C&C love story - the early days

[MARG]

Originally Posted by Monika_

Thanks for the feedback on the marriage blessings.

The reason I raised that question is because when I watched the live coverage on television, several of the journalists who were covering the ceremony said that Charles and Camilla were basically 'forced' to do this in an attempt to appease all the people for whom this was not seen as a welcome match.

I suppose we can debate that for a long time to come, but the fact is that the words could not have been more appropriate. Just my opinion, of course.

I'm confused. What could we debate for a long time to come?

[Elspeth]

Probably the real reason for the inclusion of the prayer in the marriage service. Not that that's relevant to the thread topic, or anything...

[CasiraghiTrio]

Originally Posted by Skydragon

Yes, that is a puzzle, a rebound perhaps? It all seemed a tad hasty. I think you may have misunderstood. Camilla loves all of Charles, that is probably true but what I was saying is the she didn't 'love' the title and all that came with that. Many people perhaps can't separate the two, that is what made Camilla and many of Charles' friends unique.

Put it like this, If someone happens to be a mortician, to some they couldn't entertain a friendship or relationship with them, but to others it wouldn't make any difference, because they 'see' the man/woman, not the job.

I see what you mean, or I think I do. But on the other hand, a mortician has a job that he/she goes to, and then leaves at a certain part of the day, whereas Prince Charles is always Prince of Wales, always an HRH, always Heir to the Throne, 24/7, everyday of the week, even during holidays. He does not just "clock out" of this position, does he?

[Skydragon]

Originally Posted by CasiraghiTrio

I see what you mean, or I think I do. But on the other hand, a mortician has a job that he/she goes to, and then leaves at a certain part of the day, whereas Prince Charles is always Prince of Wales, always an HRH, always Heir to the Throne, 24/7, everyday of the week, even during holidays. He does not just "clock out" of this position, does he?

True, but I couldn't think of another comparison at that moment! How about a peace activist and an army officer or a vegetarian and a beef farmer! None of whom clock out, so to speak.

[sthreats]

Originally Posted by Monika_

Camilla could not have married Charles back then. She did not pass the future Queen test. She had a 'past', etc. She ended up doing what many others have done...she went after the next best match available to her. Yes, it was quick, but it was also an acknowledgment on her part of the reality of the situation.

SORRY. I don't buy the she had a past story. The other women were more public and outed in the tabloids. No one in the public realm knew of Camilla and her boyfriend(s) didn't talk. From my reading and IMO, its seems that Camilla was not good enough for the POW. Her father was a war hero but had no title. Her grandmother may be illegitimate child. She did fit the ideal of a fairy princess.Maybe things were "a tad hasty" because she was told to get lost.

[Monika_]

Originally Posted by sthreats

SORRY. I don't buy the she had a past story....

Well, I wasn’t trying to sell it. It’s hardly a secret that she wasn’t considered a suitable candidate. And in all the years that this relationship has been written about, there has never been the slightest hint at ANYONE in the royal family being supportive of such a match.

I suspect even Camilla knew it or she wouldn’t have approached the man with the infamously classy reference to her great-grandmother being his great-great-grandfather's mistress “so how about it?"

[MARG]

Originally Posted by Monika_

. . . . I suspect even Camilla knew it or she wouldn’t have approached the man with the infamously classy reference to her great-grandmother being his great-great-grandfather's mistress “so how about it?"

Is there proof positive that she did it fact say that, or, is it just another urban legend?

[Duchess]

Originally Posted by CasiraghiTrio

I agree more with Duchess. The man and the role go together. The role is part of his identity. It all overlaps too much to be distinguished. And Camilla probably loves all of Charles, not just a segment, so saying she loves Charles and not Prince Charles doesn't make much sense, imo.

well said CT.

[Skydragon]

Originally Posted by MARG

Is there proof positive that she did it fact say that, or, is it just another urban legend?

It is probably just something made up, as Charles and Camilla were the only two involved in the conversation and we know they don't speak to the media!

[MARG]

I guessed as much. Honestly, there are nasty little "truths" about their first meeting, those that look for hidden (sinister) meanings in the Liturgy of Charles and Camilla's Wedding Blessing service, and then there are those that think that Charles the Prince is Charles the man. Go figure.

