Former aide calls 'real boss' Queen Consort Camilla 'secret weapon' of Firm, plays major role in King's decisions
LONDON, ENGLAND: A former aide has referred to Camilla as the "real boss," claiming that the royal has a significant influence on the decisions that King Charles makes. Julian Payne, who served as Charles, 73, and Camilla's communications secretary from 2016 to 2021, wrote in The Times that the Queen Consort was "possibly [the Firm's] greatest secret weapon." He gave reasons for his comment mentioning that he was informed prior to meeting Camilla that he wouldn't be appointed if he did not get her approval, including for his own employment, which requires the approval of the 75-year-old as well as her husband the monarch.
Julian also stated that the Queen Consort did "not actively campaign" for her new title because she believed it would happen "if it was meant to be," despite the fact that she played a crucial role in decision-making. After the death of Queen Elizabeth at Balmoral on September 8, Camilla assumed the title of Queen Consort and appeared in public on numerous occasions with King Charles.
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Camilla has been performing duties as Queen Consort despite suffering intense pain from broken toe
King Charles III and Queen Camilla take their places on their thrones in Westminster Hall. pic.twitter.com/wPzCps4fnU
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The former aide said he thinks Queen Consort will succeed in her new position because she "respects the role and the institution completely but not at the expense of keeping her own feet firmly on the ground, saying that the royal "doesn't take herself too seriously."
He added, "Despite the many people who have stated over the years that 'Project Queen Camilla' was a long-held goal within the household, I can assure you there was never any great masterplan to do this. Certainly, whenever you mentioned the topic with the Queen Consort herself, she merely stared at you sphinx-like, giving you no real sense of what she thought about the topic." he continued, "She certainly never instructed me to do anything to advance the argument and neither did the King. Much like her wider work, I think she simply felt if it was meant to be it would happen, but it was never a role that she actively campaigned for."
The former assistant stated that as Camilla fulfills her new role, her devotion to her husband and service to the country "perhaps even see her emerge with the respect and affection she thoroughly deserves."
Queen Consort Camilla has been reportedly performing her new duties despite having a broken toe and being in excruciating pain. As per reports from The Daily Telegraph, Camilla suffered the injury just prior to the death of Queen Elizabeth II. Despite her agony, she has been "getting on" with her royal duties and supporting the king during this period of grief and mourning. "It is unfortunate timing to say the least but she’s been an absolute trouper," added the source. Camilla has avoided using crutches or wearing special comfort footwear despite having a broken toe. Wednesday's procession for the Queen's lying-in-state featured her donning a pair of black leather court shoes with wide, medium-height heels.