When the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge go on tour, all of the photo agencies snap up the photos from all of their activities. I don’t know how many photographers are assigned to Will and Kate’s royal tours, but my point is that there are wall-to-wall photos. It’s not the same at all when Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall go on tour. I’m sure they travel with photographers too, but most of the British papers and all of the American outlets tend to ignore Charles and Camilla’s activities at this point. They ignore them… unless there’s a chance to criticize them. Which is what happened this week! Charles and Camilla are on a seven day tour of Australia, and few people outside of Australia are paying attention to them. But Australians are pissed off, because Camilla looked bored in the middle of the Commonwealth Games.
If she wants to be queen, she is going to have to try harder than this. Prince Charles’ wife Camilla Parker Bowles has been slammed after she appeared to be so bored while attending the opening ceremony for the Commonwealth Games in Australia that she spent much of the presentation leafing through a program for the event. Broadcasters and commentators on social media voiced disbelief after a distracted-looking Camilla was repeatedly seen picking up a guide to the games, rather than watching the opening ceremony.
The Commonwealth is a loose grouping of British-allied nations—many, but not all, are former British colonies and some count the queen as head of state. The Commonwealth is one of the queen’s passions, but she no longer travels long haul, so it was left to Prince Charles and Camilla to preside over the opening ceremony for the games in Queensland. The queen has made no secret of her desire for Charles to be named next head of the Commonwealth, but the title is not hereditary and the deal is not done. Many influencers are lobbying for a non-royal as the next head of the Commonwealth—to make a statement of modernity.
Officials sought to downplay Camilla’s behavior during Wednesday night’s opening ceremony. Commonwealth Games Federation President Louise Martin said: “She was absolutely shattered. She was jet-lagged. She’d just got off the plane in the morning with a full duty right through [the day],” Martin said. “And then she sat in the car from Brisbane down to here. She got 20 minutes to change before she was due at another reception. When you’re back to back like that off a long-haul flight… and she literally hates flying. She really does, she hates it. She really wanted to go to sleep. She really enjoyed herself. I didn’t see the facial expressions et cetera, but the comments between the duchess and Prince Charles and myself, she was asking questions all the time. They both enjoyed it.”
I had to search around for photos of Camilla at the Commonwealth Games and honestly… if she looked bored, the photographers didn’t seem to catch it. I mean, she looked the way she always looked: half in the bag, tired, and sort of startled. It’s worth noting that she’s 70 years old (she turns 71 in July) – she’s not going to plaster on a “I’M SO KEEN” smile just for the hell of it. She was there, she was watching, what more do you want??!?!
Meanwhile, Charles and Camilla did a radio interview in Australia and Charles was asked if the stories are true about him traveling with his own toilet seat. Charles said: “My own what? Oh, don’t believe all that crap.” *clutches pearls* Charles said CRAP!! When Camilla was asked about it, she said, “Don’t you believe that!”
Photos courtesy of Getty.
Ohh, bare feet! Very unexpected. Not sure I needed that…
I hardly noticed! I just noticed the really comfy beach outfit. I would totally wear that.
I would totally wear that too, it’s cute.
I’m an American, and I thought it made sense? Charles wearing a suit and dress shoes on the beach seems weirder to me! *shrug*
@Laura he’s auditioning for the role of King
@ Laura : Charles looks like “Oh, Camilla, let’s go visit the colonials!” in that white suit.
She probably had heels on and took them off to walk on the sand for the photoshoot. My sister’s wedding was on the beach, and we transitioned into normal shoes after the ceremony.
That’s exactly what happened. She was wearing shoes and took them off to walk on the sand.
I think she just has resting bored face.
YES! That. I have RBF and I can tell you it doesn’t get better with age because your facial muscles sag.
Maybe she really is bored? I wonder sometimes if she’s would have liked to have just remained the mistress. All the perks without any of the work? Now she has to show up at these events and look interested!
Yep. She’s a cow. Wait, that’s an insult to cows. She’s crap. He wanted crap, he got crap. Hopefully the commonwealth will pass on accepting the crap.
