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What was the Tampongate scandal? 'The Crown' Season 5 to depict infamous phone call between Charles and Camilla

With Tampongate making an entry this season, fans are in for a treat because this is one of the most bizarre controversies that rocked the royal family
UPDATED OCT 31, 2022
Olivia Williams will play Queen Consort Camilla, while Dominic West will portray the role of King Charles in 'The Crown' Season 5 (Netflix and Getty Images)
Olivia Williams will play Queen Consort Camilla, while Dominic West will portray the role of King Charles in 'The Crown' Season 5 (Netflix and Getty Images)

LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM: Netflix’s blockbuster hit series ‘The Crown’ might be a fictionalized take on the British royal family, but most of those moments are based on real-life incidents. Whether it was the extraordinary relationship between Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Phillip or Princess Diana’s entry into the royal family, every real-life situation was shown with accuracy and a lot of drama. However, it seems the show is not ready to slow down and cover one more scandal that became one of the most controversial moments in the royal family’s history.

Netflix is finally set to dive deeper and explore the ‘Tampongate’ scandal in the upcoming Season 5 and set to take viewers on another wild ride. The news of ‘The Crown’ exploring the scandal mentioned above comes a few days after the streaming platform was called out for reportedly tampering with the Queen's speech after a portion of Windsor Castle was burned down in 1992. The iconic Annus Horribilis speech saw Queen Elizabeth II noting that she won’t “look back” at the year of her Ruby Jubilee with “undiluted pleasure.”

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Prince Charles, Prince of Wales and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall arrive at the Palace of Westminster  during the State Opening of Parliament in the House of Lords, at the Palace of Westminster on May 27, 2015 in London, England. The Queen's Speech is the centrepiece of the State Opening and is expected to see promise of an EU referendum, tax cuts and an extension of Right to Buy in the in the first all-Conservative Queen's Speech since 1996.
King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla at the Palace of Westminster on May 27, 2015, in London, England (Richard Pohle - WPA Pool/Getty Images)

With Tampongate making an entry this season, fans, who expect the show to be scandalous, are in for a treat because this is one of the most bizarre controversies that rocked the royal family. So, what is the Tampongate scandal? And why does that controversy hold so much importance in the lives of King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla?

What was the Tampongate scandal?

The differences between Charles and the late Princess Diana increased in the late 1980s and it started to affect their marriage. In 1992, the couple announced that they were separating and the Buckingham Palace noted that there were no plans for the couple to divorce at the time and that they will be together for family occasions and other national events. However, 1993 took their complications to a whole new level when the transcript of an ‘intimate’ phone call between Charles and Camilla was leaked in one of the leading tabloids. The transcript showed how much they were in love with each other and didn’t shy away from sharing intimate details in their calls.

King Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles, Queen Consort of England in younger days (Tim Graham Library via Getty Images)
King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla during their younger days (Tim Graham Library via Getty Images)

The call, which actually took place in 1989 and was recorded at the time, was not released until January 1993, almost a month after the new King of England and Diana split in 1992. The transcript that was published in several tabloids saw Prince Charles saying, “Any way you know that's the sort of thing one has to beware of. And sort of feel one's way along with - if you know what I mean. Oh, stop! I want to feel my way along you, all over you and up and down you and in and out. Particularly in and out.”

To which, Camilla replied, “Oh, that's just what I need at the moment. I know it would revive me. I can't bear a Sunday night without you.”

The conversation turns more cringe when the couple starts talking about getting inside each other’s “trousers”. During the call, Charles said, “Oh, God. I'll just live inside your trousers or something. It would be much easier!” and then, Camilla replied, “What are you going to turn into, a pair of knickers? Oh, you're going to come back as a pair of knickers.”

The couple also joked about him being a box of tampons for her. Needless to say, the entire royal family was embarrassed when the phone call was leaked to the media, and its contents were published in several newspapers and magazines.

The controversy rocked British society as everyone started to question Charles’ reputation. A lot of people believed that the scandal will be enough to keep him off the throne and it might take the royal family six feet under the ground. However, the recent happenings clearly indicate that those people were wrong.

The Princess of Wales (1961 - 1997, later Diana, Princess of Wales) at Aintree racecourse for the Grand National, 3rd April 1982. (Photo by Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
The Princess of Wales (1961 - 1997, later Diana, Princess of Wales) at Aintree racecourse for the Grand National on April 3, 1982 (Hulton Archive/Getty Images)

How did Diana feel about the scandal?

Although she never came forward to say anything, her personal protection officer Ken Warfe revealed how the late princess felt about the entire situation. In his book, titled ‘Guarding Diana: Protecting The Princess Around the World’, Warfe mentioned that Diana was shocked after the call details were leaked in the media and called the entire conversation “sick”.

It will be interesting to see how ‘The Crown’ explores the entire controversy and if it will be one of the major plotlines this season. Nevertheless, the inclusion of ‘Tampongate’ is undoubtedly an interesting addition and will make viewers excited about the upcoming edition.

'The Crown' Season 5 premieres exclusively on Netflix on Friday, November 9, 2022.

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