According to reports, Prince Harry has revealed details about his first meeting with Queen Camilla, describing the moment he was introduced to his father’s then-girlfriend in his forthcoming memoir, Spare. The Duke of Sussex allegedly claimed he and Prince William begged their father King Charles III not to marry Camilla Parker-Bowles over fears she would one day become their “wicked stepmother”. Harry’s book was set to hit shelves on Tuesday, January 10, but some copies found their into a bookshop in Spain on Thursday. Excerpts from the memoir suggest that the Prince is continuing his attacks on the UK-based royals, namely his brother, father and stepmother.
Charles and Camilla got married in a civil ceremony in April 2005. Following their nuptials, during an interview for his 21st birthday in September of that year, Harry expressed his gratitude for Camilla’s role in his father’s life and claimed that both he and his brother “love her to bits”.
“She’s a wonderful woman and she’s made our father very, very happy, which is the most important thing,” he said, adding: “Look at the position she’s come into. Don’t always feel sorry for me and William, feel sorry for her. We are grateful for her… we’re very happy to have her around.”
He then quipped: “To be honest, she’s always been very close to me and William. But no, she’s not the wicked stepmother, I’ll say that right now.”
In the years that followed, Harry and Camilla were photographed at various events including Trooping the Colour, family gatherings and Royal Ascot. Just days after Harry married Meghan Markle in May 2018, the newlyweds joined Charles and Camilla in celebrating the then-Prince of Wales’ 70th birthday.
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Nonetheless, Harry and Meghan were seemingly unable to make it work as a couple within the institution. In January 2020, the couple stepped down from their senior roles in favour of a life in the US.
Since then, their relationship with the Royal Family has, reports suggest, become more strained, with various media interviews exacerbating any bond they had with the Firm.
When the late Queen Elizabeth II declared her “sincere wish” for Camilla to become Queen Consort, rather than the previously decided Princess Consort, upon Charles’ accession, Harry was notably silent.
During a video call with former Wales rugby captain Gareth Thomas, the Prince paid tribute to his mother Diana but did not say a word about the dramatic news regarding Camilla’s royal future.
Author of The Diana Chronicles, Tina Brown told The Telegraph at the time: “William has accepted Camilla in terms of what she means to his father. He’s been grown-up about it. ‘My father loves this woman, I can’t fight it, so I won’t.
“Harry, on the other hand, can’t stand Camilla, he doesn’t want Camilla to be queen, and he’s very angry that it’s happening. He has not made his peace with it and he probably never will.”
And some royal experts believe Harry has no interest in building a relationship with Camilla. Speaking last summer, Ms Seward said: “I don’t think Harry is interested in developing a relationship with his stepmother at this stage in his life.”
She added: “I don’t think Harry has a great deal of warmth for her; he waxes and wanes with her. I don’t know about the recent trip [for the Platinum Jubilee celebrations], but certainly I think Harry was quite happy to accept Camilla in the beginning but then went off the boil about her and I don’t think he holds her in great respect.”
This story is based on a translated version of Prince Harry’s book — which is to be published in the UK on Tuesday
Spare is available to buy from all bookshops and audiobook providers from January 10th.
