Prince Charles’s Love Triangle: The Story Behind His Marriage to Princess Diana

Prince Charles and Princess Diana's tumultuous marriage has been the subject of much speculation and fascination over the years.

After the release of Netflix's hit show The Crown's fourth season in 2020, fans of the series were left wondering why Prince Charles chose to marry Princess Diana when it was evident that he had passionate feelings for Camilla Parker Bowles.

The show depicts Charles and Camilla in a passionate relationship prior to his wedding to Diana, portraying their connection as a whirlwind romance filled with intense emotions.

The story of Prince Charles and Camilla goes back to 1970 when they first met at a party.

It is said that Camilla playfully joked about their great-grandparents having an affair, telling Charles, “my great-grandmother was the mistress of your great-great-grandfather.

I feel we have something in common.”

Despite not being the most conventional pick-up line, it seemed to have won over Prince Charles, who quickly became smitten with Camilla.

Journalist Jonathan Dimbleby even once remarked that Charles lost his heart to her almost immediately.

However, there were complications in their relationship from the start.

Camilla was already involved with Andrew Parker Bowles, who would later become her first husband.

Although their relationship was on-again-off-again, Camilla ultimately decided to stay with Andrew.

Additionally, Charles's departure to serve in the Royal Navy and Queen Elizabeth's disapproval of Camilla added further strain to their budding romance.

Unable to be with Camilla at the time, Prince Charles felt pressured by his father to propose to someone, anyone.

In the end, he chose Lady Diana Spencer, who was seen as a last resort.

Diana herself allegedly described the proposal from Charles as hysterical.

Eventually, Charles and Camilla began an affair, which continued even after Charles's marriage to Diana.

They would go on to marry in 2005, eight years after Diana's tragic death.

It wasn't just the royal family who had reservations about Charles and Camilla's relationship.

Even Prince Charles's extended family, including Lord Mountbatten, advised against their union.

They believed that it should remain casual and not lead to marriage.

Camilla's family also preferred her relationship with Andrew over Charles, to the extent that her father went as far as placing a fake engagement ad in the newspaper to pressure Andrew into proposing.

Despite being married to Diana, Charles couldn't let go of his feelings for Camilla and continued to see her behind his wife's back.

Diana famously revealed in an interview with the BBC that there were three people in her marriage, referring to Charles's ongoing affair.

When asked about the affair in a 1994 interview, Charles downplayed it, referring to Camilla as a great friend among many others who made a difference in his life.

Prince Charles and Camilla eventually tied the knot in 2005.

However, their wedding was not met with enthusiastic support from his family.

Queen Elizabeth, as the head of the Church of England, did not attend the ceremony, believing it would be highly inappropriate for her to do so.

Although she gave permission for the wedding to proceed, her absence spoke volumes about her reservations.

In conclusion, the story of Prince Charles's love triangle involving Princess Diana and Camilla Parker Bowles is one that has captivated audiences worldwide.

The complexities and emotions involved in their relationships have been a subject of fascination for decades.

Despite the obstacles they faced, Charles and Camilla ultimately found their way back to each other and embarked on a lifelong journey together.