Charles, Camilla and the so-called Kiss

As you know, I'm generally very opinionated when it comes to Prince Charles, but with this whole 'kiss' thing, I am not. I'm not inspired, impressed, appalled, aggravated, excited, proud or angered. It is very strange, but I feel like it wasn't really a 'kiss' as much as it was Charles finally acknowledging his mistress in public. If you look at all the photographs, as I have many times over the past few weeks, you'll see two cheeks near each other with each ones lips puckering into thin air. Like the Hollywood 'don't muss the make-up dahling' greeting that celebrities exchange for the benefit of the photographers.

It does bring to mind another famous photograph of Charles kissing air while he was check to cheek with another woman on the Polo field - his wife, Diana. Diana giving her husband the cheek was considered insulting to Charles and proof that the marriage was a sham. How could the same action with his mistress be construed as such a loving, sentimental, poignant, powerful action? It is all beyond me. What I saw when I looked at the photographs and footage was Charles finally walking the walk. We've been hearing him talk the talk for years regarding Camilla being a 'non-negotiable' part of his life. In my opinion, this was the first time we've ever seen his public actions come close to matching his words.

Do I agree with the relationship? No. I don't believe in adulteress behavior, nor do I believe that Camilla loves Charles the man. My belief is still, that if she really loved him and wanted what was best for him, she would have done everything possible to save his marriage to Diana. Instead she made herself so indispensable to him that he never looked back. People give her credit for not telling her side of the story. I don't. What would she say? How could she avoid admitting, 'I committed adultery with the Prince of Wales'? By saying nothing she keeps herself out of the limelight and creates an enigma, which is far more intriguing to the average person than the reality. She is exactly where she wishes to be.

Something has happened that that has changed Charles' view on how to carry himself in the relationship. I'm not sure if it is the spin doctors, the fact that Prince Hakon, future King of Norway, has just become engaged to marry a woman who has an out of wedlock son with a not so savory man or if he is beginning to realize that his mother is going to be around for a long time to come and he is refusing to spend the second fifty years of his life as he has spent the first - doing what is expected of him not what he wants to do - all in the pursuit of the opportunity to occupy the throne for a few years. Maybe he has even found Diana right and the thought of passing the throne on to William closer to the time he will occupy it no longer seems the worst fate. Who knows what he is thinking? We only know that he is being very unapologetic about the circumstances of his personal life and his obvious devotion to Mrs. Parker-Bowles.

Recently, Charles has also taken stands on many other issues. He expressed very strong feelings regarding the working Royals. So much so that it was reported that Sophie and Edward were demanding an apology for what they allege are "poisonous" attacks on their businesses and the roles they play in them. Charles' opinions are said to be 180 degrees off from Prince Philip's. Of course Philip did win in the end and the opinions Charles expressed are the opinions of the average citizen. More work with the spin-doctors or Charles just deciding to speak his mind come what may?

Charles has also been doing more interviews and during an interview earlier this month with the Daily Mail he was asked whether or not he would marry again. He replied, "Who knows what the Good Lord has planned. You can't be certain of anything." This is the first time Charles has commented on the possibility of remarriage. This one indefinite statement sparked tons of speculation, opinion polls, chat room discussions, news reports, etc. To me it is a clear sign that he at least doesn't see remarriage as impossible. It is not a sign that he intends to marry in the near future. If it is to come, I feel it is a long way off and with a prenuptial agreement with a list of exceptions so long it will render marriage almost not worth it.

Honestly, how is he to answer such questions? Shall he say 'no' and risk listening to people speculating he can't commit? Worse yet, they may think that he has no respect for his partner whom he is supposed to love. They may start playing that sound bite that has haunted him for the 20 years since his engagement to Lady Diana Spencer. "Whatever 'in love' means." He may risk being portrayed as a selfish man who is using Camilla. Were he to answer 'yes' the speculation would be on what will the Queen say? What will Parliament decide? What would her status be? The odds makers would be having a field day.

First and foremost in people's minds would be the acceptance of Camilla as a suitable mate for the future King. Though people generally claim they want to see Charles happy and if marrying Camilla makes him so, so be it. These same people do not want her to be Queen. It's a real paradox. Are they really saying they don't want Charles King? I don't think so, but I could be wrong.

A second difficulty would be the constitutional issues that would arise from the head of the Church of England marrying a woman in which he has conducted an adulteress affair and then lived 'in sin' with. How would the Bishop's proceed? They too wish to see Charles happy, but are they willing to change the precepts of their own religion to see him happy AND on the throne? Are they willing to take the honor of "Defender of the Faith" away from the monarch creating a separation of Church and State for the first time since Henry VIII? Is Charles' vision of a monarch who is 'Defender of Faiths' one that will come to pass?

All this speculation over an innocuous greeting and an ambiguous statement makes me wonder what the reactions will be when something really does happen. To me, not much has changed. Charles is still in a relationship with a woman who is not an acceptable mate for many reasons - be they right or wrong - for the future King. He still wishes to continue the relationship, but does not wish to jeopardize his position in any way. The relationship has come a long way in gaining acceptance since the days when Camilla was pelted with bread rolls at the grocery, but it looks like there is a long way to go before the public, the Parliament and the Church of England will accept her as the future Queen. These are the reasons I cannot get too emotional either way about the latest developments.

This has been a very busy month for me. I have dearly missed writing this column and hearing from all of you. I'll be moving into my new place on August 15th and as I now know where I'm going and have the move pretty much organized things will hopefully settle down.

I'll be looking for feedback for the next 'Speakers Corner' on Sunday!.

All the best,