Did the Royal Family Break Up Prince Charles & Camilla Parker Bowles?
Tea was spilled (figuratively—but also literally, probably).
One storyline expected to be featured in season 3 of The Crown: Camilla Shand (later Parker Bowles) and Prince Charles' passionate, but tempestuous, early relationship. Chief among the challenges for the couple was Camilla's on-and-off boyfriend, Andrew Parker Bowles, whom she would later go on to marry (then divorce, so she could eventually marry Charles. Royal love triangles FTW!).
But the timing on the relationship between Charles and Camilla is intriguing, and there have always been rumors that the palace, who didn't think Camilla was worthy of the young prince, may have taken an active hand in breaking the two up. Whether it was sending Charles abroad, or speaking to the various families involved, the speculation about what might have happened is intense. So what do we know?
Camilla Shand was considered "unsuitable."
What is known is that Camilla wasn't thought of as particularly "worthy" of Charles, who (as heir to the throne) was expected to marry someone who was also aristocratic. Camilla had a baron for a grandfather, but that wasn't necessarily considered "enough"—from the perspective of lineage, she was still considered a commoner. Adding to Camilla's unsuitability was her dating history, including with Andrew—which may have made her seem impure, comparatively (eyeroll, but whatever).
The palace, including Charles' uncle Lord Louis Mountbatten, made it clear that Camilla wouldn't have been their selection. "I think it is disturbing for women to have experiences if they have to remain on a pedestal after marriage," Mountbatten wrote to Charles, which is a tiny bit annoying/funny/ironic because he also told Charles to sow his wild oats and not settle down right away.
It's not verified, but there is speculation that the palace may have gone beyond in making its perspective about Camilla known, going so far as to steer Charles away from Camilla (potentially through an overseas military assignment, a rumor that is brought to life in The Crown). Basically, it's not exactly clear what broke the pair up.
Palace staff did try to break up the relationship the second time.
According to royal biographer Penny Junor, what is true is that Charles' staff did try to break up Camilla and Charles once they started dating again after his divorce from Diana. The two had been having an affair before the divorce, and their behavior was seen as embarrassing to the entire royal family.
"When Michael Peat arrived from Buckingham Palace to take up the job with the prince, he came with a clear agenda. His instructions were to sever Charles’ relationship with Mrs. Parker Bowles because it was a mess and was detracting from his work,” Junor said. "This is certainly how the people in St. James’s Palace who worked with Peat during those first months viewed the situation."
Stay In The Know
Select the newsletters you’d like to receive. Then, add your email to sign up.
Of course, this time they were unsuccessful, despite the Queen's reported dislike of the “wicked woman,” whom she may have even forbade from the palace. Camilla and Charles continued to date, and eventually were married in 2005.
But it was a long, fraught path for the two on the way to marital happiness.
The Crown places the blame squarely at the feet of the royal family.
Spoilers for season three. Perhaps as a means of introducing the doomed marriage between Charles and Diana Spencer (the woman you probably know as Princess Diana), The Crown depicts Camilla and Charles' breakup as one that was forced by the royal family. Specifically, Lord Louis Mountbatten, Charles' mentor, and the Queen Mother, Charles' grandmother, conspire to separate the two at any cost, even inviting the Shands over to discuss how exactly they're going to break up the two of them. Following that Machiavellian moment, Mountbatten uses his military connections to get Charles deployed to the Bahamas for an extended period. It's all part of a theme that figures large in season three of The Crown: Intolerance is quietly passed down from generation to generation of the royal family, with catastrophic effects.
Although it's impossible to say what happened behind closed doors, the most likely scenario in real life is that Camilla Shand simply believed Andrew Parker Bowles to be a better match for her. Both she and Charles were very young when they met—Charles was 22, and Camilla was 23—and she married Andrew when she was 25, so she had a relatively short time to make a life-changing decision at a young age. There are many reasons she may not have wanted to marry Charles, not least the fact that being the future queen is an enormous responsibility.And while the royal family's disapproval of Camilla may have contributed to their breakup, there was probably no dark plotting to separate them at any cost. (Probably.)