@Carrie1,one saying of wisdom goes like “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure” or “one man’s meat is another man’s poison”. You might consider Camilla crap but clearly PoW doesn’t share your sentiment, so for you claiming “he wanted crap he got crap” is a moot point because when Charles looks at Camilla and loves everything about her and nothing her haters will say that will change the situation. I love and loved Diana very much but the hate on Camilla 20 years post Diana passing is just hurting haters. And IMVHO, no man has any right to call another crap, nobody.
Maybe that, and she was looking through the Program and was being dinged for looking bored. I swear, Camilla can’t win with many British, and I think she is the best of the lot: she works hard, always is smiling and chatting up old men, having a drink with people, and royal reporters say she is their favorite. She always takes time to chat with them and share a joke or two.
I like her a lot.
I like her a lot too.
She is in her seventies and not everyone ages the same. When my mother died youngish she looked TEN years older because of health problems.
We do not know what her Dr knows. We could be a little more gracious even if we have no respect for her private life with Charles in the Diana years.l
I bet she is tired with the long haul to get to Australia and some people can look miserable when they are not “on” for cameras. Our Queen can too on occasion.
I like her lot, too. She’s 70, she’d been travelling all day. She was tired. She was probably finding it hard to stay awake. I’m younger than her but I’m sure I would have been tired too, and possibly also bored. When you are tired and you are stuck sitting somewhere for a long time it’s very hard to avoid yawning or nodding off. She was probably looking the program to avoid going to sleep. I can’t fault Camilla for her behaviour here.
No pass. The queen is in her 90s. Fair is fair.
It is ludicrous. Any excuse to bash her and it gets silly very quickly. It is way over the top.
I used to utterly despise her, but I was younger and Diana was my hero. Now I would willingly and happily sit down and have a pint with her. I think it would be a blast. My change towards her started with LAK telling me that people were throwing bread at her in the streets. It brought out my fierce, protect the underdog instincts, and after learning a little about her, I realized she wasn’t the evil harridan she was portrayed to be.
Tired, half in the bag and sort of startled made me laugh. Perfect.
70? iris Appel is 96 or something and as lively and interested as they come. Though ok long haul, hates flying, but…..it’s the job.
She was probably distracted wondering how many of Charles’ old down under girlfriends might be popping up!
Lol.
Lol. 🙂
Yeah, Camilla enjoys the perks of the job, so might as well suck up the responsibilities, no? She’ll be Queen soon enough.
There’s a shot of her looking through what appears to be the official magazine during the ceremony.
Like the one that’s lists facts about the countries participating in the games.
As usual it’s just our shit-stirring media blowing thins out of proportion
When I read that my thought was that she’s not distracted. She just wants to know what she is watching and what is coming next. That’s what programs are for!
^^^THIS!^^^
I’m surprised by the kerfuffle here; I thought the Aussies were way more chill.
Except that she was doing that during the official welcome of her and Charles. As in, she was flipping randomly through the programme during the one part of the ceremony that was specifically acknowledging her. It’s a bit much to say that the “Aussies are mad” about this, but if there was a single two minute period where she could have looked interested, it was that one.
Does any Australian really care at all about whether she was bored? It was all so boring I forgot to watch, but I heard it was possibly the worst opening ceremony in recent history, so, fair go. Camilla has already gone home. Charles is at the Bundy Rum distillery. Maybe there’s hope for the tour yet.
I empathise because I’m not photogenic and when I don’t smile, I look bored, annoyed or angry. I’m not. Take 1000 shots of me and there would be hundreds of such pics.
When I went to Australia years ago I slept for 22 hours when I got there. It’s exhausting. And she’s 70. Give her a break!
I thought they didn’t go directly from the UK to their tour but had a private holiday with friends in New South Wales first?
I think people are a little puzzled – especially as Camilla is leaving the tour early to fly home alone and missing their wedding anniversary to leave Charles to complete the tour alone. The official reason is that she doesn’t like flying – but it seems a bit odd.
She is claustrophobic and also gets flight-induced vertigo. I don’t know if she has a fear of flying like Maria-Teresa of Lux.
We really, really aren’t.
