Duchess Camilla Reflects On Decades Of Public Scrutiny: 'You Find A Way To Live With It'

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, is opening up about her struggles in the public eye and overcoming public scrutiny in a rare interview.

In honor of her 75th birthday in July, the royal spoke to British Vogue about her personal and professional life, including the backlash she faced due to the drama between her, Prince Charles and Princess Diana.

"It's not easy," Camilla told the magazine while reflecting on the level of media scrutiny on her family in the 1990s. "I was scrutinized for such a long time that you just have to find a way to live with it. Nobody likes to be looked at all the time and, you know, criticized…"

She continued, "But I think in the end, I sort of rise above it and get on with it. You've got to get on with life."

Duchess Camilla and Prince Charles first met at a polo match in 1970 and dated until he left to serve in the Royal Navy, according to People. They remained close friends throughout their respective marriages — Prince Charles to Princess Diana and Camilla to Andrew Parker-Bowles — until their affair became public to the press in 1992.

Camilla officially divorced the British Army officer, with whom she shares children Tom, 47, and Laura, 44, in 1995. Prince Charles and Princess Diana, who share sons Prince William and Prince Harry, separated in 1992 and were officially divorced in 1996.

In a two-and-a-half-hour television documentary in 1994, the Prince of Wales told British journalist Jonathan Dimbleby that he tried to be "faithful and honorable" during his marriage to Princess Diana "until it became irretrievably broken," The New York Times reported.

Princess Diana doubled down on their marital issues in her infamous 1995 "Panorama" interview, where she seemingly blamed Camilla for her broken marriage. "There were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded," the late royal said.

It took years before the public and Queen Elizabeth warmed up to Camilla. Prince Charles married her in a civil ceremony in 2005, eight years after Princess Diana's passing.

Earlier this year, the Queen, 96, made her feelings known when she announced on the eve of her Accession Day in February that she wants Camilla to be known as queen consort when Prince Charles takes over the throne.

"When, in the fullness of time, my son Charles becomes King, I know you will give him and his wife Camilla the same support that you have given me; and it is my sincere wish that, when that time comes, Camilla will be known as Queen Consort as she continues her own loyal service," the monarch wrote at the time.

In her interview with British Vogue, Camilla said she intends to continue her work with survivors of domestic violence when she becomes queen consort.

"You can't desert things that you're in the middle of," she said. "There's a lot of things to be done still."