Camilla & Charles: How has your opinion changed since the wedding?

[HRH Elizabeth]

Originally Posted by DuchessofCambridge

It seems like I will be greatly in the minority here but I have been disappointed with Camilla since the wedding. I supported the wedding and still support them but I feel that Camilla has not been pulling her weight. I believe she needs to go out there and do more. She has the opportunity to do so much more as a representative of women her age and I was really looking forward to her doing it and proving all her nay-sayers wrong but she hasn't. I don't expect her to become the next Anne (Princess Royal) and working so hard- not everyone can or wants to be like that. But I really would appreciate her doing more.

Originally Posted by Hornsen

DuchessofCambrigde, with the announcement of the wedding Clarence House declared: "Her first duty will be to support the PoW." And this she obviously is doing. Beside that not all, in fact, very less engagements are public. There are many receptions, dinners and duties "behind the doors". You only find out about with own inquiry. If you are interested in this, you´ll be astonished how much she is working.

While I was not in favor of the wedding, I have warmed up to her a bit, but I agree with Duchess of Cambridge, especially in light of the new rankings, she is not pulling her weight. Granted, she has not been a royal long, but nevertheless, HRH the Countess of Wessex, who has a small daughter, has done significantly more engagements than Camilla, which does not impress me much. Also, Hornsen, while it’s true that many engagements are less public, they are still part of the official count of Mr. O’Donovan. If she has performed the engagements, I would bet he both knows and has included them in the ranking of the hardest working royals, so ultimately, private or public, she still performs an incredibly low number of engagements for (whatever the private order of precedence may say) the second woman in the land and the future queen.

[hornsen]

HRH Elizabeth, I am tolerating your opinion. But I´m not sure, if Sophie has done more engagements than Camilla. I will recherche.

[HRH Elizabeth]

I recently read that in this article: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/article...289079,00.html. I hope that helps.

[Skydragon]

Originally Posted by HRH Elizabeth

HRH the Countess of Wessex, who has a small daughter, has done significantly more engagements than Camilla, which does not impress me much. Also, Hornsen, while it’s true that many engagements are less public, they are still part of the official count of Mr. O’Donovan. If she has performed the engagements, I would bet he both knows and has included them in the ranking of the hardest working royals, so ultimately, private or public, she still performs an incredibly low number of engagements for (whatever the private order of precedence may say) the second woman in the land and the future queen.

The Duchess of Cornwall had carried out 94 engagements over 55 days Sophie has carried out 55 engagements in total. Edward has only carried out 9 more, Duke of Kent only 60, Duke of Gloucester only 36 and his wife 45.
Not all meetings regarding charities etc would IMO be known to anyone other than security, staff and Camilla herself.

[redfox6]

I am not a fan of either Charles and Camilla, but I think the recent attacks on her lack of work is nonsense. I am sure she does what she is asked to do. I don't think he want her out there alone, gaining extra attention and perhaps, she doesn't like doing solo engagements. All supposition. They love each other and demonstrated that, by doing what they wished all the years they were married to others. I still see them as, selfserving, but that's my opinion. Opinions on how Diana would be today are ridiculous, as she is dead and no one has any idea of what she would be like today. As far as Camilla being queen, that is up to those she would serve as queen. Obviously, some will like her, others will not. As an American, I do not feel I have the right to say how I would feel about her being queen.

[HRH Elizabeth]

Originally Posted by Skydragon

The Duchess of Cornwall had carried out 94 engagements over 55 days Sophie has carried out 55 engagements in total. Edward has only carried out 9 more, Duke of Kent only 60, Duke of Gloucester only 36 and his wife 45.
Not all meetings regarding charities etc would IMO be known to anyone other than security, staff and Camilla herself.

You're right...I must have gotten mixed up because I was so certain I had just read such a statistic, but I guess I was wrong. I rescind my critique.

[HRH Elizabeth]

I do maintain, however, that I prefer that my future queen not be the former mistress of a married man, no matter how many engagements she gracefully carries out.

[Skydragon]

I will just be happy that my future Queen loves and is loved by her husband, the future King, that she has no wish to put herself forward all the time.

[Nad25]

Its funny how people still hold on to the past whilst everyone in the royal family have moved on and put it wayy behind them.

Camilla is our future Queen whether anyone approves of her or not and i think people should start getting used to the idea of Camilla being our future Queen

[Henri M.]

Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall or (in Scotland) The Duchess of Rothesay tja.... what to say about this remarkable lady?

As I have to review her since April 2005, I must say I see a lady who has unbelievably grown into her royal role. She comes over as a quite accessible, goodnatured and happy lady, who stands firm in her shoes and fullfils her public appearance with clearly visible joie de vivre.

In a Spanish periodical I saw the line Camilla de Cornualles, una Duquesa para abrigar (Camilla of Cornwall, a Duchess to cherish).
I think that is exactly how I feel myself too. :)

The picture is from ANP and is uploaded via my own webspace:

[BeatrixFan]

That's a lovely post Henri. Especially, "Camilla of Cornwall, a Duchess to cherish".

[shaan]

Hear hear!

[HRH Elizabeth]

Originally Posted by Skydragon

I will just be happy that my future Queen loves and is loved by her husband, the future King, that she has no wish to put herself forward all the time.

No argument there...but you have to give me that at least I am fair. My standards of behaviour may be too high but they are applied equally to all, including the Prince of Wales, the Duchess of Cornwall, Diana, Princess of Wales and Joe Normal. I'm no more accepting of Diana's affairs than Camilla's or Charles', but disapprove of them all.

[zanychick3000]

I think that camilla does what she is asked to do also, perhaps she does not want that big of a public role after all. We all know she loves Prince Charles and maybe she does not want that much attention drawn to herself. Has anyone also thought maybe Charles does not want a wife who outshines him? Maybe he prefers to do the joint engagements with her, so that way the focus is just not on Camilla, but on the both of them.

[hayz64]

Originally Posted by HRH Elizabeth

I do maintain, however, that I prefer that my future queen not be the former mistress of a married man, no matter how many engagements she gracefully carries out.

As nad25 stated,the past is in the past...camilla WILL be our future Queen-like it or not-and people need to live with this fact and leave something that happened over 9 years ago where it is.Camilla is a remarkable woman.

[shaan]

Evidently the past has not been forgotten at all nor will it be ever - I wish people would move on but alas human nature is that human nature - the way the vicious reporting is going on for both charles and camilla I must say it is like they are preparing william to take over tomorrow if you know what I mean.Give charles and camilla is not in the agenda of any newspapers or magazines - they just keep rehashing the past over and over again.I mean diana was a very pretty woman etc but to say that she is a saint???? which I read somewhere or the other is surely a bit much.What about mother theresa - I don't think she called the cameras in at the drop of a hat and she is practically ignored.Talk about unfairness.( Sorry for fuming but I keep hoping that there will be some favourable press about charles and camilla and end up being disappointed!!! )

[ysbel]

I think its natural for people to sense some kind of uneasiness about a new couple when a marriage falters and one of the parties ends up with the person they were seeing while they were married to someone else.

But people's reactions to the new couple after they've been together for awhile will vary. Its understandable that for some, opinions may not have changed. But the focus here is on what people's opinions are based on what we've seen of Charles and Camiila since the marriage.

[shaan]

I think what I see is a couple who are doing their job.Camilla seems to have taken to her royal duties quite well - well maybe I should say that she hasn't embarassed herself or said or done the wrong thing so blatantly - she seems to have fitted in quite well as a member of the BRF.She seems to be comfy with what she likes or does or wears and that is quite endearing frankly - she is so normal if you know what I mean.I feel that I could sit down and have a good heart to heart chat with her if you know what I mean.:p

i think that charles looks a lot more relaxed now.

[shaan]

I don't remember off hand where I read it but I definitely remember that for sure!!!

[MARG]

Originally Posted by zanychick3000

I think that camilla does what she is asked to do also, perhaps she does not want that big of a public role after all. We all know she loves Prince Charles and maybe she does not want that much attention drawn to herself. Has anyone also thought maybe Charles does not want a wife who outshines him? Maybe he prefers to do the joint engagements with her, so that way the focus is just not on Camilla, but on the both of them.

Maybe we can look at this another way. OK, so she doesn't do lots and lots and lots of engagements by herself. But, she does do them with her husband. And, as many have noted, he is happier and more relaxed and enjoying life.

A happy Prince will in turn make for a happy King. Camilla is essential to her husband's wellbeing. And we are getting two obviously happy people to look at and photograph. As we all know, happiness is addictive, and it can, if unchecked, run rampant through the world.

(Why do I get the distinct impression that their are lots of people out there who would rather see two lacklustre solo outings, than one joyous occassion?)