I worked quietly to gain the trust of the Queen and the people
The title of "Queen" changes the image of Prince Charles's "undesirable" wife
During the wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla 17 years ago.
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Queen Elizabeth did not accept Camilla's presence at first.
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The Duchess of Cornwell has proven herself in the royal family.
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A picture of Charles and Camilla decades ago.
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Camila gave birth to two children from her ex-husband (right).
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Britain's Queen Elizabeth II has ended decades of speculation by giving Prince Charles' wife Camilla the title "Queen" after her husband took the throne.
What some see as a "stamp of approval".
The title "Queen" recurs in British public consciousness during the reign of Queen Elizabeth II, who had the longest service in the country.
So when the 95-year-old announced that the Duchess of Cornwell and Prince Charles should become "queen" when her eldest son takes the throne, she quelled years of speculation about Camilla's future and status in the royal family.
The announcement, which came days earlier, in a message marking the 70th anniversary of Elizabeth II's reign, can be seen as an official seal of approval for Camilla's full membership, as well as an attempt to pave the way for Prince Charles's journey to the throne, according to historians and royal experts.
"In the royal family, and in the United Kingdom, titles are important in a way that Americans sometimes find difficult to describe," said Boston University history professor Ariane Chernock.
In many ways, the move can be seen as an attempt to ensure that at least one challenge is removed from Prince Charles' path, as the inevitable transition to his role as king looms large.
'It seems increasingly obvious to me,' Chernock said.
The more he can show that he is following the tradition of his mother, and carrying out her vision, the better for him.”
The title of "Queen" would raise Camilla's standing, strengthening her role as Charles' royal partner.
This also means that it will play a more important role in his coronation.
Camilla's royal role has already expanded since her marriage to Prince Charles in 2005, but royal watchers aren't sure what it might look like when Prince Charles becomes king.
It was the second marriage for both of them, and the British tabloids had focused on Camilla, for years, after her romance with Charles, during his marriage to Diana, became known.
Private life
Diana was killed in a car accident, in 1997, five years after her split from Charles and a year after their divorce.
Camilla was previously married to Andrew Parker Bowles, but the couple divorced in 1995. Amidst all the relationship drama, encounters surfaced and a recording of a wiretapped call released details of Charles and Camilla's private lives.
However, Camilla is not the first royal wife to face public doubts and controversy over her title.
Queen Victoria's husband, Prince Albert, had to struggle for years to be named "king consort" because of caution about his German background.
In it, Chernock says, "there is a similar kind of caution and skepticism about Camilla," continuing, "she is no foreigner, and the suspicions stem only from the origin story of her relationship with Charles."
But in the nearly 17 years since Camilla and Charles were married, the couple have worked to establish a public image of service, stability and caution.
“It was all very upsetting,” Chernock says.
We know more than we ever wanted to know about this couple;
So they need a very careful and long-term rehabilitation strategy.”
Aside from helping to repair the public image of the couple, the Queen Elizabeth's announcement, too, indicates the full acceptance of the divorced wife.
All but one of Queen Elizabeth's children are divorced, so the family is used to this.
Tolerance and flexibility
Chernock added, "It may be an opportunity to present a more tolerant, flexible and modern idea of what the monarchy represents."
For his part, the royal historian, Edward Owens, said that "the decision of Elizabeth II to grant the title of Queen to Camilla indicates that the crown has become available to divorced women."
It is reported that the Queen did not attend Charles and Camilla's wedding, because Elizabeth II was the head of the Church of England, which did not allow divorced people to remarry at the time (and now does).
Owens said that the Queen's announcement means that Camilla has the "royal seal of approval," adding, "Queen Elizabeth dispels all doubts, by declaring that it is her personal desire for Camilla to receive this title," continuing "opposing the idea of making Camilla queen means, now, opposing personal desire." The Queen, therefore, is benefiting from the pure intentions of Elizabeth II.
Over the years, Camilla's efforts to quietly serve the public have helped boost her image and that of her husband, Prince Charles.
Along with the Queen's daughter, Princess Anne, she is seen as one of the most active senior members of the royal family, carrying out the essential work supporting the monarchy, such as charitable events and outreach to the public.
In addition, the public perception of Camilla changed significantly during her marriage to Prince Charles, as historian Simon Hever wrote in the “Telegraph”, saying: “Her success is not because she changed as a person to make people like her more, but because people changed their view of her.” They knew she was very good the whole time.”
accept people
Across the streets of London last week, many who spoke of the future king's "future mate" seemed to agree.
“People have accepted her, now, after all the controversy about Princess Diana,” said Eamonn Gunn, 56, a musician. “She just stays in the background and doesn't interfere;
And I think she does a good job at what she does, and she just cares about her own business behind the scenes.”
Popular culture has passed on the story of Camilla and Charles to a new generation, with "The Crown" and films such as "Spencer", which presented fictional versions of their relationship to audiences.
Quiet Support
After the Queen considered Camilla, the royal mistress in the past, a threat to the stability of the monarchy, as Elizabeth II was a guarantor of the proper functioning of this institution in the future;
The Queen now apparently believes that the Duchess of Cornwell possesses the main traits of successful wives, such as quiet support and a determination not to be outdone by her superiors.
In her message on the occasion of her 70th birthday, when she expressed her "sincere desire" for Camilla to become "the Companion Queen", the Queen stressed the critical support she received from her late husband, saying: "I was fortunate that Prince Philip was a partner willing to play a role Comrade, and making sacrifices without selfishness,” he continued, “It is a role I saw my mother play during my father’s era.”
Royal historian and author Hugo Vickers said: "I think this was probably one of the Queen's strongest points."
And 17 years after Camilla, who the Queen once referred to as the "evil woman", married Prince Charles, her public image has become a far cry from the "ruthless and unscrupulous woman" that followed her after Princess Diana's death.
Those who have observed her transformation, closely, believe that she has made no mistakes, is the second oldest woman in the royal family, and will not do so as the King's wife, in the future.
"She never gave any hint that she was hostile to anyone who had ever been bad about her," Vickers said.
True story
Stephanie Martin, 36, said so many people have seen The Crown that they feel "totally invested in their love story".
The screenwriter and playwright added that she was delighted to see this film, "I support that, and for me it's about a true love story at the end, and that's good for her (Camilla)."
In contrast, some felt that there was much ado about nothing.
"It wouldn't bother me either way," said Oliver Foley, 43, who works as an interior designer.
Artist Gary Power, 56, said the royal family had become less important to the British people.
Camilla is not the first royal wife to face public doubts and controversy over her title.
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