[Amelia]

Unlike all of you I know very little of the Charles/Camilla story but was she considered unsuitable simply because of the era that it was, that it was out of the question for the heir to marry someone that wasn't even from a titled family or was there actually one specific 'thing' that she had done that made her totally unacceptable?

[TheTruth]

Well she had a "past", sexually speaking (didn't find a more gracious way to say it, sorry) and she already had had various boyfriends. One of the criteria was that the Bride should be a virgin. It's probably no longer the case but I remember Diana was partly chosen because of that.

[ysbel]

I don't think Charles was looking for a bride in the early 70s when he met Camilla. He made a rather famous statement that he didn't want to get married before he was 30.

From the papers at that time, it seems he was expected to marry a woman from a titled family. His longest serious relationship before his marriage was with Lady Jane Wellesley who was the daughter of the Duke of Wellington. As far as titled peers go, you can't get much more prestigious than the Wellingtons who were descended from Napoleon's conqueror. From the reports at the time, Lady Jane turned Charles down although she loved Charles but because she didn't want to be saddled with the restrictions of marrying into the Royal Family. The women his age knew quite a bit about what they would be giving up to become Princess of Wales and I think that regardless of their affection for Charles, they didn't want the job. So I think they tried to get someone young enough who didn't know all that she was getting into so she wouldn't be scared off. I think their hope was that if they got someone from a sheltered past, she wouldn't mind the restrictions as much as a woman who had previously been independent and being young, she would be more easily trainable into the ways of the Royal Family.

But that I believe is the reasoning behind some of the members here saying that Camilla loved Charles the man and not the Prince. I think his title was a huge barrier for women who would have been otherwise eligible for the job. They simply didn't want all the baggage that came with marrying Charles and taking the title. I think Camilla is one of those women who don't particularly care for the title because of what it entails.

[CasiraghiTrio]

Originally Posted by Skydragon

True, but I couldn't think of another comparison at that moment! How about a peace activist and an army officer or a vegetarian and a beef farmer! None of whom clock out, so to speak.

Yes, military personnel are good example, also elected officials, ambassadors, especially heads of government or heads of state. In such a case, as with Charles, you marry the role as much as the person.

I happen to be re-reading Dimbleby at the moment and am having some new insights about this love story. I believe it was perfectly natural for Camilla to have her head turned by her old flame during the Prince's naval absence. She was a young woman, and Charles was not there, so she could not feel his influence as strongly as she might have done if he were there. And she could have no way of knowing what he might be like or how he might feel when he returned! So here was Andrew, so charming and so willing to have her and love her, etc. And he seemed to want all the same things: nice peaceful life in the country with kids and sheep and dogs, cows, horses, whatever! And Camilla probably had almost to no confidence in her prospects with Charles, I mean, she might have thought to herself, "Oh please, me, the Princess of Wales, that will be the day!"

[Skydragon]

Originally Posted by CasiraghiTrio

Yes, military personnel are good example, also elected officials, ambassadors, especially heads of government or heads of state. In such a case, as with Charles, you marry the role as much as the person.

Hmmm, No, I married the men not the role. I did give it great consideration each time.

I believe it was perfectly natural for Camilla to have her head turned by her old flame during the Prince's naval absence. She was a young woman, and Charles was not there, so she could not feel his influence as strongly as she might have done if he were there. And she could have no way of knowing what he might be like or how he might feel when he returned! So here was Andrew, so charming and so willing to have her and love her, etc. And he seemed to want all the same things: nice peaceful life in the country with kids and sheep and dogs, cows, horses, whatever! And Camilla probably had almost to no confidence in her prospects with Charles, I mean, she might have thought to herself, "Oh please, me, the Princess of Wales, that will be the day!"

All possible and the latter, probably entirely true!

[CasiraghiTrio]

Originally Posted by ysbel

I don't think Charles was looking for a bride in the early 70s when he met Camilla.

Yeah, plus he probably lacked the confidence (in his relations with the 'fairer' sex