One could get used to this throne lark, dear
by REBECCA ENGLISH, Daily Mail
31st March 2006
"King Charles III and Queen Camilla of India": Camilla and Prince Charles were guests of honour at the annual Rajasthan Day parade
She has always insisted she doesn't want to be queen.
But, it has to be said, sitting on a silver throne yesterday the Duchess of Cornwall looked very much at home.
Camilla and Prince Charles were guests of honour at the annual Rajasthan Day parade in India's pink-walled city of Jaipur.
And as she watched the procession of bejewelled elephants, painted camels and frenzied dancers, the Duchess couldn't hide her delight.
Dressed in cool white linen, she laughed and clapped constantly at the spectacle, her enthusiasm so infectious that even sober-suited Prince Charles cracked a smile.
It was the first time the Duchess - who has said she wants to be known as Princess Consort when Charles accedes to the throne - has been spotted sitting in anything resembling a throne.
Indeed, Clarence House aides have been keen to ensure that she hasn't, for fear of offending those who still refuse to sanction the couple's marriage. For although support for Camilla is fast rising, a Daily Mail poll on Saturday showed that 45 per cent of the country is opposed to the idea of a Queen Camilla.
The couple's intricate thrones had been specially hired for the occasion by the Maharajah of Jaipur, their host for the last few days, and resemble those used by Indian brides and bridegrooms.
Shortly before Camilla's arrival, a cleaner hurriedly ran a vacuum over her chair while other members of staff set up several small electric fans at the side of the stage to ensure she stayed cool in the 107f heat. The previous day she had appeared close to collapse on a visit to a village. The couple have just a few engagements left before flying home tonight.
Charles, however, plans to pack his bags almost immediately for a short skiing holiday with friends in the Swiss resort of Klosters, leaving his wife behind.
According to royal sources, Camilla, who has never skiied and hates the snowy climate, plans to spend time with her daughter, Laura Parker Bowles, who is due to be married in six weeks' time.
Charles does plan to return in time to celebrate their first wedding anniversary a week on Sunday, however, when the couple will travel to the distinctly less exotic climes of Birkhall, their Highland mansion, where the prince proposed.
The couple also spent their twoweek honeymoon there with friends but this time plan to have the weekend to themselves.
dailymail.co.uk
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Surveys show that the British still love their Monarchy - and that they are even beginning to like Camilla -
The nation is slowly warming to Camilla
25th March 2006
The duchess of Cornwall is slowly winning the battle to be accepted by the public, a poll reveals today. Support for Camilla to be Queen has doubled since the couple married last April.
But the country remains divided over whether Charles should ever take the throne. Forty per cent say he should give up his birthright and allow Prince William to reign after the Queen dies.
The ICM survey shows 67 per cent now approve of Charles's decision to marry Camilla, compared to 57 per cent in a similar poll last March.
Only 28 per cent are against, down from 37 per cent. But 50 per cent still believe the wedding weakened, rather than strengthened, the monarchy. This is down from 65 per cent a year earlier.
Some 53 per cent of those who say Charles should become King say Camilla should be Queen at his side.
However, 45 per cent remain opposed to the idea, compared to 73 per cent at the time of the wedding.
Despite the Queen being 80 next month, 57 per cent want her to carry on as monarch until she dies. Less than 25 per cent believe she should stand down now or in the future.
Only 20 per cent want her to scale back her duties and allow Charles to become more prominent.
The prince's aides will be dismayed by the sizeable minority who want him to renounce his succession and hand the throne to his elder son.
As well as uncertainty about Charles's suitability as King, this reflects the popularity of William, whose profile in the past year has been greater than ever as a result of his romance with Kate Middleton. Charles's political controversies have left the public divided. In his personal journals, it was revealed that he referred to Chinese diplomats as 'appalling old waxworks'.
The prince also reportedly believes he is a political "dissident", whose job is to oppose Government policies. And his views on the Human Rights Act and the environment have been aired.
Twenty-nine per cent appear to have been impressed with his robust stance and want him to speak out more often.
Twenty-four per cent say he should intervene in politics less (as a British Royal should have NO say in politics and isn't allowed to vote), while 45 per cent say it should stay 'about the same'.
Camilla's public duties, which have been carefully chosen over the past year by the prince's army of aides and advisers, have largely satisfied Britons. Fifty-three per cent say she is doing the right amount, while 25 per cent say she is undertaking too few duties and 14 per cent say too many.
Despite lavish spending on her public image, 52 per cent say Camilla provides 'good value for money'.
