled to be done, at the tenth
anniversary of the Press Complaints Commission (PCC, a voluntary
industry watchdog for British newspapers).
In Feb. 2001, Charles & William arrived first at this evening
reception at London's Somerset House, then Camilla arrived with her
sister Annabel.
The crowd of 550 included Sir Richard Branson, television & film
stars, & every major Fleet Street editor, columnist, and editorial
writer.
Camilla was accompanied by her sister Annabel & by private secretary
Amanda MacManus, as she worked the room.
"As Camilla left, she was overheard saying to her sister: 'Thank God
that's over'."
----------------------
Operation PB: Camilla's being photographed at the Queen's official
residences
In the spring & summer of 2001, Camilla was photographed at a business
reception at Edinburgh's Holyrood House (where Charles' hand brushed
hers).
C & C were at Buckingham Palace for a fundraiser for Macmillan Cancer
Relief.
In Scotland, Camilla was seated next to the Earl of Airlie, who is
"the former Lord Chamberlain and one of the Queen's most trusted
advisers". This showed the Queen's approval of Camilla.
--------------
Father Philip
Prince Philip has refused to meet Camilla, whom he refers to as
"Charles' bit".
In May 2001, a new biography of Prince Philip was written by Graham
Turner, ... with the full cooperation of Philip's most trusted
friends, .. for Philip's 80th birthday.
In it, Charles is depicted as a royal "lightweight", "precious,
extravagant, & lacking in dedication".
Charles' aides retorted, that Charles considers his father to be 'old,
bitter, & jealous of his own son'.
A senior palace aide said: "Charles is bitter and very angry. Philip
has nothing but contempt for his son."
----------------
Operation PB: The "Big K", first official kiss
"For weeks, his advisers had been briefing the press that 'a
significant moment' was about to occur."
On June 26, 2001, Charles placed two kisses on Camilla's cheeks at a
National Osteoporosis Society function.
Mark Bolland let it be known, that C & C "wish to resolve their
unfinished business", "They do not want to go to their graves without
becoming man and wife.", & "It is something he wishes more than
anything. It is his greatest desire."
A friend of Camilla's said: "Camilla still has no desire to assume any
official royal duties. What she would like is a semi-public role. She
wants to stand openly at Charles' side as his legal wife ..."
A senior aide said: "She wants to be Mrs. Mountbatten-Windsor."
"Now that Charles' ex-wife is no longer living, Charles is technically
free to marry again ...", however, Camilla's ex-husband Andrew PB is
still living.
An aide said: "The next stage in Operation PB is to sound out the
Church, to reach a solution acceptable to all."
------------------
Jewels & Gems
Camilla has given up smoking. She is trying to "become more in tune
with Charles' spiritual and new Age beliefs".
Charles has been on a quest to buy-up Alice Keppel's jewellery
collection for Camilla. He paid L40,000 for a black pearl brooch.
Last year, he bought a L100,000 diamond tiara, which had belonged to
Mrs. Keppel's daughter, Camilla's grandmother, ... & had it reset into
a necklace.
Charles presented it to Camilla for Christmas, along with a photograph
of Alice Keppel, & a love note from Edward VII.
-------------------
Operation PB & The Media's Cooperation
Behind the scenes, Charles' spin-doctor Mark Bolland was becoming a
bit heavy.
"One senior editor admitted privately, that newspapers felt 'obliged
to go along with the whole rehabilitation of Camilla thing, because of
Prince William'."
He said: "William is the one that everyone around the world is
interested in. We have to accrue what is known in the trade as
'William points'. By publishing positive stories about Charles &
Camilla, we earn the Palace's goodwill. But we expect something back
in return." "The death of Diana severely restricted what the press
could do. There is no way the public will tolerate any intrusion into
William's personal life. So we've reached this uneasy 'quid quo pro'
with the Palace. We support the pro-Camilla campaign and, in return,
if we're good, we get William points back in return. It is an
arrangement which suits both sides."
Operation PB rolls on.