Camilla Parker Bowles’ journey into the British Royal Family was far from easy. Initially, she was widely disliked, especially after being revealed as the mistress of then-Prince Charles during his marriage to Princess Diana. The public’s love for Diana fueled the resentment towards Camilla, and her popularity took a significant hit.

Royal expert Angela Levin claims that during this period, Camilla endured “torrents” of mistreatment from the public, often afraid to leave her house. She had to rely on friends to run errands for her, and was subjected to cruel names like “rottweiler.”

Camilla’s relationship with Charles began in 1972, but after Charles left for naval service, she married Andrew Parker Bowles. However, she maintained a close relationship with Charles, and their affair began in 1986. The public eventually learned of this relationship, and the backlash was fierce, especially after the release of intimate phone call transcripts.

Despite the initial criticism, Camilla’s image improved over the years. When she married Charles in 2005, she became more accepted, and today she is a respected figure in the Royal Family. Levin believes that while Camilla has moved forward, she still carries emotional scars from those challenging years.