Camilla stuns Prince Charles with knife threat
17th July 2007
Daily Mail
When a knife-wielding Camilla says she doesn't want to be Queen, Prince Charles better listen - or else.
Onlookers were stunned today when the Duchess menacingly waved a blade under Prince Charles's nose as she was cutting the cake to celebrate her 60th birthday.
Prince Charles stepped back in shock and snatched back his hand, looking perplexed at Camilla's sudden turn.
Don't mess with Camilla: She DOESN'T want to be Queen
She had earlier made it clear that she did not want to be called 'Queen' if and when Charles takes the throne. Instead she wants to be known as the princess consort.
She has let it be known she is "happy" if she never becomes queen and wants only a "supporting role" in Charles's life.
Camilla smiles as she visits the village of Bromham in Wiltshire as part of her 60th birthday celebrations today
One senior royal figure said: "There has been a lot of talk about 'Queen Camilla' but it is not something that exercises the minds of either of their Royal Highnesses.
"The Duchess is technically the Princess of Wales but chose to use another of her rightful titles, the Duchess of Cornwall.
"With this in mind, no matter what the precedent is, the Duchess fully intends to be known as the princess consort when the time comes. She is fully supported by the Prince in this.
"There is no secret plan to install her as queen, far from it. She simply wants to support her husband both publicly and privately."
A hat-shaped cake for the Duchess, who is 60 today
But Camilla's decision to take the title princess consort throws up a constitutional problem which may only be resolved by legislation.
Under current law, wives must take the rank of their husbands. There is no precedent for having a king married to a wife who is not queen.
The Department of Constitutional Affairs has always insisted she will become queen unless Parliament legislates to strip her of the right to the title. Any change to her status may also have to be approved by the 17 parliaments in Commonwealth countries where the new king will be head of state.
The title princess consort is not previously known in British constitutional history and is designed to reflect the fact that a large section of the public is unwilling at present to accept Camilla as queen.
As news of Camilla's comments broke today, she performed a marathon meet-and-greet session as part of her birthday celebrations. Camilla and Charles were undeterred by continual, monsoon-style downpours during their two-and-a-half-hour visit to Bromham in Wiltshire.
They then visited the village's Methodist chapel, the local shop, post office, butcher and pub. At the post office, Camilla remarked: "I could draw my pension from here now."
The couple visited Bromham to celebrate its new status as the West of England's Calor Village of the Year 2006/7.
Supporting role: Charles with Camilla who turns 60 today
A poll published today reveals that while 28 per cent of those questioned were in favour of her becoming queen, 61 per cent want her to become consort. An opinion poll in 2005, when she married Charles, showed only seven per cent wanted her to become queen. Another senior source told the Standard: "She [Camilla] has no side; she is a self-contained woman who came to the job of being a member of the royal family late, at 58.
Duchess is instinctive in the way she wants to handle situations. She really doesn't want to, or need to be, spun by the PR men."
To celebrate her birthday, Charles is throwing a party at Highgrove on Saturday night attended by 200 friends and family.
Prince William will attend but Prince Harry is on military duties. Camilla's children Tom and Laura and their spouses are expected while friends include Joanna Lumley.
The Queen and other senior members of the royal family will stay away, although officials are at pains to point out this should not be seen as a snub "in any way".
Camilla shields herself from the rain during the visit
The event is intended as an intimate and informal gathering, planned by Charles's former valet Michael Fawcett.
Instead, the Queen and Prince Philip are understood to have sent Camilla their best wishes this morning. Camilla is performing official engagements with Prince Charles in Wiltshire today followed by a birthday lunch with family.
Ten years ago - when Princess Diana was still alive - public feeling towards the two divorcées was distinctly chilly, even hostile. In a television poll of 100,000 viewers in July 1997, two thirds thought that if Charles married Camilla it should disqualify him from becoming king.
A youthful well-wisher presents the Duchess with a bouquet
Today's revelat ion that Camilla wishes only to be known as princess consort flies in the face of increased speculationof a secret royal plan to install her as queen when the moment arises.
A recent Channel 4 documentary "Queen Camilla" - that included testimony from close friends of the Duchess - claimed there was a secret plan for Camilla to be awarded the title queen.
dailymail.co.uk
17th July 2007
Daily Mail
When a knife-wielding Camilla says she doesn't want to be Queen, Prince Charles better listen - or else.
