Prince William and Catherine

[Guest Fabiola]

Queen Camilla? How once-sidelined duchess is now centre stage... and could take title when Charles is King
Camilla’s increased prominence demonstrated she has been truly accepted as part of the new slimmed-down Royal Family

By Victoria Murphy

IT was a royal seal of approval like no other.

Sitting in the 1902 State Landau in pride of place next to the Queen, the Duchess of Cornwall beamed as she waved to the crowds on the way to Buckingham Palace.

Her key role at the Diamond Jubilee celebrations underlined the amazing transformation of the woman who was once reviled by the public and seen by some royal courtiers as the woman who broke up Charles and Diana’s marriage.

For years she was the “other woman”, but yesterday Camilla’s increased prominence demonstrated she has been truly accepted as part of the Windsors’ future in the Queen’s new slimmed-down version of the Royal Family.

Her Majesty’s decision to have Camilla sitting in the Landau’s seat in the absence of Prince Philip, who was suddenly taken ill, emphatically told the country her daughter in law is now an important part of “The Firm”.

This was reaffirmed by Camilla’s appearance on the Buckingham Palace balcony with the Queen, Charles, William, Kate and Harry just a few moments later, as well as her seat just one along from the Queen in the royal box during Monday’s rock extravaganza.

Only 10 years ago she attended the Golden Jubilee Party at the palace and sat in the background behind the Royal Family trying not to ignite controversy over her relationship with the heir to the throne.

A royal source said: “The jubilee celebrations not only recognised the Queen’s magnificent 60 years on the throne, they also marked the start of a new era for Britain’s Royal Family – with Prince Charles and Camilla at the forefront.

“Prince Philip’s absence on the Buckingham Palace balcony yesterday added to the sense that times are changing rapidly for the monarchy.

“The rest of the royals kept a low profile, and that is how Prince Charles sees the way forward. with Camilla at his side.

“For more than a decade he has privately lobbied for a ‘slimmed down’ monarchy, painfully aware that in hard times the public will not accept a bloated institution at the taxpayers’ expense.”

Today, at a time when the Royal Family is basking in popularity on the world stage, Camilla’s continued appearances as the Queen’s right-hand woman is a PR triumph for those in the palace who intend that she will one day be Queen.

The royal source added: “Camilla has proved herself by taking on royal engagements in the last two or three years successfully enough that her future as a Queen seems more assured.

“Gone are the days when Diana fans pelted her with bread rolls in a car park, after blaming her for breaking up Charles’s marriage to Diana.”

Until now it has generally been accepted Camilla will take on the, albeit unprecedented, title of Princess Consort when Prince Charles becomes King.

Camilla is reported to prefer this title, saying she doesn’t want to be Queen.

But Charles has other ideas, which were revealed in an interview in November 2010 when he was asked if Camilla would be his Queen.

He replied: “That could be.”

History tells us anything can happen when the Windsors need to navigate their way around tradition and protocol to achieve their goals.

When Charles wanted to marry Camilla in 2005, his position as the future Supreme Governor of the Church of England meant he officially had to ask for permission from the Queen and Parliament.

There are those who believe that had there been fewer constraints on Charles, Camilla may have become his first wife – as she was also his first love.

Instead, he was encouraged to marry the 20-year-old Lady Diana Spencer who came from one of the country’s leading aristocratic families.

Charles and Camilla met in 1970 and were pictured talking during a break in a Windsor polo match sparking rumours of a romance.

There was no proposal and when Charles was posted on overseas naval duties Camilla married army officer Andrew Parker-Bowles in 1973.

A year later she gave birth to Tom and Charles became his godfather. Her daughter Laura was born in 1978.

Camilla and Brigadier Parker-Bowles have six grandchildren including four-year-old Eliza, who was a bridesmaid at Kate and William’s wedding.

The Camilla factor hung heavily over the marriage of Charles and Diana from its beginnings in 1981.

When Charles and Diana were on their honeymoon on the Royal Yacht Britannia in the Mediterranean she discovered that he was wearing cufflinks from Camilla engraved with a double C.

In an interview with Martin Bashir for a special Panorama programme, Diana revealed: “There were three of us in the marriage, so it was a bit crowded.”

To the horror of palace courtiers this was later confirmed by Charles when he admitted having an affair with Camilla, during an interview with Jonathan Dimbleby for documentary The Prince of Wales – The Private Man.

During the mid to late 90s, courtiers gradually tried to introduce the idea of Charles and Camilla as a couple.

But after Diana was killed in 1997 Camilla became public enemy number one and she retreated from public life.

All this makes the transformation of the past 15 years even more incredible.

One source said: “Following the jubilee celebrations the Queen and the Duke will surely scale down their workload, meaning Charles and Camilla will be even more visible.

