It was like watching a scene from Mean Girls: the First Ladies of France and the United States holding hands, kissing and hugging during the 80th D-Day commemoration ceremony.
A big contrast with Queen Camilla, who, together with the president and Brigitte Macron, took a more formal approach at the British Normandy Memorial in Ver-sur-Mer.
Presented with a hand of friendship by Brigitte, Camilla quickly withdrew her gloved paw.
Moreover, Camilla was there to comfort others, not to cook – for example, she accepted a white rose from a veteran and hugged a small fan.
Queen Camilla’s emotions were etched onto her face at a D-Day anniversary event last week, under a glorious hat by Philip Treacy
Princess Diana breaks down in tears during a visit to Liverpool’s Ashworth Hospice in 1992
The moment that sealed her new place in our hearts was when, hearing the testimonies of veterans during the D-Day event, she was moved to tears. Her face contorted.
The response on social media was unanimous in awe: “They’ve been through so much together,” said one typical commenter.
‘How human are our king and queen?’ asked another. “She was probably thinking about her own father too.”
Camilla’s hug to greet stepson Prince William that day seemed warm and genuine. Healing another fracture? I hope William is happy that his father is finally satisfied.
There is no doubt that Queen Camilla’s transformation has been both subtle and slow.
The Queen’s outfits, once composed entirely of safe coat dresses, have become more adventurous.
We saw the white Anna Valentine in Normandy under a beautiful white Philip Treacy hat that looked like a wedding cake.
And she wore Fiona Clare’s Barbie pink for the national commemoration event in Portsmouth, again with a beautiful Philip Treacy hat, its gaiety reminiscent of the late Queen Mother, whose brooch she wore.
A woman once known for hunting and, well, relaxing, has just launched a literary festival: the Queen’s Reading Room, held earlier this week in the beautiful surroundings of Hampton Court.
The star-studded line-up included Miriam Margolyes and author Kate Mosse. Eat your heart out, controversial Hay!
It says something that Camilla was truly the best character to emerge from Netflix’s The Crown: never self-pitying, never scheming, just supportive and occasionally strict when it came to Charles’ role as a father.
And remember this: She took on a brand new job in her mid-70s, sure to be an inspiration to older women everywhere.
One of Camilla’s endorsements is Active Ageing, Age UK’s initiative to inspire people to be active and happy in their later lives.
Sure, Camilla’s official diary is insane.
She campaigns against violence against women, supports animal welfare (she recently announced she will no longer buy fur), gardening and the arts.
She always manages to look interested, never bored or tired. Crucially, she never upstages King Charles, who clearly adores her.
Camilla was there to calm him down after Queen Elizabeth died, but proved she was no walkover.
She was criticized for going on holiday in March while her husband was ill – and because the Firm was further depleted by Catherine’s absence.
When Diana died, it seemed unthinkable that anyone could replace her.
Camilla greets guests at Clarence House to celebrate the centenary of The Poppy Factory, which was founded to provide employment for soldiers injured in the First World War
As Diana’s 63rd birthday approaches on July 1, I wonder how Camilla would have handled someone so luminous in the background.
Diana is a tough act to follow, especially since her tragically early death left her remembered while she was still in a swimsuit.
But as Camilla chatted with veterans, her ease reminded me of Diana. The ease, the approachability, the moist empathy.
How Camilla withstood the comparisons all those years ago, the ridicule when Diana died – and in the time since – I will never know.
Can you imagine being referred to on national television as the third wheel in a marriage? She has never taken revenge.
Wouldn’t it have been normal to be a little bitter because she was forbidden by royal protocol from marrying the love of her life?
Not a bit of it. Camilla accepted her fate, so rare in an era of moaning minnies, and now seems to take every opportunity to prove herself worthy of both her husband and her title.
She is no longer the ‘little woman’ and no longer the ‘other woman’. Camilla takes over as queen with ease.
