Meghan Markle would likely attest to the truth of that notion if given half the chance, as would the late Princess Diana surely have. Another woman who was wed into the Royal Family as opposed to being born into it is Queen Camilla, whose union with King Charles made her one of the most senior members of the monarchy.
These days Camilla has gotten over the initial vitriol surrounding her perceived usurping of Diana’s position, and she’s generally well liked and accepted by the British public. Of course, that doesn’t mean she’s above being targeted by detractors and trolls on occasion, as was proven after the Order of the British Empire ceremony in London last week.
Camilla and King Charles stepped out together last Wednesday for the ceremony, which rewards “outstanding contributions to the war effort” and “now recognises the work of people from all walks of life.”
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the couple donned traditional royal garb for the occasion, with their outfits naturally drawing the attention of the general public. Yet though the various ensembles worn by senior royals at the most prestigious of events on the royal calendar can come across as… well, downright barmy sometimes, it was arguably what Camilla wore under her red silken dress robe that had people talking.
LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 15: King Charles III and Queen Camilla walk down the steps of St Paul’s Cathedral as they depart a service of dedication for the Order of The British Empire at St Paul’s Cathedral on May 15, 2024 in London, England. King Charles III is the Sovereign of the Order of the British Empire and Queen Camilla is the Grand Master of the Order of the British Empire. (Photo by Chris Jackson/Getty Images)
The 76-year-old was seen to be wearing a floral-patterned dress, accompanied by light beige heels, charm bracelets, and diamond earrings.
Yet she seemed to come in for criticism on social media, with internet users labeling the dress a “house dress”.
Beneath a tweet showing side-by-side photos of Queen Camilla and the late Queen Elizabeth II – both wearing the same, aforementioned, red dress robe – some of the comments were less than flattering.
“Why is Camilla wearing a house dress under that cape?” one person wrote on X.
Another added: “Does Camilla just throw a robe over her house dress?”
“The differences couldn’t be more stark, & the standards more far apart. ,” quipped a third.
A fourth opined: “I’m in the US and for what it’s worth, I think the Queen was just such a monumental figure and impossible to live up to. She always looked so regal wearing these types of traditional dress. Charles and Camilla look sloppy and far from regal.”
Hitting out at the costumes Charles and Camilla were wearing, a fifth person wrote: “These traditional events are bad enough but to do it in those stodgy old costumes is nuts. Why can’t they wear modern versions […] They look like crazy people in these costumes. Diana would have modernized it.”
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM – MAY 15: (EMBARGOED FOR PUBLICATION IN UK NEWSPAPERS UNTIL 24 HOURS AFTER CREATE DATE AND TIME) King Charles III and Queen Camilla attend a service of dedication for the Order of The British Empire at St Paul’s Cathedral on May 15, 2024 in London, England. The Order of the British Empire was established by King George V in 1917 to reward outstanding contributions to the war effort, and now recognises the work of people from all walks of life with honours including MBEs, OBEs, CBEs, Knighthoods and Damehoods. King Charles III is the Sovereign of the Order of the British Empire, and Queen Camilla is the Grand Master of the Order of the British Empire. (Photo by Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Images)
Queen Camilla has found herself elevated to new levels of responsibility and importance of late, following the respective cancer diagnoses handed down to her husband, King Charles, and Kate Middleton.
With Charles and Kate forced to take something of a back seat from the limelight to focus on treatment, other members of the Royal Family have stepped in to fill the voids. Prince William, meanwhile, has split his time between his royal duties and spending time with his wife, meaning much of the pressure has fallen onto Camilla’s shoulders.
What do you think to Camilla’s dress? Let us know in the comments.