Then again, what kind of life is Charles living? Not, apparently, the one his subjects would like him to lead. In a recent poll, only 16 percent picked the prince as their favorite royal; a different survey found that 49 percent believed there would be no House of Windsor in 50 years. “It’s a big setback,” says Harold Brooks-Baker, head of Burke’s Peerage, the blueblood bible. “Breaking up other people’s marriages has always been considered, even by the upper classes, a great sin.” Charles isn’t likely to atone by imitating his great-uncle, Edward VIII, who abdicated to marry divorcee Wallis Simpson. Giving up the throne isn’t necessary; the Constitution doesn’t bar a divorced prince from becoming king – or from marrying a divorced woman, as long as they wed outside the Church of England (in Scotland, say). But Britain might balk at the idea of a Queen Camilla, perhaps even forcing a referendum on the monarchy. That wouldn’t sit well with Charles. Nothing, he has promised, will stand in the way of his accession.
Least of all Diana, who has also played to the press – and seen her own popularity decline some. Divorce seems inevitable. But her rival’s breakup probably won’t hasten the end of her own marriage. Diana and Charles will reach a divorce agreement “later rather than sooner,” says a knowledgeable court follower. Why the delay? Terms of the settlement – including the details of a joint-custody agreement for the kids – must be hashed out. London tabloids claim that Diana is holding out for up to $38 million. Then there’s the matter of title. One of Di’s “closest confidantes” allegedly told The Sun that Charles “wanted to demote her to be called Duchess, but she wants to keep the princess bit.”
Sentimentalists might hope for a happy ending to the Charles-and-Camilla story. Two people so hot for each other, separated for so long by bad marriages, can finally be together. Homer showed how stirring middle-aged passion can be: Odysseus, returning to Penelope after 20 years, “wept as he held his lovely wife.” But it’s hard to picture Camilla spending each night unweaving her tapestry to keep the suitors at bay. And Charles, who has been on a quest for his inner prince, hasn’t looked very heroic.
