We haven't forgotten what Camilla did to cement her place next to Charles

Against all odds Camilla Parker Bowles is Queen but there's a brutal reason why many won't ever truly accept that to be the case. 

OPINION

The world is counting down to the Coronation of King Charles III, mostly thanks to the controversies surrounding it.

The A-listers who've declined to perform. The will-they-won't-they daily headline news about Meghan and Harry - and whether Archie's birthday will also be acknowledged on the day.

The outrageous cost of the event in the midst of a cost of living crisis. The utter redundancy of the royal family itself. 

But in all of this palaver, we've forgotten one essential question: How did recently appointed Queen Consort Camilla Parker Bowles make it this far?

Want to join the family? Sign up to our Kidspot newsletter for more stories like this. 

Camilla and Charles have been in love for a long time. Source: supplied

RELATED: Camilla reveals surprising Prince Charles confession

Yes, I'm judging Camilla  - hard.

Look, I'm not a fool. I know sh*t happens in marriages; people grow apart or become indifferent to the hurt they cause.

More to the point: people get lonely... and horny.

That's human nature. 

And of course I realise that Charles was the other man in his affair with Camilla, and that of course Princess Diana reportedly enjoyed shagging around, too.

But, since we are talking specifically about Camilla, I do want to ask aloud something I've always felt: what kind of person conducts a decades-long affair with a married man- someone who's been confronted by the missus, who knows the pain she's inflicting... and still proceeds.

What kind of person does that?

Not a good person - to put it politely. Not someone who has earned a right to be the most powerful woman in Britain. Not someone I can respect.

Yes, she caused Diana a lot of pain. Yes, William and Harry have since admitted they begged their father not to marry her. But this is not about them.

Camilla's behaviour wasn't a once-off mistake. It didn't go on for years. It happened over decades.

Camilla's affair with Charles speaks to her character.

Camilla was consistent and persistent, conducting herself without prioritising libido over credo.

She was so selfish for so long and the legacy of her behaviour continues today.

And no amount of Vogue interviews will those of us with long memories believe in whatever she claims to be now.

Charles and Diana kept up the smiles in public for the sake of their boys. Image: AFP

RELATED: We completely missed Camilla’s face during Louis’ antics

This is not some 1990s loyalty to Diana.

Yes, I adored Diana like the rest of the world. She was impossibly chic, what society called beautiful, and a princess.

I watched the BBC tell-all interview with my heart breaking almost as much as hers (so it seemed).

I read about her feeling like the third person in her marriage, about how she resented Camilla's constant presence in her life, knowing and hurting each time Mrs PB broke another boundary with the future King of England.

But as I said above, I also know sh*t happens. I mean, I'm not even judging the woman about 'Tampongate'. *shudders* *gags*

Source: Vogue 2022

This is about integrity; and me (and many of us who lived through the above) remaining unconvinced that Camilla has in any way atoned for the sustained affair in the last two decades with a real demonstration and commitment to public service - as she is obliged to.

This is why for those of us who've observed her life and choices over a few decades can't help but be amazed - but not impressed - that Here. We. Are.

Many of us don't love Charles, either, for similar reasons, but we can't do much about thousands of years of legalised Royal succession.

But we don't have to accept Camilla. 

She (and 'The Firm' behind her) have all this time been only thinking of how her tokenistic behaviour - her 'redemption story' - makes her look... knowing for years that she will one day nab a title with 'Queen' in it.

And not the title with 'Queen' in it that I think she does deserve...

I'll leave that one to your imagination.

Originally published as We haven't forgotten what Camilla did to cement her place next to Charles