I don't want to get too much into Charles and Camilla in the Sarah thread, but Charles and Camilla did have the private details of their relationship leaked to the public--through the Camillagate tapes. I think the difference, though, is that members of the royal family could argue that Charles and Camilla's privacy was invaded after they'd made every reasonable effort at discretion. I think that Sarah's privacy was invaded in exactly the same illegitimate way when those topless pictures were taken; but in fairness, the pictures weren't an isolated incident. Sarah was pretty much a walking media disaster in the late 80s/early 90s. Camilla, who never made a fuss and a quietly supported Charles behind the scenes, must have seemed like a jewel by comparison.
I think the big difference is that Camilla was willing to play by the rules of a royal mistress, and Sarah at that time (egged on by Diana) had completely lost patience with palace rules.
I do think that Sarah loves her freedom, but based on some recent interviews I've seen with her, she seems to be changing. This quote stood out to me when I read it (it's from an interview in Parade posted here a while back): "I think I’ve just recently understood that I could have had the royal life that I loved and my freedom, too,” she says. Leaning forward, she quietly adds, “I was too young to know that I could have had both.”
And then she says, "the Queen knows from me that I would have lived that part of my life differently if I had known what I know now,” she says. “I’m 50 years old, and I only caught on when I was 49."
To me it sounds like Sarah has a newfound respect for "the rules" after helping produce the Young Victoria--it sounds like she realizes she didn't have to leave the palace in order to be herself: she just had to learn to choose her battles. That's why I still would not put it past Sarah to return to the royal family if she had the chance. She never sounds (to me) like she is totally content with her freedom--more like she is always living with regrets.
I think the big difference is that Camilla was willing to play by the rules of a royal mistress, and Sarah at that time (egged on by Diana) had completely lost patience with palace rules.
I do think that Sarah loves her freedom, but based on some recent interviews I've seen with her, she seems to be changing. This quote stood out to me when I read it (it's from an interview in Parade posted here a while back): "I think I’ve just recently understood that I could have had the royal life that I loved and my freedom, too,” she says. Leaning forward, she quietly adds, “I was too young to know that I could have had both.”
And then she says, "the Queen knows from me that I would have lived that part of my life differently if I had known what I know now,” she says. “I’m 50 years old, and I only caught on when I was 49."
To me it sounds like Sarah has a newfound respect for "the rules" after helping produce the Young Victoria--it sounds like she realizes she didn't have to leave the palace in order to be herself: she just had to learn to choose her battles. That's why I still would not put it past Sarah to return to the royal family if she had the chance. She never sounds (to me) like she is totally content with her freedom--more like she is always living with regrets.
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