The only way to keep the position of head of the commonwealth in the family would be to campaign for either Harry or William. Charles just doesn’t inspire enthusiasm and worst of all, there’s something about the way he speaks and carries himself thats far too reminiscent of colonial Britain. It’s just a figure head position and maybe one day with a more popular monarch reigning it can be reintegrated to the throne. But right now, he needs to put his pride and jealousies aside and push a campaign for one of his sons. That’s something they could actually win.
I do not want to see Charles, Harry, Bill or anyone in that family become head of the commonwealth!
So what makes anyone think Australia wants William the Petulant or Harry the Dim, both of them slackers, as their king? I certainly wouldn’t!!
Agree wholeheartedly. There is no reason whatsoever why Charles or his two chronically stupid and lazy sons should be Head of the Commonwealth. What the Queen in her own arrogance and nepotism refuses to understand is that merit is preferable to an hereditary arrangement. There are any number of brilliant, qualified men and women of integrity who could head the Commonwealth. And we don’t need a ‘King’ either. What a ridiculous concept in the 21st century.
I certainly wouldn’t want William to be my Head of State. I wouldn’t want Harry, either, if he were an option. I wouldn’t mind Charles, though, because I like him, but I actually don’t want any British Royal as our Head of State, including the current Queen. I am a republican and I want an Australian as our Head of State. We have plenty of fine candidates.
I’m just here to say that in the header pic all I can see is the crazy, over-tanned neighbor in There’s Something About Mary. That’s all, carry on.
Dying! You’re right.
I think she had better stop trying to do makeup. She looks much better without… she looks normal in the other shots but in the header picture her face is quite curdled.
Magda!!! She was so funny!
LOL! Camilla looks just like Magda. Ha ha ha ha
No we’re not
Firstly Charles and Camila landed in Australia at least a week before and where staying on a billionaires property out of sight. All Camila had to do is at least feign interest. Yes Camila was looking at something BUT the premier of Queensland was actually talking about her. Someone nudged her and then she put the booklet down. As Queen this is their bread and butter Camila is well known for her laziness. She doesn’t do a big number of engagements. She won’t have to worry I doubt Australia will want Charles and Camila so they will become a republic. Camila is far from a well loved royal people put up with her but few really like her.
I didn’t realize she’d been in Australia a week already. I know she hates flying. She ‘s better when she’s doing engagements at home.
As a UK resident I wasn’t aware Camilla was know for her laziness.
People don’t like because of Diana but she comes across as a decent woman and has made great charitable contributions.
Am I missing something?
It’s only the diehard Diana fans who don’t like Camilla and that will never change.
She also takes on tricky subjects like helping sexual assault survivors. But for the handful of people who think Charles cheated on them personally when the first marriage failed…
Lol. I’m not a diehard Diana fan and neither is my sis and we dislike Camilla. Funny that. I would venture to say that the +70% of the population who hold a negative opinion of her are not all Diana stans either.
Seems to me that it’s the other way around. Only people who loathe Diana sing Camillas praises. There certainly seems to be a curious overlap.
I wouldn’t say that to like one automatically means disliking the other. There are qualities to like and dislike in both women.
However, the overiding sentiment of those that dislike Camilla is definitely Diana tinged. They express it in those terms even when they acknowledge Camilla’s good qualities. Their love for Diana stops them extending an olive branch to Camilla.
It’s very rare for those that dislike Diana to express a liking for Camilla as a direct result of their dislike of Diana. Usually the dislike of Diana is based around what they think they know of Diana and her actions as opposed to Camilla and her actions. Infact Camilla doesn’t come into it.
And diehard Diana fans (a subset) always frame their dislike of Camilla in Diana terms.
Thank you Frome. Camilla left the scene of an accident she caused and left the other driver pinned in her car. Instead of calling the police she called Charles. That speaks to poor character. Otherwise I feel compassion for Camilla.
Really? I follow Clarencehouse on IG and they both seem to be working all of the time. Way more then those other two I can tell you that, but no one pays attention unless, like this, they “slip up”. Eh, she’s 70, there are bound to me some missteps.
Lmao I doubt any Aussie cares. Literally no one I know has even noticed
Agree. The papers initiating the boredom story were UK ones, later picked up by local media. I imagine it’s whipped up to play in the UK. Honestly, no-one cares here.
