Prince Charles, Camilla Parker Bowles Manipulated Press To Help Relationship After Princess Diana’s Death

Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles initially planned to go public with their relationship in 1997. However, Charles’ ex-wife, Princess Diana, was killed in a fatal car crash that same year. The tragedy forced the couple to postpone their announcement for two years.

Following Diana’s death, Charles and Camilla were harshly criticized by the public. However, in 1999, they decided to let the world know about their romance.

In the book, “The Firm,” Penny Junor claimed Prince Charles’ team came up with the “perfect way” to help the couple go public with their romance.

Since the two had yet to confirm their relationship, the Prince of Wales’ household wanted the pair to be photographed together to make a subtle announcement.

“A photograph of the pair had become as sought after as the Holy Grail, worth a fortune to the paparazzo lucky enough to catch them in an unguarded moment. The prince was determined this should not happen but equally resolved that he and Camilla should be able to do things together,” Junor wrote.

“And so [press secretary] Mark Bolland devised a plan. Camilla’s sister, Annabel Elliot was celebrating her 50th birthday with a party at the Ritz on the evening of 28 January 1999, to which both Charles and Camilla had been invited.”

The party created an opportunity for the couple to satisfy the public’s curiosity. “It was the perfect occasion, informal and non-royal,” Junor explained.

“Mark made a few discreet phone calls suggesting that they might be seen leaving the party together, and by mid-afternoon, the pavement outside the Arlington Street entrance to the Ritz Hotel in Piccadilly was thick with photographers.”

Junor claimed the paparazzi camped outside of the hotel in hopes of snapping a picture of Prince Charles and Camilla.

“According to one, there were no fewer than 97 sets of photographer’s ladders on the street. It was a long, cold wait, but they were richly rewarded. Shortly before midnight, the couple emerged,” she wrote.

“They didn’t pose for the cameras, and there was no touching, apart from the prince’s guiding arm around Camilla’s waist as he steered her towards the waiting car, but it served a very useful purpose and proved a major landmark in the history of their relationship.”

Before then, Charles and Camilla hadn’t been photographed together. The intimate picture changed the public’s perception of the couple.

“No-one had an exclusive shot, all the papers and television broadcasts carried the story, and it was the perfect way of gauging public opinion – which they found to their relief, was surprisingly favorable,” Junor explained.

“From that day on, their relationship was effectively out in the open, and life for the two of them became very much easier.”

Prince Charles and Camilla were married in a quaint ceremony in 2005. Camilla adopted the Duchess of Cornwall title instead of using Diana’s old title, Princess of Wales.