Camilla ‘married for love, not a crown’

Tom Parker Bowles has rebutted Prince Harry’s claims that Camilla played ‘the long game’ and courted the King as part of a ‘campaign aimed at marriage . . . and the crown’.

Camilla, Queen Consort arrives at the annual Reception for Members of the Diplomatic Corps at Buckingham Palace in December 2022.

Camilla, the Queen consort’s son has rebutted Prince Harry’s claims that she played “the long game” and courted the King as part of a “campaign aimed at marriage . . . and the crown”.

Tom Parker Bowles said: “I don’t care what anyone says - this wasn’t any sort of end game. She married the person she loved and this is what happened.”

His remarks on the podcast The News Agents follow allegations by his stepbrother, the Duke of Sussex, who described Camilla as “dangerous” in his autobiography, Spare.

Prince Harry wrote that she had played “the long game”, with a campaign to secure marriage and ultimately “the crown”.

Tom Parker Bowles.

In interviews to promote his book, Harry referred to Camilla as a “villain” and spoke of bodies being “left in the street” during efforts to rehabilitate her image. He described in his memoir how he and his brother William, now the Prince of Wales, pleaded with their father not to wed Camilla, saying: “He didn’t answer. But she answered. Straight away.

“Shortly after our private summits with her, she began to play the long game. A campaign aimed at marriage, and eventually the crown, with Pa’s blessing we presumed.”

Tom’s 13-year-old son Freddy Parker Bowles, will be one of Camilla pages of honour, along with her two other grandsons, Gus and Louis Lopes and her great-nephew Arthur Elliot.

Mr Parker Bowles praised the new King and Queen, saying: “I think they’re doing amazingly. I think King Charles is a good, kind, intelligent man who cares deeply about his roles wherever they may be, Prince of Wales, the King.”

He also championed Charles for being “way ahead of his time” on issues such as sustainability, food security, farming and pollution. “People were calling him sort of mad and eccentric 20 years ago. Everything that he’s talked about are now things that have hit the mainstream and now we’re really worrying about,” he said.

Asked if his mother would be anxious before the coronation on May 6, Mr Parker Bowles told Emily Maitlis and Jon Sopel, the programme’s hosts: “I think anyone would be anxious on an occasion of this sort of importance . . . and yes, I think I’d be terrified if I had to sort of walk out wearing ancient robes . . . she’s 75, but you know, it’s tough to do it. But she’s never complained. You just do it. Get on with it.”

A life-sized cardboard cut-out of King Charles II and Camilla, Queen Consort is displayed amongst the 13,283 pieces of royal memorabilia which ardent monarchist Anita Atkinson exhibits at her Weardale farm near Bishop Auckland, northern England.

Parker Bowles, who is a food writer and food critic, said his mother’s meal on the day of the coronation would probably be free of chilli and garlic as she was not a fan of “massive spice” - and would want to keep her breath fresh while greeting guests.

“I think just for purely social reasons you wouldn’t have garlic,” he said, adding: “She doesn’t like chilli. And I think if you’re walking around and meeting lots of people . . . you have to be a little bit careful not to get the tummy too excited.”

Mr Parker Bowles said that Camilla “just loves fresh fish and fresh vegetables” and praised her as a good cook who is known for her signature dish of roast chicken. “She has a really nice vegetable garden at home,” he added.

Asked if it was strange to think of his mother as “the Queen”, Mr Parker Bowles added: “Not really because she’s still our mother. I say ‘our’ but not the royal ‘we’, speaking for my sister and me. She’s our mother.”

He disclosed that he would not be getting a title, adding: “You’re not going to find us with great estates and being called the duke of whatever. No. That would be appalling.”

Mr Parker Bowles also supported the right to protest when asked if he was worried about demonstrations by Republic, the anti-monarchy group.

The Times revealed this week that more than 1350 people have pledged to protest along the coronation parade route.

“Everyone has the right to think what they want . . . going back to Extinction Rebellion and Animal Rebellion and Republic, whatever it is, everyone has a right to their say,” he said.

“We live in, thankfully, a free country . . . if people want to protest that’s their right.”

The Times