Royalty is considered an anachronism here, a novelty, a curiosity. People do turn up to see them, some of those are monarchists but others do so out of curiosity to see ‘live’ people they’ve see on on TV or in magazines aka celebrities. No doubt when Harry and Meghan turn up in Australia later this year we will be treated with dumb stories about the future of Australia lying with them. Complete rubbish of course. Older royalty attracts older monarchists, younger royalty attracts those interested in seeing celebrities, any celebrities. Just a way to fill in a couple of hours and just as easily forgotten.
I’m sure some of the diehard Diana fans noticed. They’d be watching Camilla like a hawk ready to pounce on any mis-step, and then inflate it out of all proportion.
Probably just a few people laying some public perception groundwork for getting completely rid of the monarchy when the queen dies.
Yup.
Bless them if so. I’m so all for us ditching the Monarchy, tbh.
Lolol we arent pissed. Aussie media has noooothing else to report on so blow it up for weeeeks. A ‘biopic’ is coming on a major channel to celebrate Olivia Newton John who was in one successful movie and then released the odd Xmas album here and there.
This bloody cricket scandal will be spoken about for years
One! Let’s not forget the magic that is Xanadu. I was named after her character in that movie because apparently my parents are strange lol.
Actually, the “successful” movie is “Grease”. Xanadu is utterly forgettable lol 😊
Well I see Camilla is in her jammies again while on tour.
HM would insist on wearing a dress with her black heels and nylons of course no matter how warm. It’s her duty uniform no matter how uncomfortable and I admire HM for her devotion to duty.
Though, Camilla was walking on a beach so casual is OK but if she keeps wearing her jammies all day long at other events meeting dignitaries, that’s just disrespectful!
She looks particularly odd next to Charles, who is wearing a suit.
I’m not sure if you are joking, but Camilla always wears a salwar kameer tunic and trousers during tours of hot countries or countries experiencing hot weather. It’s her trademark.
Charles wears his Englishman-abroad-in-a-hot-country summer suit.
I think her outfits suit her. They’re a trouser suit version of the same shape dress-and-long jacket combo she wears most of the time in the UK. They also help her with dress protocol in more conservative countries, where she wears these instead of going with an abaya.
The picture of her with her female bodyguards in the UAE is still my favourite picture of her. Of any woman regardless. It’s so powerful.
https://i1.wp.com/emirateswoman.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/camilla.jpg?w=860&crop=0,0,100,430px
Lak, I love that photo!
Lak, that is an amazing photo! Thanks.
Great photo!
Not sure if you realize it, but you did just refer to a traditional form of Indian dress as “pajamas.”
Do you guys ever think maybe The Queen has given up on trying to secure the monarchies future with Charles and William? After The Queen more people will question what’s the point.
After her they will decline on the global stage, won’t be as influential, monarchy will decline and become fragile, and their importance as royals will decline as well. Not big royal presence. Am I wrong?
No, you are not wrong. The Queen will have shored up as much as possible for her family’s access to unearned financial privilege and status for as long as possible. That’s what matters to her. The monarchy should have petered out long ago but has not due to the longevity of the Queen. I don’t give them as much importance as you do, nor do I value their idea of ‘duty’. It seems to be ornamental and done so solely for the above-mentioned financial and status gains. But it’s an expensive fantasy to sustain. Everyone has to pretend these people are somehow special, completely ignoring the fact that the Windsor’s are collectively below average in most respects.
It never ceases to amaze me how people, for whatever reason best known to themselves, express their sentiments as if they’re shared by an entire population. I mean, its one thing to say “I as an Australian don’t care for/about abcd” and its an entirely different story to claim that “no Australian cares for these people” SMH. No one can read the future and to claim that the monarchy will be kaput once the queen passes, based just on one’s dislike or indifference to the royals, is just absurd. I’m sure there were people that felt they wanted to do away with the monarchy back in the day when kings and queens were beheading people left, right an d sideways or burning people at the stake etc, but the monarchy survived all that. This is not to say that the firm will be forever, but I just want to point out that just because one person is a “republican” doesn’t necessarily mean an entire nation feels the same way. Just because one hates Charles and his sons doesn’t necessarily mean an entire nation does the same. I know people like saying how commonwealth countries are in it in respect to the queen and once she passes all countries that have the queen as their head of state will go republic, but I doubt many know the exact reasons why these countries choose to stay in the commonwealth and some that never were are opting to join, nor why countries choose to retain the queen as their head of state. And you’ll be surprised at how many people still want to stay in it even after the queen passes, no one can read the future and predict what will be tomorrow. Hey, even fortune tellers can’t predict their own destiny!!
