Royal author Angela Levin talks about boundaries in Prince William and Camilla's relationship in her book "Camilla: From Outcast to Queen Consort."
Editor's Note: This article was originally published on October 13, 2022, and has since been updated.
Relationships in an extended/blended family are often quite complicated and clear boundaries become essential to avoid hassles. The Royal Family seemingly has a similar approach to keeping matters simpler. According to a new book about Queen Camilla Parker Bowles, the Prince of Wales has made it clear that his children don't look at Camilla as step-grandmother. In her book Camilla: "From Outcast to Queen Consort," royal author Angela Levin states "William has made it clear that Camilla is the wife of his father, but not a step-grandmother to his children," and that George, Charlotte, and Louis know they have "two grandfathers but only one grandmother."
Camilla has five grandchildren of her own from her first marriage to Andrew Parker-Bowles. According to reports from InStyle, she is perfectly fine with opting out of the step-grandmother title and has no issues with how William feels about the relationship. “Nor has she tried to take over any responsibility as a step-grandmother to the Cambridges' children, Prince George, Princess Charlotte, and Prince Louis. Especially as Catherine's parents, Carole and Michael Middleton, are so close.” Carole and Michael Middleton are known to be very devoted to their three royal grandchildren. Carole also shares a close relationship with William. Last year, speaking of Carole, Levin said that Carole makes him "feel secure, comfortable and protected and he didn’t have to worry about what he said or be responsible for her emotions.” Levin says that looking at the Middletons is how William truly understood what a loving and supportive family looks like.
William believes that the role of his children's stepmother belonged to her Late Mother Diana, and he doesn't want anyone to take her place. Camilla has been in William and Harry's lives for quite a while. When she married their father, Charles III in 2005, They were 23 and 20, respectively. Camilla and William don't exactly share a troubled relationship. However, both he and Prince Harry felt "blindsided" when Queen Elizabeth approved of her Queen Consort title. Royal expert Christopher Andersen claimed the move was “driving a wedge” in the royal family, as per reports from Us Weekly. While the decision and the inherently complicated equations within the family could have quickly turned problematic, both Camilla and William knew and navigated through it well. Levin talks about how Camilla approached her place in the family. "She was more of a friendly grown-up they saw occasionally at royal gatherings. She tried to be encouraging rather than influential."
References:
https://www.instyle.com/prince-william-children-and-camilla-relationship-6748486
Cover Image Source: Getty Images | Victoria Jones
