Camilla Parker-Bowles Needed ‘Gin And Tonic’ After First Meeting With Prince William

Prince William and Camilla Parker Bowles’ first meeting was unplanned.

The Duchess of Cornwall received a frosty reception from the public and Queen Elizabeth II. So Prince Charles had to be careful when introducing his then-girlfriend, whom Princess Diana blamed for her failed marriage, to his two sons.

In Penny Junor’s 2017 biography “The Duchess: The Untold Story,” she covered Prince William and Camilla’s first meeting. According to the biographer, Camilla was very “anxious” at the time.

Prince William reportedly rang from school to say that he was coming to London which “caught everyone on the hop.” At the time, they were living in York House next to St. James’s Palace and neither of Prince William and Prince Harry were expected, so Camilla was there.

Camilla immediately decided to leave. However, the Prince of Wales asked her to stay and told Prince William that she would be in the house.

“They were expecting William at seven that evening, but he turned up at half past three and went straight up to his apartment at the top of the house,” Junor continued.

“Camilla was with (personal assistant) Amanda and feeling decidedly anxious, as they all were,” she added.

Prince Charles decided to give Camilla and Prince William the chance to talk. The future king took her upstairs and left her and his eldest son alone.

“About half an hour later, Camilla came out saying, ‘I need a gin and tonic!’” the duchess reportedly said.

Although Camilla asked for a gin and tonic, her unexpected and first meeting with Prince William was actually fine. In fact, she started to spend time at York House more when Prince William was there. However, she never stayed at Highgrove when Prince William and Prince Harry were there because it had been their mom Princess Diana’s house. On the other hand, the late Princess of Wales had no memories of York House.

Netizens have mixed opinions about Prince Harry and Prince William’s relationship with Camilla. Some said that they would never like Camilla after she broke their parents’ marriage. Another said that the two dukes just tolerated her as “status quo.”

Prince Harry already spoke up about the matter and said that they love Camilla to bits. He also insisted that she’s not a “wicked stepmom” but a wonderful woman.