Queen Camilla

Ah yes, these days, but what about 'those days?' when Charles was committing adultery with Camilla?
I do have to say though, that he and Camilla do look very relaxed together: far more than when he was with Diana.

I think the church is more relaxed about things these days - a young friend married in church a couple of years ago (his third marriage!).

The Church of England teaches that marriage is for life. It also recognizes that some marriages sadly do fail and, if this should happen, it seeks to be available for all involved. The Church accepts that, in exceptional circumstances, a divorced person may marry again in church during the lifetime of a former spouse

Its hugely hypocritical for Charles to blatantly disregard the commandments of the church, I think, but the royals are a law unto themselves.

What might have been!

Gracious me Yorkshiregal how judgemental you are. I hope for their sakes that none of your children go through divorce and have to listen to you preaching the 10 commandments. You were lucky that you married the love of your life, as was I, but it was obvious that Charles was not, initially permitted to do so, and I really cannot understand why he cannot be allowed to live a happy life with the woman he wants by his side. Princess Margaret chose the Royal life with its benefits over the quieter life as the wife of a military man, and she paid the price. If Princes William and Harry are happy with their father's choice of partner, then quite frankly so should we. I have been shocked at the depth of vitriol on this subject.

This early photo looks full of love and promise for a happy future:

The "virgin" rules for royal wives date from when it was thought that a previous relationship could still produce children after it had been long ended. It was considered that that could lead to cuckoos being introduced into the succession. The virginity of the bride was so important that at one time the consummation was even expected to be performed in front of witnesses and the bloodied sheet displayed (and the birth of the heir to the throne had to be witnessed too so that no substitute was smuggled in))

The tradition of expecting a future queen to be a virgin was kept up long after the mechanics of insemination were understood. Camilla had already been in a relationship, so she was not considered a suitable bride for Charles and he was packed off to "get over it" In due course Diana the virgin was selected.

Unfortunately he didn't "get over it" His first and last love was and is Camilla.

Camilla had been best friends with Diana a long time before Charles married Diana
I have never heard that before.
I do know that Camilla took Diana under her wing rather - perhaps a case of keeping a good eye on her for her own motives.

I felt sorry for them both - him because he was not allowed to marry the woman of his choice because she wasn't suitable - even though she is now! - and Diana because she was an unsuspecting and naive young girl. I think Diana was picked for him as she was a virgin and didn't have a 'past'.
I don't think it was always a disaster and I think both tried at first but neither understood the other.

Sad for both of them and for their boys.

Awful old-fashioned views are being aired. Charles and Diana were just two people who got it wrong. The two Princes speak highly of Camilla and that is enough for me.

How old-fashioned and judgemental your last 3 postings are * Yorkshiregirl*. Virgin... adultery.... brood mare... words from the 18th century. And if Peter Townsend really had been the love of P. Margaret's life she would have given up her privileged position as No.3 in line without a second's thought. No way was she ' not allowed'. She chose a life of luxury surrounded by sycophants over love. And much good it did her.

Meant to add that Camilla wasn't a virgin, and she had already got two sons by another man. Double standards. Perhaps they had to give up any claim to the throne? She was also an adulteress because she was already married to someone else, so she was a divorcee just like the wife of King Edward VIII and Margaret was not allowed to marry a divorcee either. Group Captain Peter Townsend was the love of her life.

Ana, what a contrast aye? Charles was able to see Camilla behind Diana's back (even before they got married) and yet Diana had to be a proven virgin! I suppose that had something to do with making sure she was not pregnant on marriage. So much for equality.

When I got married I promised 'To love and to cherish 'till death do us part'. If you do not intend to keep your promise before God you should not get married.

OK sometimes things go wrong and people wake up to what kind of person they have married when it is too late so they get divorced.

In the case of Diana, Charles and Camilla it was a bit different. Camilla had been best friends with Diana a long time before Charles married Diana. When problems arose Diana confided in her 'friend' who must have gone off to tell Charles all about what was discussed. With friends like that you don't need enemies. Charles betrayed Diana by marrying her for a brood mare, then he betrayed her again by having an affair with her best friend. What a complete Arse he turned out to be. I do not blame Diana for the break-up. She was the Mother of his two sons, and she must have been pregnant and unaware what he was getting up to early in the marriage. She was a good Mother and her children are proof of that. He on the other hand is a liar and an adulterer, and considering that he is supposed to be Head of the Church of England he is a complete hypocrite and a disgrace imo because he obviously does not know what the 10 Commandments are.

I agree llovecheese

They are just two of the Ten Commandments, that's the only link.
Never suggesting a person who commits adultery should be killed.

The Royal Family are just people, they have the same flaws and make the same mistakes as anybody else.
Probably Prince Charles and Camilla should have got married the first time around, but we don't always marry the right person the first time do we?
Call me shallow, but I like Camilla because she dresses well, showing us that an older woman can still be stylish and elegant.

What I really object to is putting adultery in the same bracket as murder. Yes, adultery is not pleasant and can be very hurtful, but should never be compared to ending a life. Too many men justify killing a woman because she has the audacity to want to sleep with someone who isn't them.

MawBroon: you posted on the first page of this thread that it could run to a few pages - how right you were!!!

lots of people have difficult family lives and had bad parents and they get on with their own lives in a different way from they were raised,blaming parents used to be what Psychiatrists did,I hear ( from my friend who IS a psychiatrist) that its no longer the case .Flawed personalities are a result of many things .She was a very needy woman ,that was clear quite early on,she loved being the centre of attention and manippulating media ...and all those "fans" who almost want her canonised

I think she had a crisis just before the marriage and wanted to call it off but her sisters told her she had to go through with it because 'Duch - your face is already on all the tea towels'.

He was equally reluctant.

Her father hit her mother

Interesting you should mention her father because I'd always thought her problems went back to when her mother left the family. But either way, it was a sad childhood for her. Totally agree re Charles. Don't begrudge anyone having a second attempt at happiness, not at all.

She was a damaged child, if blame must be laid at anyone's feet then for me it should be johnnie Spencer her father

I think Charles has been a much happier person since his marriage to Camilla , and I mean from childhood

Poor Diana, fairy tale turned nightmare. She was very attractive but that's often not enough is it? Camilla is a totally different kind of person and does seem to make Charles very happy. And anyone who gets a second chance at happiness should grab it imo. Life is short.

I thought it was very Charles at that time Chewbacca , not romantic was it . A butler at Clarence House , where she spent the night before the marriage, claimed she was cycling around the grounds singing tomorrow I will be PofW

We will never know the full truth but I do think the interview her father gave at the time of the engagement explains much and what she said about Andrew in her book

I'll bet she did too Annie. I know she had problems with mental health etc but I do think that she was terribly young and niaeve when she was suddenly thrust into the public glare and it would have messed with anyone's head. I do clearly remember Charles being asked, at their public engagement, if he loved her and he replied "....yes, whatever love is". Not exactly a good omen was it?