Sixty-seven per cent believe there will still be a monarch in 50 years, up from 58 per cent a year ago. Fifty-one per cent say the Royal Family should be slimmed down, while 46 per cent say it should be left alone.
dailymail.co.uk
by REBECCA ENGLISH, Daily Mail
31st March 2006
"King Charles III and Queen Camilla of India": Camilla and Prince Charles were guests of honour at the annual Rajasthan Day parade
She has always insisted she doesn't want to be queen.
But, it has to be said, sitting on a silver throne yesterday the Duchess of Cornwall looked very much at home.
Camilla and Prince Charles were guests of honour at the annual Rajasthan Day parade in India's pink-walled city of Jaipur.
And as she watched the procession of bejewelled elephants, painted camels and frenzied dancers, the Duchess couldn't hide her delight.
Dressed in cool white linen, she laughed and clapped constantly at the spectacle, her enthusiasm so infectious that even sober-suited Prince Charles cracked a smile.
It was the first time the Duchess - who has said she wants to be known as Princess Consort when Charles accedes to the throne - has been spotted sitting in anything resembling a throne.
Indeed, Clarence House aides have been keen to ensure that she hasn't, for fear of offending those who still refuse to sanction the couple's marriage. For although support for Camilla is fast rising, a Daily Mail poll on Saturday showed that 45 per cent of the country is opposed to the idea of a Queen Camilla.
The couple's intricate thrones had been specially hired for the occasion by the Maharajah of Jaipur, their host for the last few days, and resemble those used by Indian brides and bridegrooms.
Shortly before Camilla's arrival, a cleaner hurriedly ran a vacuum over her chair while other members of staff set up several small electric fans at the side of the stage to ensure she stayed cool in the 107f heat. The previous day she had appeared close to collapse on a visit to a village. The couple have just a few engagements left before flying home tonight.
Charles, however, plans to pack his bags almost immediately for a short skiing holiday with friends in the Swiss resort of Klosters, leaving his wife behind.
According to royal sources, Camilla, who has never skiied and hates the snowy climate, plans to spend time with her daughter, Laura Parker Bowles, who is due to be married in six weeks' time.
Charles does plan to return in time to celebrate their first wedding anniversary a week on Sunday, however, when the couple will travel to the distinctly less exotic climes of Birkhall, their Highland mansion, where the prince proposed.
The couple also spent their twoweek honeymoon there with friends but this time plan to have the weekend to themselves.
dailymail.co.uk
==================================
Surveys show that the British still love their Monarchy - and that they are even beginning to like Camilla -
The nation is slowly warming to Camilla
25th March 2006
The duchess of Cornwall is slowly winning the battle to be accepted by the public, a poll reveals today. Support for Camilla to be Queen has doubled since the couple married last April.
But the country remains divided over whether Charles should ever take the throne. Forty per cent say he should give up his birthright and allow Prince William to reign after the Queen dies.
The ICM survey shows 67 per cent now approve of Charles's decision to marry Camilla, compared to 57 per cent in a similar poll last March.
Only 28 per cent are against, down from 37 per cent. But 50 per cent still believe the wedding weakened, rather than strengthened, the monarchy. This is down from 65 per cent a year earlier.
Some 53 per cent of those who say Charles should become King say Camilla should be Queen at his side.
However, 45 per cent remain opposed to the idea, compared to 73 per cent at the time of the wedding.
Despite the Queen being 80 next month, 57 per cent want her to carry on as monarch until she dies. Less than 25 per cent believe she should stand down now or in the future.
Only 20 per cent want her to scale back her duties and allow Charles to become more prominent.
The prince's aides will be dismayed by the sizeable minority who want him to renounce his succession and hand the throne to his elder son.
As well as uncertainty about Charles's suitability as King, this reflects the popularity of William, whose profile in the past year has been greater than ever as a result of his romance with Kate Middleton. Charles's political controversies have left the public divided. In his personal journals, it was revealed that he referred to Chinese diplomats as 'appalling old waxworks'.
The prince also reportedly believes he is a political "dissident", whose job is to oppose Government policies. And his views on the Human Rights Act and the environment have been aired.
Twenty-nine per cent appear to have been impressed with his robust stance and want him to speak out more often.
Twenty-four per cent say he should intervene in politics less (as a British Royal should have NO say in politics and isn't allowed to vote), while 45 per cent say it should stay 'about the same'.
Camilla's public duties, which have been carefully chosen over the past year by the prince's army of aides and advisers, have largely satisfied Britons. Fifty-three per cent say she is doing the right amount, while 25 per cent say she is undertaking too few duties and 14 per cent say too many.
Despite lavish spending on her public image, 52 per cent say Camilla provides 'good value for money'.
Sixty-seven per cent believe there will still be a monarch in 50 years, up from 58 per cent a year ago. Fifty-one per cent say the Royal Family should be slimmed down, while 46 per cent say it should be left alone.
dailymail.co.uk