wren

You guys are really mean. Why do you have a problem with all this? I don't get criticizing the way Camilla looks. I mean he isn't real great looking himself, right? So they are a good match for each other. They seem to love each other. Finding someone who loves you is great at any age, and more difficult as you get older. Besides, who cares what they do anyway? Leave 'em be.

lauralamb

I do believe that we should dissing Prince Charles and his bride to be. Prince Charles is heir to the British throne and Camila Parker-Bowles does a lot for charity. A lot of English people hold the Royal Family dear, especially the Queen. Camilla will be excellent Queen when Elizabeth finally goes.

Spygirl

Ohmigod W,-"carefully selected so as not to divert attention from the bride" -TOO FUNNY! I didn't think anything could make me laugh as much as Charles seen around town recently with a "weather-beaten old sailor" but that did!

And throwing tampons-why, what a lovely and sentimental idea that is, TravelinW!-what better remembrance of Charlie and Cammie's love could you get?

Spygirl

oh and LauraL-you've not got the facts straight. The Queen has already decreed that Camilla will NEVER be Queen; her title will only be "Princess Consort" when C. takes the throne.

Princess Consort-hey, isn't that the name of the new Ford Motor Co's 2006 SUV?

tomboy

The flower girl could carry a bouquet of Venus Fly Traps;
The ring bearer could carry a horse collar;

Pellegrina

I'm with Wren: let them have some happiness. Isn't that what we all want for ourselves, too? If you don't care one whit about them or their nuptials,you're free to ignore the whole thing. Cheerio!

travelinwifey

Just as you're free to ignore this post Some may find it in bad taste that Charles is now marrying his mistress, the mistress that hand picked Charles to marry Diana. Diana eventually died because of the chain of events after being married to a man that didn't want to be with her. It is indeed bizarre and not at all surprising people talk about it.

Pellegrina

I am very impressed that a member of the British Royal family has posted here on Fodors. Or at least some one in the inner circle of royal affairs--I mean how else would you know that Camilla orchestrated Charles'marriage to Diana? If the relationship between Charles and Camilla was that well known, Diana had to know, too. Of course she was young, beautiful and hopeful that her marriage would be genuine and lasting (as many of us hope ours will be) She was completely too young to die and the world lost a real treasure. I sincerely believe that. Her radiance was not diminished by a less-than-perfect mate. The marriage of her ex-husband and his mistress does not tarnish the grace of Diana.

Barbara

Pellegrina, Camilla's involvement in the selection of Diana as the sacrificial virgin has been mentioned in several recent reports. Charles and Camilla's relationship may have been common knowledge in their social circle, but Diana didn't move in that circle, partly because she was so much younger.Also, Charles' friends are extremely tight lipped about him, which is not a bad thing, but there's really no reason to think that Diana knew what she was getting into and every reason to conclude that the Royals made every possible effort to make sure she didn't know.

Beatchick

Wittgenstein, I was going to say that of course horses will be there. The bride will attend!

Sorry, Wren, love you, but I have such bad feelings towards Charles & Camilla. He brought mementos of Camilla with him while on honeymoon, I think a photograph of her and a bracelet of intertwining Cs (talk about "gag me&quot. So he was less than honest with Diana from the get-go.

wren

I am obviously not "up" on the details. Was he having an affair with Camilla before she was divorced? Is that why he didn't marry her in the first place?

Neil_Oz

WillTravel, sometimes I catch myself feeling sorry for Charlie, and his betrothed certainly can't help her looks. But then I remind myself that this is a bloke who reportedly demands that his valet squeeze his toothpaste onto his brush, even made the poor man hold the jar when he had to submit a urine sample, and travels with an army of chefs when he visits his mother. Even the Queen is said to have described his staffing arrangements as "grotesque", which admittedly is a case of the pot calling the kettle black.

Most of all, though, I guess I'm embarrassed that my own country continues to endorse this nonsense. On present indications Charles will become the titular head of state of Australia, Canada and New Zealand in time.

Someone once said that a man who marries his mistress is merely creating a job vacancy.

BTW Viajero2, the term "town hall" is no guide to the size of the town or city it serves - e.g. here in Australia the cities of Sydney (pop. 4m+) and Melbourne (3m+) have "town halls", but Brisbane (1.5m) has a "city hall". I think the latter is a mainly American usage?

marigross

Camilla looks so radiant and happy that I am almost tempted to forgive them.....NOT!!! (as if they would care what I think )

Who do you think will fill the mistress job opening?

Did you know that Charles in the godfather of her son? How bizarre can you get...the crazy bloodthirsty clowns do not sound so bad anymore!

jeffwill4you

The British Royal family is a Bizarre joke played on the tourist. Charles is
no better then any other man who cheats on his wife, A low life scumbag!

tomboy

I like the tattoed midgets idea. Perhaps they could handle (baby) phythons.

Sue4

I agree with Wren - you're all a bunch of meanies! I'm glad poor Charles has somebody who loves him. However, if they continue with the foxhunting, I hope the fox will somehow get his revenge!

Neil_Oz

In aristocratic circles adultery has seldom attracted the moralistic outrage expressed by jeffwill4you's "low life scumbag", and the term "cheating" would be seen as amusingly naive and middle-class, and in this they're right.

In times past, weekend house parties were usually marked by spouses occupying separate bedrooms connected by heavily trafficked hallways after lights-out. This is the milieu that royal families have always occupied, never mind the success of their propaganda units in portraying images of cozy, middle-class domestic bliss.

It's also a long-established Royal custom that young princes have access to compliant married ladies, the better to preserve discretion. Typically the husbands of these royal handmaidens could look forward to some form of royal favour in reward for their cooperation.

It's a tribute to the skills of te Buckingham Palace spin doctors (like their soul-brothers in Hollywood studio PR units) that so many ordinary people around the world actually believe that the Royals' behavioural standards are in any way comparable to those of the masses.

Intrepid1

I think the comment above..."as if they would care what I think" sums it up completely.

Merseyheart

Thanks, Neil, for explaining that. As an American ( and someone who is simply *mad* about England), I am quite relieved we don't have royalty. The whole sexist institution which led to so much unhappiness, and yes, death, is something Americans decided we could do without. The thing that pisses me off the most is people's criticism of Camilla's looks. Her (and others' behavior), I can understand, But her looks? *What a sexist load of crap!* Men are rarely criticized in this manner. Women are held to a higher standard, and although Diana certainly did her country proud with her good works, when she died, the most frequent comment I heard was "she was so beautiful." How sad that women are still judged by such a shallow value. Thirty-five years of feminism, and people are still slaves to the "extreme makeover" mentality.

lyb

merseyhart,

I totally agree with you, but what's more ironic is that most of the people on this board who have written about the looks of Camilla, (who I personally think is ordinary, not ugly, not beautiful, but ordinary), the people on this board are most likely less than beautiful themselves. Everyone acts as though they are prized beauties who can look down upon Camilla. All of you who keep making jokes about her looks, put yourselves in her place, and think of all the jokes that could be said about your looks and maybe you'll be quiet a bit.