Issue #22: Into The Unknown
King Charles & Queen Camilla: Into The Unknown - Review
Her smile is wide as she steps from the car. Her blonde hair glistens in the flashes of popping camera bulbs. Making her way inside to an official function, she grins at her Princely husband who so obviously adores her. Hundreds of cameramen struggle to get the best shot of her elegant evening gown and superb jewelry.
It was Camilla.
Some people still can’t believe that the above describes the former mistress of the Prince of Wales. Since becoming Charles’ wife in 2005, it seems that Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, is handling the stardom of royal life easily. She looks happy, Charles looks happy, and all seems right in their world. She is the wife that some say the Prince should have had from the start. Instead, the pair have joined together later in their lives. The past is the past, and now they venture into the unknown.
What’s It All About?
This documentary discusses it all - how Camilla was the 5th wheel in the Wales marriage; how she’s perceived as a genuine member of the royal family; the Queen’s feelings about her; and no, she’ll never replace Diana.
It reiterates all the debates, especially the critical issues facing the monarchy and its supporters: Will Camilla accept the mantle of Queen? What will the actual court of King Charles and Queen Camilla be like, versus Her Majesty’s? Will Charles be as concerned about the Commonwealth as his mother is now?
The Known
With Charles, whether you like him or loathe him, you know exactly what you’re getting. The Prince has been in the public eye all of his life for better or worse. Charles allows his opinions to be known (farming, organic food, architecture), talks about why he takes the stand that he does, and his Prince’s Trust and other works speak for themselves.
We’ve even had access to his private life, and even then his actions proved he was more goofy and in love with Camilla rather than some sinister Machiavelli as some would have us believe.
In an interview for “King Charles & Queen Camilla”, Richard Palmer of the Daily Mail notes that Charles was in a “damned if he did, damned if he didn’t” situation regarding Camilla. I agree. The Prince took a stand when it came to love though, and you have to hand it to him: he loves Camilla and he won’t let precedence, the government, or the Queen stop him. It was a lot to go up against, but by God, he did it.
Camilla is “known for hunting rather than caring” the narrator surmises. A cutting remark to say the least. To me, Diana was so good with the public because she desperately needed attention. Camilla is probably just as nice to people, but the fact that she isn’t starved for publicity shows a more well-adjusted personality. Camilla is someone who seems better suited to the high pressure situations of royal life.
Palmer’s observation of Charles’ position between a rock and a hard place could easily be applied to Camilla. Her round of royal duties will be compared, inevitably, to HM and other women in the family (Diana of course, but Anne immediately springs to mind too). If Camilla takes on too much, she’s obviously trying to oust Diana’s memory. If she takes on too little, she will be mocked as being unfit to fill the Queen’s shoes.
What to do?
Watch this DVD (alone or in its set called “Royals Today”) for a nice escape into royal drama. Drink some tea, have a bicky, and enjoy yourself.
I Rate It: 3.5 stars (out of 5)
Buy Prince of Wales: A Biography
