Camilla never had much interest in formal clothing, preferring jeans or old-fashioned country clothes. She never showed the slightest sign of following fashion trends.
So the Queen has come a long way in a short space of time, as her formal appearances now make clear, especially in her carefully chosen wardrobe for the recent state visit to France, which was perhaps the first time you noticed she was looking good.
Whether it was the pink Barbie outfit for her arrival or the deep blue robe and sapphire Dior dress – Queen Elizabeth’s – that she wore to the state banquet, Camilla dressed with the right (and very careful) touch of drama her new role requires. She looked regal.
Queen Camilla arrived in Paris in pink, a color she hasn’t worn very often but which she pulled off beautifully with a beret-style hat by Philip Treacy
Looking immaculate in her riding gear, Camilla takes a break during a ride on the Beautfort Hunt in 1996
Camilla in jeans is a rare sight, but she was appropriately dressed for a pheasant shooting party at Sandringham House in November 2006
How did that happen? Camilla’s attitude towards clothing first changed at the beginning of the 21st century. She and Prince Charles were becoming more and more accepted as a couple and Camilla knew she would be under scrutiny.
“She did wonderfully,” her younger sister Annabel said at the time.
But she did so cautiously – understandably.
Of course, like any girl from her rather wealthy family, Camilla always knew how to dress up, especially when invited to large social events.
But that is not the same as managing a huge and expensive wardrobe for public and ceremonial purposes.
Even though she wasn’t starting from scratch, she had just stumbled through the fashion department – perhaps at just 10 miles per hour.
Many women would have jumped at the chance to revamp their wardrobe, especially when there is no cost limit.
But it took Camilla a whole year to develop her own image, weigh the various demands that would be placed on her, and then dress appropriately.
Camilla seems to prefer to make an impression in headwear and has opted for huge feathered hats or fascinators to ensure she is seen.
For them, perhaps an easier choice than clothing.
Bruce Oldfield, who became one of her favorite couture designers, was particularly helpful, but he gave me an example of her great caution.
Camilla rejected anything pink for years, he explained, partly because she believed Charles wouldn’t like it, sticking instead with creams, soft blues and greens.
Oldfield kept trying to persuade her and eventually she gave in – after which it turned out that Charles loved the color and thought it looked great.
Hence the confidence for the Barbie-like pink outfit for her visit to France. It could have been a risky fashion choice, but she looked great.
When she became queen just over a year ago, her approach changed again.
Before, Camilla had rarely taken risks, especially when accompanying her husband or being a patron of the group she was visiting.
To be on the safe side, she mostly chose dark blue dresses that looked a bit like teachers’ clothes, but were easy to move in.
Now she knows that she will be seen – and that she must actually be seen to fulfill her role as the monarch’s consort. And that in turn means adopting a touch of royal theatricality.
On a sweltering day at Ascot, Camilla was a dream in cream and the matching cream feather hat made a perfect outfit that looked both beautiful and practical in the heat
The Queen’s mint feather hat was a stunning sight on day three of Ascot and she paired it beautifully with a matching dress and pearl necklace
While getting off the plane in Paris, Camilla ran into a bit of difficulty due to the strong wind, but she just managed to hold on to her hat and prevent her Fiona Clare skirt from flying up
But none of this can be comfortable for a woman who prefers to walk around in comfortable pumps that prevent bunions even on formal occasions.
It certainly can’t be easy getting off a plane in a stiff breeze and wearing high heels while holding on to your hat and bag.
The point is that she had to learn, and I’m confident it wasn’t easy. Perhaps further proof of how far she is willing to go to make her man happy
- Camilla by Angela Levin is published by Simon and Schuster