Three Words Princess Anne Said About Camilla Becoming Queen — How Has Their Relationship Evolved?

        

• Princess Anne and Queen Camilla had a tense and awkward relationship for years, partly due to a shocking romantic history.
• Someone with ties to the royal family once revealed the harsh words Princess Anne reportedly said to Queen Camilla after she took the throne, leading to a “big showdown.”
• As time passed, their relationship took an unexpected turn.

     

Queen Camilla and Princess Anne at the “Prom at the Palace” concert, as part of Queen Elizabeth II’s Golden Jubilee celebrations, on June 1, 2002, in London, England. | Source: Getty Images

The friction peaked when sources revealed the blunt and cutting words Princess Anne reportedly directed at Queen Camilla after she became queen, sparking what was described as an “emotionally charged” situation. However, time had an interesting way of mending their strained relationship.

Princess Anne and Queen Camilla at a Thanksgiving service for the life of King Constantine of the Hellenes, at St. George’s Chapel on February 27, 2024

Queen Camilla and Princess Anne’s Strained Relationship

The relationship between Queen Camilla and Princess Anne was fraught with tension for many years, shaped by past romantic entanglements and a clash of personalities.

Author Angela Levin claimed in her book “Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall: From Outcast to Future Queen Consort” that the relationship between the two women took a long time to warm up.

Queen Camilla and Princess Anne at the Show Jumping Eventing Equestrian on day four of the London 2012 Olympic Games on July 31 in England. | Source: Getty Images

Princess Anne, known for her no-nonsense approach, reportedly found it difficult to warm up to Queen Camilla when she first entered the royal fold. The initial friction between the two women stemmed from various factors.

King Charles III, Queen Camilla, and Princess Anne at Buckingham Palace on June 5, 2018, in London, England. | Source: Getty Images

This included their shared history with Princess Anne’s former love interest, Andrew Parker Bowles, who later became Queen Camilla’s first husband. In the 1970s, long before Queen Camilla’s relationship with King Charles III became public, Princess Anne was romantically linked to Parker Bowles.

Princess Anne, King Charles III, and Queen Camilla on day one of Royal Ascot at Ascot Racecourse on June 19, 2018, in Ascot, England. | Source: Getty Images

Despite their strong connection, the possibility of marriage was ruled out due to his Catholic faith — a significant issue for a member of the Royal Family, given that the monarch is the Supreme Governor of the Church of England.

This romantic history added a layer of complexity to Princess Anne’s view of Queen Camilla when she eventually became a central figure in King Charles III’s life. Their shared past with Parker Bowles introduced an awkward dynamic that made it difficult for the two women to develop a comfortable relationship.