Queen Camilla and Princess Anne were reportedly caught in a “big showdown” just before King Charles’ coronation.
Princess Anne, who turned 75 on August 15, was said to be displeased with her sister-in-law being referred to as “Queen.” The claims came from Princess Diana’s former dressmaker, David Emanuel, during a 2023 interview on GB News.
As the coronation drew near, the question of Camilla’s title became one of the most debated issues among royal watchers. David described the matter as “highly charged,” noting that many people were unsettled by the shift from “Queen Consort” to simply “Queen.”
“I understood from Her Majesty the Queen that [Camilla] should be Queen Consort, now suddenly she’s ‘Queen’?” David asked. “That’s what we were sold on, weren’t we? A lot of people have told me they’re unhappy about it.”
Queen Elizabeth II had made it clear before her passing in 2022 that it was her “sincere wish” for Camilla to be known as Queen Consort once Charles ascended the throne. But ahead of the 2023 coronation, her title officially became “Queen Camilla.”
According to David, Princess Anne was among those opposed to the change and even confronted Camilla directly during a dinner.
“I heard that at a coronation dinner, the Princess Royal told her: ‘You’re not Queen, you’re the Queen’s Consort,’” he claimed.
The revelation shocked host Dan Wootton, who pressed David on whether Anne truly said this to Camilla’s face. “Oh yes,” David replied, insisting that several sources had told him the same story. “It was a big showdown.”
Tensions between the two women weren’t entirely new. Anne was once linked to Andrew Parker Bowles, Camilla’s former husband, before his marriage to Camilla.
David suggested such history only added to the emotional weight of the coronation, pointing out the charged atmosphere inside Westminster Abbey, with figures like Diana’s sisters, Camilla’s children, and the Spencers all present. “What are they all thinking? What is the country thinking?” he asked.
Still, despite claims of friction, Anne and Camilla are believed to have a strong relationship today. Last November, the pair attended a joint engagement at the University of London, where Anne, as Chancellor, presented Camilla with an honorary doctorate.
Former royal butler Grant Harrold also emphasized their closeness, saying on behalf of OLBG: “Camilla gets on with her sister-in-law really well, they’re very close and good friends.”