Prince Harry revealed his contempt for his stepmother during his 60 Minutes interview on Sunday.
The Duke of Sussex described Queen Consort Camilla as a “bad guy” in his parents’ relationship and echoed mother Princess Diana’s statement that Camilla was “the third person in their marriage”.
“She had to rehabilitate her image,” said Harry, 38, of Camilla, 75, who married his father, King Charles III, in 2005, nine years after the monarch and Diana divorced.
But while Camilla and Charles, 74, waited nearly a decade after their split to tie the knot, the couple carried on a long-term affair while they were both married to other people.
Princess Diana famously described her marriage to Charles as “a bit crowded” because of the rendezvous.
Prince Harry called Queen Consort Camilla a “bad guy” whose need to “rehabilitate her image” was “dangerous”.
Harry wrote in his memoir Spare that he wanted Camilla to be “happy” because it might make her “less dangerous.”
The royal renegade explained to Anderson Cooper that Camilla’s desire to change people’s perception of her was ominous “due to the connections she forged within the British press”.
King Charles married Camilla in 2005, but the couple had an affair for years while they were both married. Getty Images
King Charles married Camilla in 2005, but the couple had an affair for years while they were both married. Getty Images
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He continued: “And there was an open willingness on both sides to share information. And with a family built on hierarchy, and with her on her way to the queen consort, people or corpses would be left in the streets because of it.
In Harry’s new memoirs
Camilla’s image was suspect to the British public for many years due to her affair with King Charles, which included revealing a highly embarrassing conversation about tampons. She has been labeled a home robber and was often compared unfavorably to Princess Diana, who died in August 1997.
Diana called her marriage to Charles “a bit crowded” due to Camilla’s presence. Getty Images
Diana called her marriage to Charles “a bit crowded” due to Camilla’s presence. Getty Images
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Diana called her marriage to Charles “a bit crowded” due to Camilla’s presence. Tim Graham Photo Library via Get
Diana called her marriage to Charles “a bit crowded” due to Camilla’s presence. Getty Images
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The king even hired Marc Bolland, a palace aide whose only job was to raise public awareness of Camilla.
Harry wrote in his book, which will hit shelves on Tuesday December 10, that both he and his brother Prince William urged their father not to marry the current Queen’s consort.
Harry and his brother, Prince William, asked their father not to marry Camilla. Getty Images
“We didn’t think it was necessary,” Harry said of his father’s second marriage. “We figured it would do more harm than good and that if he were on his person now, that would – certainly be enough. Why go so far when it’s not absolutely necessary?
The royal siblings finally admitted to the wedding as they “wanted him to be happy and saw how happy he was with her”.
In February, Camilla said she was “honoured” that Queen Elizabeth II wanted her to hold the title of Queen Consort.