For more stories like this, including celebrity news, beauty and fashion advice, savvy political commentary, and fascinating features, sign up for the Marie Claire newsletter.
RELATED STORIES
Katherine’s a contributing syndications editor at Marie Claire who covers fashion, culture, and lifestyle. In her role, she writes stories that are syndicated by MSN and other outlets. She’s been a full-time freelancer for over a decade and has had roles with Cosmopolitan (where she covered lifestyle, culture, and fashion SEO content) and Bustle (where she was their movies and culture writer). She has bylines in New York Times, Parents, InStyle, Refinery29, and elsewhere. Her work has also been syndicated by ELLE, Harper’s Bazaar, Seventeen, Good Housekeeping, and Women’s Health, among others. In addition to her stories reaching millions of readers, content she's written and edited has qualified for a Bell Ringer Award and received a Communicator Award.
Katherine has a BA in English and art history from the University of Notre Dame and an MA in art business from the Sotheby's Institute of Art (with a focus on marketing/communications). She covers a wide breadth of topics: she's written about how to find the very best petite jeans, how sustainable travel has found its footing on Instagram, and what it's like to be a professional advice-giver in the modern world. Her personal essays have run the gamut from learning to dress as a queer woman to navigating food allergies as a mom. She also has deep knowledge of SEO/EATT, affiliate revenue, commerce, and social media; she regularly edits the work of other writers. She speaks at writing-related events and podcasts about freelancing and journalism, mentors students and other new writers, and consults on coursework. Currently, Katherine lives in Boston with her husband and two kids, and you can follow her on Instagram. If you're wondering about her last name, it’s “I go to dinner,” not “Her huge ego,” but she responds to both.
-
Julia Fox Says She Was "Used as a Pawn" During Relationship With Kanye West
"I didn't want to be known for being someone's girlfriend."
By Danielle Campoamor Published
-
Meghan Markle Says She's "One of the Most Bullied People in the World" During Another Solo-Appearance
The Duchess of Sussex got candid while speaking to a group of young girls about social media.
By Danielle Campoamor Published
-
Taylor Swift Matches Her Versace Sandals to a 'Reputation'-Coded Bag
Swifties are convinced the pop star is preparing for a big announcement after back-to-back date nights.
By Danielle Campoamor Last updated
-
The 100 Best Movies of All Time: The Ultimate Must-Watch Films
We consider these essential viewing.
By Quinci LeGardye Last updated
-
'Outer Banks' Season 4, Part 2: Everything We Know
More episodes are coming to Netflix very soon.
By Quinci LeGardye Published
-
'Heartstopper' Season 4: Everything We Know
We certainly haven't seen the last of Charlie and Nick's love story.
By Quinci LeGardye Published
-
'Gyeongseong Creature' Season 3: Everything We Know
If so, viewers can expect a lot more monsters.
By Quinci LeGardye Published
-
For Ari Graynor, Playing Leslie Abramson in 'Monsters' Was the 'Gift of a Lifetime'
The actress knew little about the Menendez brothers' case before getting cast as the defense attorney.
By Jessica Goodman Published
-
'Industry' Finale Explained: How Season 3 of the HBO Show Ended
Pierpoint & Co.'s major sale wasn't the only twist at the end of the HBO hit's latest installment.
By Sadie Bell Published
-
'Industry' Season 4: Everything We Know
Pierpoint & Co. may now be Al-M’iraj Pierpoint, but we haven't seen the last of the company's alums.
By Sadie Bell Last updated
-
A Complete Break Down of the Ending of 'Gyeongseong Creature' Season 2
We explain the thrilling season 2 finale with the help of the k-drama's director, and stars Park Seo-jun and Han So-hee.
By Quinci LeGardye Published