Getty
Prince Charles and Camilla allegedly plotted with PR experts to tarnish the image of the late Diana, Princess of Wales – but efforts to also make Camilla looks good ended in disaster when those engaged to reshape her image reportedly labelled her ‘the laziest woman to have been born in England in the 20th century’.
That’s the shock allegation in author Tom Bower’s new book, Rebel Prince: The Power and Passion and Defiance of Prince Charles.
Bower claims that the couple, along with a media expert, plotted to ‘demythologise Diana by portraying her as a manipulative hysteric.’ It was apparently believed that attacking the cult of Diana would help Charles rebuild his image, and also prepare the way for Camilla to be welcomed as a future queen.
According to the book, the duo then co-operated with author Penny Junor, who allegedly planned to portray Diana as ‘an unbalanced and unfaithful wife, suffering from a borderline personality disorder, who had compelled Charles to return to his true love.’
Next came proactive efforts to positively reshape Camilla’s image, which until then was entirely negative. A reception was planned in New York so that she could be introduced to top opinion makers and charity heads.
But things didn’t go as planned.
Robert Higdon, former head of Charles’ charities in the U.S. is quoted as saying of Camilla: ‘For her to get up in the morning and survive until nightfall is a major effort.’
Another unnamed source apparently connected to the fiasco labelled Camilla ‘the laziest woman to have been born in England in the 20th century’.
Higdon apparently confirmed this, with the book quoting him as saying, ‘It was even hard for her to get out of bed. She tries her best to do nothing during the day. It was horrible, a disaster.’
However, positive stories started to appear in the press and public hatred subsided to such a degree that the couple were able to marry in 2005.
