King Charles III’s coronation in May 2023 was supposed to be a solemn and unifying moment for the British monarchy. Yet instead of evoking respect and national pride, the event was clouded by controversy and confusion—most of which revolved around one figure: Queen Camilla.
With a scandal-ridden past, Camilla was once known as “the other woman” who came between Prince Charles and Princess Diana. And now, during the very ceremony marking her rise to the throne, the public was once again forced to question: Is Camilla truly a symbol of royal unity—or is she using the crown to legitimize her personal history and elevate her own family?
Unapologetic Favoritism: Four Personal Grandchildren as Her Pages
One of the most discussed details was the list of Pages of Honour—the young boys selected to carry the robes of the King and Queen during the coronation. Traditionally, these roles are given to royal descendants or noble bloodlines, such as Prince George, King Charles’s grandson, who fittingly served his grandfather.
But for Camilla, not a single Windsor name appeared. All four boys chosen to serve her were her biological or step-grandchildren from the Parker Bowles family—her previous marriage. Not one of them had any royal blood.
To many, this selection felt deeply personal and even an attempt to hijack royal tradition, elevating the status of her private family within a national ceremony meant to serve the monarchy as a whole.
While Camilla may hold the title of Queen, the gesture clearly showed she was not pulling her family closer to the royal fold—but instead, bringing her former family onto the national stage. It blurred the line between monarchy and private legacy.
Inviting Her Ex, While Snubbing Diana’s Family — A Slap in the Face?
The presence of Andrew Parker Bowles, Camilla’s ex-husband, also raised eyebrows. Not only was he invited—he was seated in the section reserved for honored guests. Although Camilla and Andrew remain on good terms post-divorce, his presence at one of the most sacred national events was viewed by many as unnecessarily intimate and inappropriate.
What made it worse was the absence of Charles Spencer, the brother of Princess Diana.
Charles Spencer isn’t a distant relative—he’s the uncle of both Prince William and Prince Harry, and the man who gave the searing eulogy at Diana’s funeral in 1997. If anyone deserved a seat as a symbolic representative of Diana’s legacy, it was him.
And yet, Camilla’s ex-husband was present, while Diana’s own brother was excluded. To many, this felt like an attempt to rewrite history, to sanitize Camilla’s rise by erasing the most painful chapters—and the people who still carried them.
William’s Cold Silence: A Message Without Words
Another widely circulated moment came when Prince William was seen bowing respectfully to King Charles—but completely ignoring Camilla as she passed by.
While Kate Middleton gracefully offered a slight curtsy, William remained upright, avoided eye contact, and made no acknowledgment of Camilla’s presence.
According to sources, Camilla had hoped William would kneel to her, just as he had during the Homage of Royal Blood with his father. But that moment never came.
Though no words were spoken, the gesture was unmistakable. Many viewed it as William’s silent declaration of where he stands regarding his stepmother—and the legacy of a past Britain has never fully forgiven.
A Queen Never Truly Embraced?
When Queen Elizabeth II was still alive, she expressed her wish that Camilla be known as “Queen Consort”—a respectful but limited title. Yet after her passing, Camilla quietly dropped the “Consort”, rebranding herself simply as “Queen Camilla” across all official documentation and media.
Combined with her coronation choices—elevating her private family, inviting her ex-husband, excluding Diana’s relatives, and facing visible tension with William—Camilla has left many wondering:
Is she truly the Queen of the people? Or just the Queen on paper?
Final Thoughts: A Throne Still Haunted by a Broken Love
King Charles III’s coronation marked a new era for the monarchy. But beneath the gold embroidery and regal robes, the ceremony also revealed that the past still lingers heavily over the present.
Camilla may have worn the crown that day. But in the hearts of many, the throne remained a symbol of unresolved pain, long-standing division, and a name still spoken with sorrow: Diana.