Masamf, both major political parties in Australia have committed to a referendum to revisit the country becoming a republic. They have done so because it is an issue that at some point will need resolution. That doesn’t herald leaving the Commonwealth which is quite a separate issue; I would expect Australia to stay in as have other countries who have their own Head of State. There is no discussion to leave the Commonwealth. Please understand the difference between the two. But you may have noticed that leaders of Commonwealth countries have pushed back on the Queen’s wish to make her son, Charles, Head of the Commonwealth. Leaders see the role as one that should be decided by election based on merit, vision, ability, and experience; Elizabeth and Charles clearly see it as an hereditary role. Masamf, do you see the disconnect between the two positions? One contemporary, one feudal. One based on merit, one based on privilege.
The republic debate is about putting the final piece of Australia’s political/legal identity in place: appointing its own head of State from its own people rather than having an hereditary HoS from a foreign country imposed upon them. There are any number of Australians – able, intelligent, with integrity – suited to such an elected role. I do not subscribe to the knee-jerk response that a Trump or Blair figure is the inevitable result. And to pretend that royalty has not had a hand in politics here is to defy historical facts. As an Australian voter I would prefer the country’s destiny to be in our own hands and remove the last relics of colonialism once and for all. Many fellow citizens agree with me, and some would not. It will be a vigorous debate when it happens here.
I do not ‘hate’ Charles and his sons. I consider what they represent an irrelevancy and at odds with the democratic values largely accepted in society. I do not subscribe to the notion that ‘royals’ are role models, simply because of a birth lottery. I’ve never woken up a day in my life feeling that I needed to be led or have role-models assigned to me, least of all a wildly dysfunctional family thousands of miles away and who to my definition and observation are over-privileged under-achievers. But if the British, who pay for the BRF’s existence, want that system, then it is their choice to exercise. I wish they had full and accurate facts to make that decision, but that is their responsibility too. Historically, monarchies are removed when the greater population is under extreme pressures and/or other external pressures come to play. And it is worthwhile remembering that change is ever constant.
Queen Elizabeth II is still going strong on the eve of her 92nd birthday later this month and about to celebrate 65 years on the throne this June. The Queen has an extraordinary record of service and commitment; it is the hallmark of her character and her reign. I like to imagine that at this point, she thinks “Once I’m gone, let everyone sort themselves out!”
But she probably worries because very few in her family share that sense of duty. Ironically, IMO I think Charles (despite not being that popular) and Anne are about the only ones.
As for Camilla and Diana, I understand that some people will never let that go. Diana sadly died too young. Camilla is still here and at 70 seems to fulfill her duties reasonably well although she lacks Diana’s charisma and beauty.
Great comments Evie.
It is funny how some people can’t get over Diana’s marriage breakup.
I have read Diana herself had made huge progress and in the last year was on reasonable terms with Charles.
Possibly it was Richard Kay who wrote this as he was very close to her as a friend and Royal writer.
That top picture is ridiculous (as is the monarchy, of course), like a throwback to former times. Sort of torn between laughing about it and a visceral disgust
This long time lurker Aussie is commenting for the first time to say: I don’t care if Camilla was bored. I’d be super bored too. If I bothered to watch that is.
I’m mildly surprised I even commented..? I’ve had three glasses of wine and I guess I like Camilla 🤷🏻♀️
Lol. You can be proud of yourself for commenting!
As a NZ girl I am following the Games. But not all of it and actually not the Opening.
Nor did I watch the Winter Opening Ceremony.
Some of us do like Camilla and do not hate Diana.
I haven’t bothered to watch any of the Games, or the opening ceremony. I feel sorry for Camilla having to sit through it.
