Camilla's Response To The Royal Fallout Is Turning Heads

Prince Charles' wife, Camilla Parker Bowles, has always been a headline-grabber where it concerns her role in the royal family. The drama surrounding her involvement reached a fever pitch during Prince Charles' marriage to the late Princess Diana because she was constantly linked to infidelity rumors. We're skipping those nitty-gritty details for the sake of time, but to catch you up to speed, Parker Bowles married her ex-boyfriend, Prince Charles, in April 2005, eight years after Princess Diana's death. The alleged salaciousness of their pairing has since subsided now that they're a longtime married couple, but this doesn't mean the attention has shifted away from the Duchess of Cornwall completely. 

Case in point: Twelve days after Megxit, Parker Bowles caused a hoopla when she gave an interesting reply to the question of whether she'll miss Meghan Markle and Prince Harry as they step back from royal duties to pursue a quieter life in Canada. Let's just say the Duchess of Cornwall didn't give a reaction seemingly fitting for the sensitive situation.

Ready for the supposed shade? Let's take a hard look at this viral moment.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's shocking decision still has the public buzzing, so it makes sense that reporters are clamoring to find out more information about relationships in the royal family post-Megxit. One reporter covering the 40th-anniversary celebration at Prospect Hospice in Swindon, England was brave enough to do the honors, asking Camilla Parker Bowles as she exited the building: "Will you miss Harry and Meghan?" The Duchess of Cornwall appeared caught off guard, taking a beat before replying with a wry smile, "Hmm. Course."

The Duchess of Cornwall was asked today whether she will miss Harry and Meghan – "course" she replied. Camilla made the comment during a visit to @prospecthospice in Swindon to celebrate their 40th anniversary. pic.twitter.com/jzGSYNbDJB

— Lizzie Robinson (@LizzieITV) January 20, 2020

The video of the interesting moment, which was captured by ITV News and shared to Twitter by Royal Editor Chris Ship, has been viewed hundreds of thousands of times since it was posted on Jan. 20, 2020. "Omg Camilla is my flipping hero," one commenter quipped on Twitter. "Soooo much shade." Someone else joked: "The master of shade our Camilla. What an asset she has proven herself to be to the RF. Charles is lucky to have her."

Parker Bowles' reply might have seemed shady, but chances are there's nothing amiss here. "She [Parker-Bowles] wants everyone to get along and be happy," a source told Vanity Fair. "Her mantra is carry on and keep smiling." But do we have to keep calm?

Camilla Parker Bowles might want everyone to be happy, but it doesn't mean she can't be sassy from time to time. A perfect example of this? The Duchess of Cornwall sparked a viral moment in June 2019 when she seemingly gave a "wink" to cameras after posing for photos with President Donald Trump during his visit to the United Kingdom. The shade even caught the attention of reputable news outlets such as The Washington Post, and it spurred reactions from countless political commentators. 

"Camilla's wink is all sane people on earth," tweeted Scott Dworkin, co-founder of the Democratic Coalition. Another Twitter user quipped: "So now I'm in love with the Royal family as Camilla winks at the cameras behind #Trump's back as if to say, yes we know he's a w**nker but let's treat him as 'The Emperor's New Clothes.'"

Unless Parker Bowles had something in her eye, it sure seems like this was a case of subtle shade. Well played.

If you suspect Camilla Parker Bowles' supposed shadiness is a result of familial tensions, think again. Prince Harry has nothing but sweet things to say about his stepmom. In fact, he gushed about her to author Angela Levin for the 2018 book, Harry: A Biography of a Prince. "To be honest with you, she's always been very close to me and William. But no, she's not the wicked stepmother. I'll say that right now," Harry said. "Everyone has to understand that it's very hard for her. Look at the position she's coming into. Don't always feel sorry for me and William, feel sorry for her. She's a wonderful woman and she's made our father very, very happy which is the most important thing." 

As for Meghan Markle, the Duchess of Cornwall was one of the first royals to wish her a warm welcome after the couple's engagement in November 2017. "America's loss is our gain. We are all absolutely delighted," Bowles said, per Hello! magazine. "As you can see, they're so happy. Sometimes in a climate where we're surrounded by a lot of bad news, it's a real joy to have a bit of good news for once."

The verdict: Parker Bowles appears to be a loving woman who happens to have a penchant for sassiness. Case closed.