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By Bernard Rowan
I'm not a fan of Camilla's title change. She will soon ascend from Camilla Queen Consort to Queen Camilla. This is solely because she is the monarch's wife. I don't agree with Charles in naming Camilla Queen. Why? Because she and he immorally carried on a marriage-breaking affair while he enthralled the world with Diana, his first wife ― jealous though he was of her. Charles had two children with Diana, and he built his public image as a family man. He benefited from Diana enormously, as did the royal family in England. But it was hypocrisy.
Whatever the bawdy, Benny Hill-esque nature of Charles' and Camilla's affair over the entirety of his marriage to Diana, "whatever 'in love' means", he ruined his marriage. He gave much evidence of marrying with bad intent. Camilla also betrayed her wedding vows with Andrew Parker-Bowles. In a world that takes divorce for granted, we can see why this most visible of all British couples represents marriage as something other than a sanctification of love. Charles and Camilla may've one-upped Edward and Wallace, but that hardly deserves this year's honors.
To enshrine the highest title for a woman in England for Charles' second wife is neither necessary nor fitting. It sends countless men and women the wrong message about love, marriage and honor. It does suggest the truth that much in English royalty is simply made up. Charles puts another woman on a pedestal, someone he was content to treat as a lover before Diana's death. He would have made Diana Queen if their marriage had lasted, right? Camilla would then have remained in the wings, the shadows and off camera.
Perhaps no one cares. It recalls the way former President Clinton behaved around his liaisons with Monica Lewinsky (i.e., whatever the meaning of the word "is" is). For one of the world's most well-known leaders to crown Camilla a queen is neither heroic nor romantic.
Nearly following the heartfelt tributes to the late Queen Elizabeth, Charles tosses to the curb her more reasonable idea of Camilla as the Queen Consort. Plenty of folks like Camilla and think she's done a lot to make up for the past and "rehabilitated" her image. To me, that's true and beside the point.
Naming Camilla as Queen isn't her decision but the monarch's. Charles is doing it for himself, just as he did the entire affair. Just as he did marrying Diana. Just as he did in reducing the size of the working royal family. Solipsism is a famous vice of royalty.
We are now amid various movements to identify and address the objectification, abuse and violation of women. Charles' own brother has fared rather worse. King Charles uses Camilla to complete his self-image as the leader of the Church of England and the monarch of the United Kingdom. Of course, I'm not English, and it's also none of my business one might say. Except as a man, a father and husband, and as a citizen of the world.
I choose to think and hope that William, Harry and their cousins who have married or will marry do so with good intent. May they honor their spouses and children through faithfulness, for the rest of their lives. I'm sure Diana would be proud of her sons and smiles at all who aspire to do similarly. Queen Elizabeth and Phillip were distant parents, for various and sundry reasons. Perhaps the experience of their children, most of whom divorced, has taught the British royal grandchildren to find a better way to be spouses and in turn also to be royal. Only time will tell.
Bernard Rowan (browan10@yahoo.com) is associate provost for contract administration and academic services and professor of political science at Chicago State University. He is a past fellow of the Korea Foundation and former visiting professor at Hanyang University.
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