Onlookers were stunned today when the Duchess menacingly waved a blade under Prince Charles's nose as she was cutting the cake to celebrate her 60th birthday.
Prince Charles stepped back in shock and snatched back his hand, looking perplexed at Camilla's sudden turn.
Don't mess with Camilla: She DOESN'T want to be Queen
She had earlier made it clear that she did not want to be called 'Queen' if and when Charles takes the throne. Instead she wants to be known as the princess consort.
She has let it be known she is "happy" if she never becomes queen and wants only a "supporting role" in Charles's life.
Camilla smiles as she visits the village of Bromham in Wiltshire as part of her 60th birthday celebrations today
One senior royal figure said: "There has been a lot of talk about 'Queen Camilla' but it is not something that exercises the minds of either of their Royal Highnesses.
"The Duchess is technically the Princess of Wales but chose to use another of her rightful titles, the Duchess of Cornwall.
"With this in mind, no matter what the precedent is, the Duchess fully intends to be known as the princess consort when the time comes. She is fully supported by the Prince in this.
"There is no secret plan to install her as queen, far from it. She simply wants to support her husband both publicly and privately."
A hat-shaped cake for the Duchess, who is 60 today
But Camilla's decision to take the title princess consort throws up a constitutional problem which may only be resolved by legislation.
Under current law, wives must take the rank of their husbands. There is no precedent for having a king married to a wife who is not queen.
The Department of Constitutional Affairs has always insisted she will become queen unless Parliament legislates to strip her of the right to the title. Any change to her status may also have to be approved by the 17 parliaments in Commonwealth countries where the new king will be head of state.
The title princess consort is not previously known in British constitutional history and is designed to reflect the fact that a large section of the public is unwilling at present to accept Camilla as queen.
As news of Camilla's comments broke today, she performed a marathon meet-and-greet session as part of her birthday celebrations. Camilla and Charles were undeterred by continual, monsoon-style downpours during their two-and-a-half-hour visit to Bromham in Wiltshire.
They then visited the village's Methodist chapel, the local shop, post office, butcher and pub. At the post office, Camilla remarked: "I could draw my pension from here now."
The couple visited Bromham to celebrate its new status as the West of England's Calor Village of the Year 2006/7.
Supporting role: Charles with Camilla who turns 60 today
A poll published today reveals that while 28 per cent of those questioned were in favour of her becoming queen, 61 per cent want her to become consort. An opinion poll in 2005, when she married Charles, showed only seven per cent wanted her to become queen. Another senior source told the Standard: "She [Camilla] has no side; she is a self-contained woman who came to the job of being a member of the royal family late, at 58.
Duchess is instinctive in the way she wants to handle situations. She really doesn't want to, or need to be, spun by the PR men."
To celebrate her birthday, Charles is throwing a party at Highgrove on Saturday night attended by 200 friends and family.
Prince William will attend but Prince Harry is on military duties. Camilla's children Tom and Laura and their spouses are expected while friends include Joanna Lumley.
The Queen and other senior members of the royal family will stay away, although officials are at pains to point out this should not be seen as a snub "in any way".
Camilla shields herself from the rain during the visit
The event is intended as an intimate and informal gathering, planned by Charles's former valet Michael Fawcett.
Instead, the Queen and Prince Philip are understood to have sent Camilla their best wishes this morning. Camilla is performing official engagements with Prince Charles in Wiltshire today followed by a birthday lunch with family.
Ten years ago - when Princess Diana was still alive - public feeling towards the two divorcées was distinctly chilly, even hostile. In a television poll of 100,000 viewers in July 1997, two thirds thought that if Charles married Camilla it should disqualify him from becoming king.
A youthful well-wisher presents the Duchess with a bouquet
Today's revelat ion that Camilla wishes only to be known as princess consort flies in the face of increased speculationof a secret royal plan to install her as queen when the moment arises.
A recent Channel 4 documentary "Queen Camilla" - that included testimony from close friends of the Duchess - claimed there was a secret plan for Camilla to be awarded the title queen.
dailymail.co.uk
