The British looked at him suspiciously for a long time, but Camillathe love of Carlos III’s life, whom he married after Diana’s death, gradually managed to be accepted and will now be crowned with him.
Before she died, Isabella II expressed her “heartfelt wish” that when Carlos ascended the throne, Camila would be “known as queen consort,” instead of princess.
It was already a big step. But, when a month before her coronation, the palace presented the invitation to the ceremony, she appeared styled simply as queen, without the title of consort.
It’s a huge leap for the woman who until Elizabeth II’s death in September was known simply as the Duchess of Cornwall, choosing not to use the title of Princess of Wales closely associated with the late Diana.
who is camilla
Camila, a 75-year-old commoner with a deep voice and serene smile, has been for a long time held responsible for the failure of Carlos and Diana’s marriagecontracted in 1981.
A member of the provincial nobility, Camilla Shand met the prince in 1970 during a polo match. While not belonging to the nobility, the young girl moved in the same social circles.
Born on 17 July 1947, daughter of Major Bruce Shand and Rosemary Cubitt, wealthy landowners, she studied in the best private schools in London, France and Switzerland.
She also has ties to the royal family: great-granddaughter of Alice Keppel, one of King Edward VII’s mistresses, Charles’ great-great-grandfather, Camila allegedly used this anecdote to approach the prince in 1970, asking him if he was “tempted” to follow in the footsteps of the his ancestor.
But their relationship was short-lived: Carlos joined the Royal Navy and Camila married another of her admirers, Major Andrew Parker Bowles, with whom they had two children.
A few years later, she herself will encourage the Prince of Wales to marry Diana. But, when both were still married, they resumed their relationship. The press even went so far as to publish their scandalous intimate telephone conversations.
After the divorce of Carlos and Diana in 1996, Camila, who had been divorced a year earlier, began to appear publicly with him. But the death of the “people’s princess” in a car accident in Paris in August 1997 once again relegated her to the shadows.
For many Britons, it was “the other”, that had shattered the fairy tale.
Gradually, however, he managed to leave that image behind, imposing himself alongside the prince until his situation stabilized with his civil marriage in 2005.
The ceremony drew a crowd of 20,000 who cheered on the couple, who have multiplied their travels and royal engagements as Elizabeth II has aged.
“Camila never had ambitions to be a princess, a duchess or a queen. She just wanted to be with the Prince of Wales,” said Penny Junor, biographer of Carlos, on the 10th anniversary of their wedding.
Fight for health and against sexual assault
With a sense of humour, simplicity and nonchalance was gaining popularity and visibility thanks to his commitment to social causes.
For years, she has advocated for victims of rape and sexual assault. His other interests are health, the arts, literature and horse riding, a hobby he shared with Isabella II.
He shows a special interest in causes such as the Royal Osteoporosis Society, a disease from which his mother and grandmother died.
Two years ago he also created a reading circle on Instagram, called “The Reading Room”.
A faithful and serene companion, many have come to recognize the positive impact of the unwavering support she provides to her husband.
“People realize Camila is perfect for Carlos, and the two work wonderfully together,” royal commentator Richard Fitzwilliams recently told AFP.
Showing the modern image of a recomposed family, the new queen wanted to include her children and grandchildren in the coronation ceremony, along with those of Carlos III.
What will the coronation be like?
This Saturday, at the coronation of King Carlos III, Camila will have a leading role.
She will wear Queen Mary’s crown, set with 2,200 diamonds.
It is the first time in nearly three centuries that an existing crown has been used for the coronation of a consort.
The decision was made “in the interests of sustainability and efficiency,” Buckingham Palace said.
“Minor” changes were made to “reflect Camila’s individual style” and “pay homage” to the late Elizabeth II.
Thus, several diamonds were included, the Cullinan III, IV and V, from the late Queen’s personal collection, which she often wore as brooches.
However, the controversial Koh-i-Noor diamond, seized by the British East India Company in 1849, is no longer listed on the crown.
Carlos and Camila will be doing a shorter tour than Isabel II in 1953, from Buckingham Palace to Westminster Abbey.
the golden chariot
Only on their return will they use the traditional golden carriage, built in 1762 to transport kings and queens and used in all coronations since 1831.
At her coronation, Elizabeth II traveled to and fro in this carriage, describing the experience as “horrible” due to her discomfort.
It weighs four tons, is 3.6 meters high and 7 meters long. It takes eight horses to drag it. Due to his weight and age, he moves very slowly.
“When you follow it, you can hear it creak and it sounds like an old galleon,” says Martin Oates, carriage manager at the Royal Mews.
On the outward journey, Carlos and Camila opted for the more modern and comfortable Diamond Jubilee carriage.
Made in Australia and first used by Elizabeth II in 2014, it is the most modern of the Royal Mews.
It has air conditioning, electric windows and six hydraulic stabilizers that prevent it from rocking.
“It looks a lot like a car,” Oates explains.
The carriage, on the other hand, measures more than five meters, weighs more than three tons and requires six horses to pull it.
Source: AFP
Source: Clarin
Mary Ortiz is a seasoned journalist with a passion for world events. As a writer for News Rebeat, she brings a fresh perspective to the latest global happenings and provides in-depth coverage that offers a deeper understanding of the world around us.