But when it came time for the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall to travel to the United States - the place famously dubbed "Diana's heartland" - Camilla wasn't sure if she would be greeted with the same acceptance.
In the biography, The Duchess: The Untold Story, author Penny Junor recounts the trip that had Camilla Parker Bowles terrified.
”It was to America – Diana’s heartland.
"No-one could have devised a more terrifying initiation.”
Junor continued: “[Camilla] knew the eyes of the world would be on her, and that they would be making comparisons with the princess’ first trip with Charles in 1985.
“Diana had wowed the country.
“Most memorable were the 15 minutes she spent on the dance floor with John Travolta at the White House.
“Diana had been 23, athletic, wraith-like and coy; Camilla was fifty-eight and none of those things.
“A banner held up by a woman outside the United Nations summed it up: ‘Camilla you are not Diana.’”
A member of Charles and Camilla’s team went further and confirmed to Ms Junor that “The trip to America in 2005 was the tough one.”