Prince Harry Shares How He and Prince William Pleaded with King Charles to Avoid Marrying Camilla Due to Fears of Renewed Pain Over Princess Diana’s Memory
King Charles III and Queen Camilla recently celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary, but their union faced strong opposition from Prince William and Prince Harry. The brothers reportedly pleaded with their father not to marry Camilla, fearing it would reignite painful comparisons to their late mother, Princess Diana. The revelations come from Prince Harry’s 2023 memoir, Spare, which details the private family dynamics surrounding Charles and Camilla’s relationship.
Brothers’ Emotional Plea
In Spare, Harry revealed that he and William supported their father’s relationship with Camilla but begged him not to marry her. They worried a wedding would trigger media scrutiny and public discussions about Diana, who died in a 1997 car crash.
“We support you, we said. We endorse Camilla, we said. Just please don’t marry her. Just be together, Pa,” Harry wrote . The brothers believed a marriage would “cause controversy,” incite the press, and force the world to “talk about Mummy, compare Mummy and Camilla” .
Their concerns stemmed from Camilla’s role in Charles and Diana’s fractured marriage. Diana famously said, “There were three of us in this marriage,” referencing Camilla’s presence during her union with Charles .
Royal Resistance and Public Backlash
Queen Elizabeth II initially opposed the relationship, privately calling Camilla “that wicked woman” . She skipped Charles and Camilla’s 2005 civil wedding due to Church of England protocols but attended the religious blessing, signaling gradual acceptance .
Public opinion was also harsh. After Charles and Diana’s 1996 divorce, Camilla was vilified as a “homewrecker.” Charles’s team launched a PR campaign to rehabilitate her image, including staged public appearances like “Operation Ritz” in 1999 .
The Wedding and Aftermath
Despite objections, Charles married Camilla on April 9, 2005, in a low-key civil ceremony. William and Harry attended both the civil and religious events, though Harry denied tabloid claims they sabotaged the day with “just married” signs .
Camilla, now Queen Consort, has since gained public approval, with her popularity peaking at 55% in 2022 . Meanwhile, Harry’s relationship with the monarchy has strained, particularly after his 2020 exit from royal duties .
Diana’s Lingering Shadow
The brothers’ plea highlights how Diana’s legacy continues to shape royal decisions. Harry wrote that Camilla played “the long game” to secure her position, even leaking private stories to the press . Yet, over time, Camilla has become a stabilizing force for Charles, especially during his 2024 cancer treatment .
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