Ever since Prince William was first introduced to Camilla Parker Bowles by his father, King Charles , back in 1998 while on a break from Eton, there's been endless rumors about how their relationship has developed.
The meet-up happened when William, just 17 at the time, returned from the elite boarding school for the weekend and encountered the woman who would later become his stepmother at Clarence House.
Royal commentator Christopher Andersen, who penned 'The King: The Life of Charles III', told Us Weekly that the now Queen Consort was "shaking like a leaf," during that encounter . "As soon as William left, she said she needed a gin and tonic."
Before this official meeting, both William and his younger sibling Harry had known Camilla as the 'other woman', notorious for her affair with their dad during his marriage to Princess Diana. At that point, Camilla was still Mrs. Andrew Parker Bowles.
Following their divorce and the heartbreaking loss of Princess Diana in August 1997, Charles and Camilla were finally free to take their longstanding love public, eventually telling the world they were an item.
Since a crucial meeting, the rapport between Camilla, aged 77, and William, now 42, has taken many turns, but it seems to have mellowed with time. Over this summer, it was revealed that Prince William chose to sever connections with Annabel Elliot, Camilla's sister, who had been on the Duchy of Cornwall's payroll for almost two decades working as Charles' chief interior designer, reports the Mirror .
Christopher Andersen shed light on the issue, saying that the move might have caused familial ripples, but it was never meant as a "snub". He clarified that it was an "inevitable" decision in business since "William wants his own team in there,".
Even with a chance for tension, there has been notable progress in how Camilla and William interact recently, particularly following the cancer diagnoses and treatment of King Charles and Princess Kate.
A confidant from the Parker Bowles camp shared that "William has warmed up to Camilla over time," while another source pointed out their connection has evolved into something like "a familial relationship these days."
"There's a lot to overcome," mentioned the source. The enduring devotion William and Harry held for their mother Diana engendered deep-seated wariness and bitterness towards Camilla, challenging any true acceptance.
Yet, in the wake of Prince Harry stepping away from Royal obligations in 2020, William has indeed made strides in cultivating an amiable tie with his stepmother. It was hinted by the insider: "It brought them closer," as both he and Kate endeavoured to sidestep any added "drama".
A source has revealed that it was Kate Middleton's efforts to build bridges that helped smooth over any tensions between her and Camilla, as she was "accepting of Camilla long before others in the royal family."
Both Prince William and Kate value Camilla's down-to-earth nature and appreciate the sense of normality she brings to King Charles, with the Queen Consort "keeping it real" much like Kate.
However, Royal expert Andersen disagreed, asserting that the Queen Consort initially opposed William and Kate's relationship because she was "kind of a snob" and didn't believe Kate was of "their class" to marry into the aristocracy. History has since disproved this assumption, with William and Kate still happily married and proud parents to three children 13 years after their 2011 wedding.
Despite some minor disagreements, William and Camilla have found a comfortable balance in their involvement in each other's lives for the sake of those closest to them. "If his dad's happy, William is happy," the source concluded.
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