“Despite the extraordinary stamina of the Queen and the Duke they are after all human beings, as Philip’s recent health scares have proved.

“The Queen has looked happy and content in recent years because she knows the future of the monarchy is now in good hands both with Charles and William.

“All she needs now is her beloved husband back at her side so that she can truly savour her extraordinary achievements.”

The inclusion of Camilla as one of the “key seven” players in the Diamond Jubilee celebrations comes at the end of a rollercoaster ride for her relationship with Charles – but shows they are entering their next phase as an established royal couple.

For three days Britain has toasted Queen Elizabeth II.

How long until we welcome Queen Camilla?

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/queen-camilla-how-once-sidelined-duchess-864307

[Guest Char27]

dear lord .. may Charles never be king ... not with that women as queen ... ugh the thought of it makes me sick ...

[Guest Fabiola]

Royal fashionistas fly the red, white and blue

[Guest Char27]

i absaloutely loved the lace Alexander McQueen dress .. 

[Guest Fabiola]

Kate and William were at a Lincolnshire church to share the happiness of his cousin Emily McCorquodale (the daughter of one of Princess Diana's elder sister, Sarah) and her groom James Hutt.

Kate in a dove grey ensemble, most which had been seen before. Her natty pillbox hat was last seen at the Derby in 2011, the floral Jenny Packham dress made an appearance on her tour of North America. Meanwhile, the coat was recycled from Garter Day.

[Guest Fabiola]

 

Kate wore the Missoni tweed coat in March to Fortnum & Mason with dove grey stilettos, left, before recycling it with darker chunky courts for the Nottingham royal ‘away day’ with the Queen, right

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Kate and Wills went for a soft ballad while the Beckhams swung to jazz... Revealing the stars and their first dance wedding songs

'Your Song' by Elton John (performed by Ellie Goulding)

'It Had To Be You' by The Starlight Orchestra

'If There Is Something' by Roxy Music

'My Valentine' by Paul McCartney

'Last Night on Earth' by Green Day

'No One’s Gonna Love You' by Band Of Horses

'Everybody Loves Somebody' by Dean Martin

'Vanishing Breed' by Michael Martin Murphey

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2159760/Kate-Wills-went-soft-ballad-Beckhams-swung-jazz--Revealing-stars-dance-wedding-songs.html

[Guest Fabiola]

Amanda Holden went for a floral cream number..

While Danielle Lineker fashioned monochrome

The Queen looked splendid in a powder blue coat and dress

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The Annual Garter Ceremony at Windsor Castle in Berkshire

 

 

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Prince Andrew, Prince Edward, Prince William, and Prince Charles attend the annual Order of the Garter Service at St George's Chapel, Windsor 

Princess Anne and Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester 

The Countess of Wessex, the Duchess of Cambridge and the Duchess of Cornwall 

[Guest Fabiola]

Merry Wives of Windsor

THREE AGES OF FASHION...

Kate: Flirty at 30

Outfit: In the £2,350 ivory cotton and wool pique Alexander McQueen double-breasted coat dress she wore for last year’s Trooping the Colour, the Duchess of Cambridge has her finger on the fashion pulse with its layered peplum (officially called a ‘tiered Samurai skirt’). Teaming this buttoned-up style with the Reiss Peacock dress she wore to Epsom a year ago, the Duchess allowed her never-ending legs to do the talking.

Hat: A loyal fan of milliner Jane Corbett, Kate chose this sculpted straw saucer to complement the angular lines of her coatdress. Contemporary but grown-up enough for this formal occasion.

Shoes: Critics have tired of Kate’s penchant for these LK Bennett nude Sledge heels, but they are flattering on her slender legs.

Bag: This neat box-style clutch bag — the £160 Natalie from LK Bennett — is bang on-trend and is the perfect accessory for her sharp tailoring, adding textural interest.

Hair: Kate’s glossy brunette mane is her style signature, and the loosely-tonged curls tumble around her shoulders, making her instantly recognisable. She knows this is one of her winning features, and makes wardrobe choices accordingly.

Beauty: Still in the bloom of youth, Kate can get away with stronger eye make-up and the defined eyebrows that have become her trademark — not something that works after crow’s feet have set in. Her English rose complexion and pearly-white teeth are highlighted with a dusting of matte powder, light blusher and a slick of pink lipstick.

Camilla: Stylish at 64

Outfit: In a formula that has worked beautifully since the day she married Prince Charles, Camilla turned to designer Anna Valentine to create her streamlined cream chiffon dress and pale pink coat. This blush pink is extremely flattering on more mature complexions, but not too girly. The edge-to-edge, looser silhouette of the panelled coat gives a defined shape while the fluid chiffon dress adds a diaphanous, romantic feel, allowing this sixty-something to show a softer side.

