“You’re there as backup”

Photo copyright The Duchess of Cambridge Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, talks about her future role as Queen Consort.

Earlier this year, Queen Elizabeth shared her “sincere wish” for Camilla to become Queen Consort when Prince Charles one day ascends the throne. The announcement was particularly poignant as it is the role played by the monarch’s late husband, Prince Philip.

In a new interview with Australian Women’s Weekly In honor of her 75th birthday on July 17, Camilla praised her late father-in-law Prince Philip for the example he set of how to be a consort and support the monarch and admitted she must have been difficult for “macho”. naval commander to step back.

“I found out your seat is a few meters behind the monarch,” added Camilla, 74. “You’re there as a backup.”

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Photo copyright The Duchess of Cambridge Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall

The king also spoke about her role as a grandmother. She has five grandchildren from her first marriage to Andrew Parker Bowles.

“The girls are turning into teenagers, which is a bit of a worry. I’d love to put a cap on their heads and make them little again because they’re all sweet and clean and pretty. Now they’re really keen to have a good fight !’ says Camilla, who has two children from her previous marriage – Laura Lopes and Tom Parker Bowles.

“They’re fun to be with,” she adds. “I like to be with them, to eat together, to go to see a film or a play. They are very enthusiastic. And it is always nice to be in touch with that generation because it keeps you up to date with the feelings and ideas of young people .”

Finnbarr Webster/Getty Images Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall

In the interview with the magazine, which also features a cover photo shot by Kate Middleton, Camilla also highlights one of her key causes – the benefits of exercise in keeping joints and bones strong.

Camilla, who supports the fight against osteoporosis, is taking part in Silver Swans, a dance class for the over 55s. The royal mother died of the disease in 1994 at the age of 72. ambassador of the Royal Osteoporosis Society.

A teacher sometimes comes to Clarence House, the home Camilla shares with Charles in London, to hold sessions, she told the magazine.

“We crash really happy and it’s a lot of fun. It’s fun and hard work – you really get involved and I find it’s a really good way to exercise,” she said of the dance class.

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Dominic Lipinski-WPA Pool/Getty Images Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall and Prince Charles

But she still hasn’t been able to get her husband involved in the sessions, she told Juliet Rieden about Australian Women’s Weekly.

“He’s a really good dancer and loves ballet, but I’m not sure how good he would be on tiptoe,” says Camilla.

What he can help her with is another important job: giving speeches – something Camilla says she has struggled with since entering public life shortly before marrying Charles in 2005.

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Max Mumby/Indigo/Getty Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Charles and Queen Elizabeth

The king says she was so “petrified” the night before she gave her first speech at an international conference on osteoporosis.

“I was out of bed, tying up my sheets to see if I could escape and go home. I will never be happy,” she says.

“My husband is very good; he loves it. Because he’s a very good actor, I think. You have to have a little bit of acting experience,” she tells the magazine. “I was the worst actor in the whole school. If I was given one line to say, it always backfired. So I guess speeches – no, they’ll never be my favorite things.”