Queen Elizabeth II recently made a move not many outside of the Palace walls saw coming.
A royal expert has revealed that even members of the British royal family were blindsided by Queen Elizabeth’s announcement that her daughter-in-law, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, will be queen consort when Prince Charles takes the throne.
Queen Elizabeth explained that Camilla Parker Bowles’s loyalty and dedication to serving the British people for almost two decades pushed her to make the controversial decision.
Prince William shared a timid message in response to the surprising announcement explaining that he respects his grandmother’s decision and wishes.
As for Prince Harry, he has decided to remain silent on the touchy topic. He did, however, deliver a speech soon after Queen Elizabeth’s revelation where he praised his late mother, Princess Diana, instead.
Meghan Markle is backing her spouse and has declined to address the matter thus far.
Royal expert Christopher Andersen spoke to Us Weekly and explained Queen Elizabeth’s actions have dire consequences for the royal family and the brothers’ already complicated relationship.
He also claimed that Queen Elizabeth’s news shocked Prince William and Prince Harry.
He said: “It is driving a wedge in the royal family, and when it comes to Wills and Harry, I can tell you right now that the boys were completely blindsided by this.”
Andersen went on to say the pair are having a tough time getting over the bad feeling of the decision because Bowles is the source of some of their childhood pain because of the affair she had with Prince Charles.
Additionally, the princes would prefer to focus on their mother’s legacy instead of being forced to show support for their stepmother.
He added: “It’s just whether or not they can get over this bad feeling. Then, of course, Queen [Elizabeth II] ‘s health and these other considerations are there. I don’t think it helped with the Queen announcing that Duchess Camilla will be Queen Consort, and that’s another issue.”
The royal pundit believes that Queen Elizabeth was pushed by Prince Charles to announce the news that Prince Charles’s wife, Duchess Camilla, would become Queen Consort.
According to the royal author, Prince Charles was “relentlessly” pushing for his spouse to land the title.
He shared: “Charles just wore her down on this too. I also think that since the death of Prince Philip, Charles has stepped up his effort to make it clear to the Queen that he too needs [a partner]. If he’s going to reign, he’s going to need the support, the kind of support that she got from [her husband].”
According to polls, the British people do not support the Queen’s decision. Originally, Bowles was supposed to inherit the title of Princess Consort out of respect for Princess Diana.
When Prince Charles wed Bowles, they issued a statement confirming the decision.
The pair said: “Bowles will use the title HRH the Princess Consort when the Prince of Wales accedes to the throne.”
The tensions in the British Royal Family are still palpable.