Hat: Philip Treacy has enjoyed Camilla’s patronage since he created the masterpiece she wore on her wedding day. The simplicity of this outfit allows her to get away with this flamboyant hat. And dusty rose pink is extremely flattering, casting a warm glow over older skin — mothers of the bride, take note.

Shoes: Slightly lower than the Duchess of Cambridge’s footwear, Camilla’s £165 heels were from Stuart Weitzman at Russell & Bromley, with a 75mm platform and a classic court shoe shape. A perfect interpretation of the ‘nude heels’ trend for a more mature woman.

Bag: An elongated envelope-style leather clutch is elegant and practical. Many older women still attempt to match shoes and bags, but Camilla demonstrates style flair by selecting accessories that work together without being twee.

Hair: Feminine and flattering, Camilla knows how she likes her hair, and sticks with it as the perfect frame for her heart-shaped face. A professional blow-dry is crucial once you reach a certain age and need a style with bounce and staying power.

Beauty: Like the Queen, Camilla recognises that minimal make-up works best for older women. A dusting of loose powder to minimise shine, plus a creamy pink lipstick, a hint of rose blusher and a coating of waterproof mascara are all she needs.

Sophie: Foxy at 47

Outfit: This bespoke Bruce Oldfield shawl-collared jacket and skirt, first worn at Zara Phillips’s wedding last year, suits the Countess of Wessex perfectly. The soft, peachy tone flatters her light tan, while bracelet-length sleeves make the outfit less mumsy. A glimpse of beaded camisole alludes to a sexy little number beneath without being too provocative. Choosing a circular skirt minimizes bulky layers on the hips, but adds fluidity. And the on-the-knee hemline is spot-on — any shorter would make a woman that close to her 50th birthday mutton dressed as lamb. Any longer, she’d be lamb dressed as mutton.

Hat: This blush-coloured disc, spotted with crystals, is by Jane Taylor, who regularly works with Bruce Oldfield. Sophie’s jaunty personality is captured beautifully with a fun look that would work well on any woman who fears a fascinator but doesn’t want a full-blown hat.

Shoes: At a certain age, many women opt for a more demure choice of outfit, but show they’ve still got ‘It’ by slipping into a pair of sassy shoes. Sophie’s £435 patent leather platform-soled Jimmy Choos are perfect for a foxy forty-something.

Bag: Like Camilla and Catherine, she opted for an on-trend clutch, but the three styles couldn’t be more different. Sophie’s sophisticated satin bag, overlaid with ivory lace, contrasts nicely with the translucent chiffon of her jacket and skirt. 

Hair: Sophie’s mousy brown hair is swept into a chic chignon that showed off her radiant complexion and fantastic bone structure. Upswept hair is an instant facelift for any woman in middle age.

Beauty: The sun-kissed glow of someone who loves the outdoors, yet her skin is still line-free, with a touch of bronzer on the cheekbones.

Karen Kay

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-2161840/Kate-Middleton-Camilla-Parker-Bowles-Sophie-Wessex-Co-ordinating-outfits-identikit-nude-shoes-What-picture-tells-Royal-Family-thats-finally-ease-itself.html

[Guest Fabiola]

The Royal Ascot 

Gary Lineker and Danielle Bux 

Amanda Holden 

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Florence Brudenell-Bruce (Prince Harry's former flame) opted for a a buttoned-up cream jacket, Missoni dress, cut out heels and a Jane Taylor hat

Florence dated Formula 1 racing driver Jenson Button for two years before they split in 2008

Formula 1 racing driver Jenson Button was seen wandering around hand in hand with girlfriend Jessica Michibata

[Guest Fabiola]

Princess Haya bint Al Hussein 

Frank Lampard and Christine Bleakley 

Kate Silverton

Prince Edward 

Sophie arriving at Ascot 

Princess Anne 

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Princess Eugenie

Princess Beatrice with her aunt Princess Anne 

Katherine Jenkins

Prince Michael of Kent with wife Princess Michael

The Queen first went to Ascot in 1945 and has attended every year since. Racing at Ascot dates from 1711 when Queen Anne drove from nearby Windsor Castle with her entourage for a day's sport organised at her command

[Guest Fabiola]

Amy Childs

Carole Middleton

Ronald Arculli, left, former head of the Hong Kong stock exchange sits next to Carole Middleton 

Carole Middleton with Mrs Ronald Arculli, Michael Middleton sits next to Ronald Arculli

[Guest Fabiola]

Kelly Brook

[Guest Fabiola]

Kelly Brook

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[Guest Fabiola]

Kate’s Olympic-style necklace is from Cartier and is said to be from her personal collection. It happens to come at a price of $78,000, too, a source at the store in London tells PEOPLE.

  

Kate in a Stella McCartney fitted royal blue sheath dress