The public was not warm to Queen Consort Camilla and King Charles for years because they had an affair while he was still married to Princess Diana. Camilla's nephew talked about his links to the Queen Consort and how he was bullied due to their association.
Queen Consort Camilla Blamed For Princess Diana's Death?
Luke Parker Bowles, a film and TV producer, is the nephew of Queen Consort Camilla. He talked about how he was bullied due to his association with her because they share the same surname — Parker Bowles — which shot to household fame due to King Charles and Camilla's relationship in the early 1990s.
"I read that when you were younger, you were actually sometimes bullied," cohost Jenna Bush Hager said in a segment that aired Wednesday on TODAY, People reported.
"It was a rough time. It was not a great time to be a Parker Bowles, but it hasn't scarred me," Luke said. "All of us — my cousins, my brother — we've always been involved in charity. It's much more important to be doing charitable things, not to be 'holier than thou,' just because it gives you a focus."
Camilla and Luke were linked to the Queen Consort through her first marriage. According to Luke, he was bullied by association.
"I learned to do charity at a very young age. It was instilled in me by my parents and grandparents because they didn't want me to be part of the chaos of the early days of my aunt and Prince Charles's relationship," he continued.
"When I was at boarding school, I remember getting bullied and even death threats because people put together that Diana had died because of Camilla, and therefore I had killed Diana by association."
"It was not a happy time, and I wanted to deflect that so I got involved in charities," he continued. "I remember swimming three hours nonstop (which is bonkers) for charity. I loved it and I loved focusing on what I could do for other people, instead of focusing on getting bullied."
Queen Consort Camilla Parker-Bowles Speaks About Public Scrutiny
Camilla also opened up about the public scrutiny she received due to the drama between her, Prince Charles and Princess Diana. She admitted that it wasn't easy.
"It's not easy," Camilla told British Vogue while reflecting on the level of media scrutiny on her family in the 1990s. "I was scrutinized for such a long time that you just have to find a way to live with it. Nobody likes to be looked at all the time and, you know, criticized…"
She continued, "But I think in the end, I sort of rise above it and get on with it. You've got to get on with life."
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King Charles and Camilla faced the public's ire after Princess Diana's infamous Panorama interview. The late Princess of Wales seemingly blamed Camilla for her broken marriage.
"There were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded," she said.
It also took years for the Queen to warm up to Camilla. However, earlier this year, on the eve of her 70th anniversary on the throne, she acknowledged Camilla as future queen consort.
"When, in the fullness of time, my son Charles becomes King, I know you will give him and his wife Camilla the same support that you have given me; and it is my sincere wish that, when that time comes, Camilla will be known as Queen Consort as she continues her own loyal service," the monarch wrote at the time.
Stay tuned for more news and updates about King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla Parker-Bowles.
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