Prince Charles and Camilla have now been happily married since 2005, however in the years following Princess Diana’s untimely death in 1997 the pair struggled to find acceptance for their relationship, which had been ongoing during Charles and Diana’s marriage. In those difficult days, even the Queen had her doubts, reportedly wanting Camilla “gone” from her son’s life. The Duchess of Cornwall faced a frosty reception from the public, too, however Prince William proved to be key in winning acceptance for her, according to a royal author.
Biographer Andrew Morton, in his 2011 book “William and Catherine”, claims that William was used strategically by Clarence House to gain positive coverage of Camilla as Charles’ new partner.
Mr Morton writes: “While William instinctively wanted to be left alone, Camilla deliberately kept a low profile, as courtiers carefully introduced her to the wider world.
“Prince William was, as Diana’s former private secretary Patrick Jephson points out, effectively used as her ‘human shield’, information about the young prince being given out for favourable coverage of Charles and Camilla.”
Mr Morton also writes how William’s acceptance was crucial in paving the way for public attitudes to soften towards Camilla.
Prince William was a "human shield" for Chalres and Camilla, writes Mr Morton (Image: Getty)
Prince William first met Camilla in 1998 (Image: Getty)
He continues: “The pivotal moment was the first meeting between William, whose looks and manner made him the living embodiment of the dead Princess, and her arch-rival, Charles’ mistress.
“This encounter finally took place a few