The coverage of Charles and Camilla’s tour has been ridiculous. There was one headline with that “crap” statement that deliberately worded it to make it sound like Charles was calling someone the C-word. Another was an article of literally nothing, claiming there was an uproar of rejection and boos and hatred wherever they went—— because a few people tweeted some tired-ass statements about Diana as always. I’ve never read The Daily Express before, don’t know its reputation, but I am going to guess it is absolute dreck.
I do know some Australians though, and they DGAF. I literally asked a friend and she was like “oh, are they here? Hope no one shoots at Charles this time.” (And she only knows about that because I have always found that clip and Charles and his cuff link and lack of f—-s to give in it AMAZING and show it to everyone)
I saw that headline too and thought, whoa! Who did Charles call a c***?! So it worked, because I did click on the article.p
That clip is a top favorite of mine too. It is everything I want it to be. lol
Correction: the useless parasites at Murdoch media outfits are pretending they’re upset. No one else gives a crap.
I like how she dresses. It always looks nice, but comfy. That’s my whole goal with my wardrobe!
So, instead of sitting there and not knowing much about the event she was attending (for which she would undoubtedly be slammed), Cam took the time to actually read up on the event in the official program (for which she IS being slammed).
Got it. *rolls eyes*
Shouldn’t she have “learned something about it” BEFORE she got there? I don’t know, but I’m sure she gets briefing notes; and I’d bet the program would’ve been made available to her.
If she’s so bored, either don’t go, or suck it up and make the effort. Like everyone says about the younger Royals: Earn the perks!
Well put Kaiser. I’ve always hated this idea that women are supposed to smile like some blow up doll at all times.
Poor thing was probably bored as hell. I couldn’t bring myself to watch. When Charles and Camilla were in NZ last they seemed to be really well received. Camilla seemed pretty cool. Love that photo with her female bodyguards.
Yes to this.
Camilla has made an effort on a tough subject …sexual abuse. She looked totally engaged with the women around her when preparing gift packs for victims, in photos from the UK.
Feed back from people who meet her, ordinary people, is that she is warm welcoming and kind.
Glad that Camilla is working on something so meaningful.
Most Aussies I know seriously DGAF about these two. But they do GAF that we, the taxpayer, have had to fork out a cool half a mil to have these two grace our shores.
I’m sure it’s more than A$500,000. We will also pick up the tab for Harry and Meghan when they visit later this year. They cleverly tagged on a ‘royal tour’ to their personal Invictus Games project, thereby shifting the financial burden for travel, security, wardrobe etc to the Australian taxpayer rather than bearing it themselves. Parasites.
I have no strong feelings about Diana or Camillla or really any of the royals but when I saw the picture of Camilla I thought she was Scott Bakula from Quantum Leap in a wig and heavy makeup. (The pic of her from the neck and up)
Firstly, they have been here for days prior to the Games engagements. So what if she doesn’t like to fly, it’s part of her job. The opening ceremony was um, lackluster I think is a polite term to use and yes boring also but as above, it’s her job. She was looking bored and flicking through the program while being welcomed, the sort of gaffe we expect of Waity Keen really.
Charles and Cam are not popular here in any case but this visit has been gold for the republican movement.
Nah, Aussies didn’t care. By all accounts the opening ceremony was tacky and dreadful, and the games themselves are an anachronism. The only commentary I saw on this was people agreeing how boring and crap the event was. I think this is all coming from the UK press.
…but but the commonwealth games are boring & irrelevant & boring…& imagine…there are probably some althletes who take banned substances to win a medal….crazy…
Another kiwi here and I didn’t even know that Charles and Cam were in Australia so there’s been zero press about them here (that I’ve seen).
I like Camilla she seems like a hard worker, but I didn’t dislike Diana either.
You know what? I’ve always liked Camilla. The press was hard on her when she was The Other Woman, and took cheap shots at her looks, but I think she stayed pretty well out of the limelight as well as she could at the time. I don’t know much about the Royal Family (despite being from Canada!), so I don’t know much about her, but she seems cool. I appreciate that she didn’t put on a fake look of royal bemusement.