Camilla Parker has asked four of her five grandchildren to take over a duty traditionally carried out by four duchesses. Author Gareth Russell argued that it would be difficult for the Palace to exclude Harry and Meghan Markle if Camilla’s grandchildren participate.
Speaking to Royally Us, royal expert Russell said, “I can tell you that a wrench has definitely been put in the works by a rather poignant and popular decision that Queen Camilla has made.”
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“Unlike previous queen consorts who were crowned, the royal canopy over them at the time of the consecration was in the hands of four duchesses. She has said she doesn’t want four duchesses, she wants her four grandchildren to carry the canopy over her, which is a lovely gesture.”
“She’s very close to her grandchildren, but what that does is to derail the argument that because Harry is not a working royal, there’s no place for him at the ceremony. Of course now the scandal is that Camilla has replaced Harry’s children with her grandchildren.”
Camilla has three grandchildren by her daughter Laura: Eliza, 15, and twins Gus and Louis, 14. Her son, Thomas Parker Bowles, is the father of Lola, 16, and Freddy, 12. Russell suggested that including non-royal grandchildren in the Coronation would leave the Palace “hard-pressed” to explain why a place could not be found for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
He added: “Obviously, Queen Camilla’s grandchildren are not only not royals, they have never worked as royals. So, if a space can be found for them, the Palace will have a very difficult time explaining why a role could not be found for Prince Harry.”
The Queen is known to be very close to her grandchildren and has included them in her royal life from an early age. All five joined the Royal Family at Sandringham for Christmas last year and Eliza even served as flower girl at Prince William’s wedding to Kate Middleton in 2011.
Camilla even shared some details about her relationship with her granddaughter, admitting that she played with Lola every day last year. The queen consort added: “The girls are starting to wear clothes and makeup and, you know, it’s quite scary when you see them, coming out with pierced ears and lots of new makeup and funny-colored hair.”