Prince Harry and Queen Camilla switch roles as Duke faces growing isolation

Prince Harry and Queen Camilla’s roles within the royal family have changed dramatically, with the Duke now branded the ‘despised outcast’, according to a close friend of the Queen.

In a new documentary Queen Camilla: The Evil Stepmother?, airing on Channel 4 in Britain, the story of Prince Harry’s strained relationship with his stepmother is explored in detail.

The program explores her development from her marriage to King Charles III, through her controversial role in the breakdown of his marriage to Princess Diana, to her current position as Queen Consort.

Journalist and Camilla’s friend, Petronella Wyatt, weighed in on the changing dynamic, suggesting it is now Harry, rather than The Queen, who is seen as a divisive figure in Britain.

Petronella pointed out that while Camilla was once seen as the ‘hated and despised outcast’, it is now Harry who holds that position, with Camilla emerging as a figure of stability and affection, described as a ‘safe pair of hands’.

Patrick Jephson, Princess Diana’s former private secretary, added fuel to the fire by suggesting she is far from the “simple country woman” she was once portrayed as.

Instead, he described her as a smart, politically astute figure who has played a key role in rehabilitating her public image, a process he said has been far from subtle.

“It has the subtlety of a sledgehammer,” Jephson noted, noting that Charles’ office may have used Harry strategically to portray both him and Camilla in a more favorable light.

The documentary also references Harry’s own words from his memoirs Savewhere he reflected on his first meeting with Camilla and described wondering if she would be like the ‘evil stepmothers’ in storybooks.

However, he revealed that she was kind to him and expressed gratitude for her warmth during that meeting.

The term “evil stepmother” is attributed to author Tom Quinn, who suggests that Harry may have used the phrase during a polo match.

In a powerful interview on 60 Minutes in 2023, Prince Harry described her as “dangerous” because of her attempts to repair her image, especially her relationships with the British press.