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Marie Claire
Marie Claire
Lifestyle
Amy Mackelden

How King Charles's Original "Decision Not to Marry" Queen Camilla Affected Prince William's Relationship With Princess Kate

King Charles III, Queen Camilla, Prince William, and Princess Kate attend the 2026 Commonwealth Day Service at Westminster Abbey on March 9, 2026 in London, England.

Much has been written about King Charles and Queen Camilla's relationship, which has spanned decades and survived their respective marriages to other people. Now, a royal expert has suggested that Charles's "decision not to marry" Camilla during their initial romance had an inordinate affect on his son Prince William's relationship with Princess Kate.

Charles and Camilla first met in the early '70s and reportedly had a romantic relationship before going their separate ways. According to royal expert Russell Myers's new book, William and Catherine: The Monarchy's New Era: The Inside Story, King Charles's long-term affair with Camilla would ultimately impact Prince William's own approach to commitment.

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