Following his cancer diagnosis, King Charles has taken some time to commit to the treatments which meant he was absent for some time and his schedule was cleared of any royal engagements. During that time, it was his wife, Queen Camilla who stepped up big way fulfilled a number of significant royal duties. What’s most, she became the temporary lynchpin of the Royal Family.
It is certain that it took Camilla years to get to be loved by the public, especially following the scrutiny she faced after Princess Diana’s tragic death. Today, however, Camilla is a much-loved member of the British royalty.
Speaking of her role amid King Charles’ battle with cancer, royal expert Angela Levin referred to Camilla as to the one “holding the royal family” together.
“I mean, to wait till you’re 73 is a long time before you can take the crown. I think obviously, at his age, it’s very difficult, but he’s very determined, and he’s only really just started to be king,” Levin said during an appearance on GB News.
“Supporting him very much, absolutely by his side, is Queen Camilla, who is going to all the engagements that they would have gone to together on her own.”
“And so that way he will feel it’s still moving, it’s still running, and they can discuss it and talk about it. And I think that’s marvelous. I mean, she is holding the Royal Family up and being strong. If you imagine 30 years ago, people were saying the whole Royal Family would absolutely disintegrate, and she would be of no use.”
Besides not being fan of being in the spotlight, Camilla did her best to fulfill the royal engagements she was assigned, being perceived as “accessible” to the public along the way.
Royal expert and former correspondent Charles Rae was among those who praised Camilla for her work, saying she is “one of the best things to happen to the Royal Family” in a “good number of years.”
“There’s no question about it, she stepped into the breach. She’s got everything on her shoulders with what’s going on, and she’s taking on even more work,” Rae told GB News.
“Everywhere she goes, she has got a cheery smile on and a happy face. She says the right things. She has proved to be a remarkable asset to the Royal Family, given the allegations that at one time she had bread rolls thrown at her in a supermarket car park.”
The expert concluded: “I remember her when she was the most hated woman in Britain. I’ve met her several times and she’s charming, she’s witty, she’s really nice to chat to, and certainly when she’s chatting to people, she has done her homework as to who she’s chatting to.”
On Wednesday, Camilla accompanied her husband and Prince William to the 80th anniversary of D-Day in Portsmouth in which a number of WWII veterans got to speak of the war. Among them was Navy veteran Eric Bateman, who served in HMS Erebus off Utah Beach.
During his speech, the Queen was spotted with tears in her eyes. Her emotional response wasn’t something people expected since royals do not usually express extreme emotions while on duty.
In the speech that touched Camilla to the core, Bateman said, among the rest, “I’m lucky to be here 80 years later with two of my great-grandchildren. So many men and women, including my dear friend Fred, joined up with me but unfortunately never made it. I’m proud to be here today to all of them and to make sure they will always be remembered.”
His great-granddaughters also spoke, saying: “Without them, we wouldn’t have the freedoms we enjoy today. We will never forget. Thank you.”
King Charles also gave speech during the event.
“The stories of courage, resilience and solidarity which we have heard today, and throughout our lives, cannot fail to move us, to inspire us, and to remind us of what we owe to that great wartime generation – now, tragically, dwindling to so few,” he said.
“It is our privilege to hear their testimony, but our role is not purely passive: it is our duty to ensure that we, and future generations, do not forget their service and their sacrifice in replacing tyranny with freedom.”
Camilla wore pink outfit, which some found strange because royals usually wear black during remembrance events. Some, however, believe that her choice of color is a tribute to the late Queen Elizabeth who wore light colors.
A day after the event, the King and Queen went to France where they met with the French president Emanuel Macron and his wife Brigitte Macron. They attended a commemorative event at the British Normandy Memorial.
What caught the attention of many was the first lady of France breaking royal protocol when she reached for Camilla’s arm. Camilla then moved away, not wanting to hold hands. Her reaction, however, caused a stir and divided people’s opinions.
“Move into the 21st century for god’s sake!” one user posted on X.
“The first lady of France is not bound by British royal protocol, just as Americans aren’t,” a second person stated. “She reached for Camilla’s hand at a meaningful ceremonial moment.”
A third person added, “Camilla should have held her hand warmly, and taken the opportunity to bring the Royal family into the 21st century,” while a fourth noted, “Brigitte Macron was reaching out as the wife of the French Head of State, in a gesture of solidarity between France and Britain.”
Royal experts also gave their opinion regarding Camilla’s gesture with political commentator Emma Woolf stating that the queen’s move was “unworthy,” demanding that the royal protocol be more flexible.
“I like Camilla, but I thought this was unworthy of her,” she told royal expert and host Mark Dolan during an appearance on GB News. “It costs nothing to return a little hand squeeze. She has only been Queen for a year or so.
“There is nothing wrong with taking someone’s hand. If you take a look at the Princess of Wales or even Meghan Markle out and about, they are hugging, they are interacting with the public. I think this royal protocol nonsense is rubbish. Brigitte Macron is not a ‘commoner’. She is the wife of the French President. I thought it was really unnecessary.”
Dolan disagreed with Woolf and said the queen was simply following royal protocol.
“There is one person who will be looking down on what she did there with such joy and pride,” Dolan said on GB News. “And that is Queen Elizabeth II. If the late Queen was there, she would have said, ‘well done, Camilla’.”
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