The Duchess of Cornwall has opened up about defying public scrutiny, playing wordle with her grandchildren and how she and Prince Charles are often “ships passing by in the night” in a lengthy interview with Vogue magazine.
A secret photoshoot for the fashion bible’s July issue took place in April, The Mail revealed on Sunday, to celebrate the Duchess’ 75th birthday next month.
Rather than being styled by a team of Vogue experts, Camilla opted for an outfit from her own wardrobe, handpicked by her personal stylist, Jacqui Meakin.
For the shoot in Clarence House’s Garden Room, they opted for an elegant, cobalt blue evening dress by Bruce Oldfield.
The Duchess of Cornwall opted for a cobalt blue Bruce Oldfield gown for her Vogue magazine photo shoot ahead of her 75th birthday next month
When asked if she could wear something to match the purple wisteria blooming in the garden, the answer was a resounding “no” – she apparently loathes the color and is said to have dubbed it “menopausal mauve”.
With characteristic wit, Camilla greeted the photographer by saying, “Sorry, you must be photographing an old bat.”
In the interview, Camilla gives an insight into her life with Charles and how she plans to approach her role as Queen Consort.
“It’s not easy,” she says diplomatically of the criticism she’s faced over the years. “I’ve been scrutinized for so long you just have to find a way to live with it.
“No one likes to be stared at and criticized all the time. But I think in the end I kind of get over it and move on.”
Ahead of her trip to Rwanda this week – the first royal visit there – Camilla opens up about the impact her extraordinary schedule has had on her marriage.
Camilla revealed the secret to maintaining her marriage to Prince Charles, pictured here together in November 2015, was making sure they make time for each other at least once a day
She says: “We always try to have a point in the day where we meet. Sometimes it’s like ships sailing by at night, but we always sit down, have a cup of tea and discuss the day.
“It’s nice to exchange ideas when we have a little time. When we go away, the nicest thing is that we actually sit in different corners of the same room and read our books.
“It’s very relaxing because you know you don’t have to talk. They just sit together and are together.’
In Rwanda, Camilla will meet women fighting against domestic violence, an issue she has long campaigned for.
“There was such a taboo,” she says. “People can still love the people who abuse them and feel so guilty and so ashamed that they think it’s their fault, so they bury it. It’s becoming some kind of horrible hidden secret.”
She adds that she has no intention of giving up her charitable projects when her husband becomes king.
“Oh, I’ll keep going as much as I can,” she says. “There are still a lot of things to do.”
Camilla, pictured with Prince Charles at Royal Ascot earlier this week, added that she intends to continue her charitable work when her husband becomes king
Despite her busy schedule, she finds time every day for one pleasure: beating one of her granddaughters at Wordle, the popular online word game.
The Duchess, who has five grandchildren between the ages of 12 and 14, confesses: “I do Wordle with my granddaughter every day. She texts me to say, “I made it in three,” and I say, “Sorry, I made it in two today.”
A younger Prince Charles spoke to Camilla Parker Bowles, as she was known at the time, at a polo match in Cirencester Park in July 1975
Camilla with the Prince of Wales on her wedding day in April 2005 at Windsor Castle
Speaking of her grandchildren, she adds: “We learn from very young people and they also learn from us. The beauty of being a grandmother is that you can occasionally spoil them and give them more of what their parents forbid them to do.”
As always, her milestone birthday on July 17 is greeted without much fuss.
“There won’t be much celebration,” she says. ‘I’m going to spend it with my family and some friends.’
British Vogue’s July issue is available digitally and on newsstands from Tuesday.