by Christos Zabounis

For the past few decades I have been studying the Daily Telegraph with the careful attention of an entomologist. It is a classic conservative newspaper that echoes the views of the British establishment. Free translation in Greek, as introduced by Andreas Papandreou when he came to Greece from the USA, is “the establishment”. What an irony! He himself was part of the establishment by birth, as the son of a prime minister. But let’s get back to the queen of the title. Who would have guessed in 1995, when Princess Diana told the B.B.C.: “There were three of us in this marriage, it was a bit crowded,” that Camilla, thirty years later, would prevail over her populist anti-jealousy? Who would have imagined that today, not only the “Telegraph”, but also the entire British press would indulge in hymns for her who was once considered the most hated person in the kingdom? Legend has it that Charles was captivated, from their first meeting, by her comfort, the opposite of servitude, her humor and warmth. In a cold protocol-driven environment, her grace was a breath of fresh air. He is also said to have been enraged when he learned that Camilla married Major Andrew Parker Bowles while he was sailing the Atlantic Ocean with the Royal Navy as part of his military service. But the flame that burned between them did not go out. For those looking for more details, Penny Junor’s book: “The Duchess: Camilla Parker Bowles and the Love Affair that Rocked the Crown” is recommended. For the rest of us, it is enough to read one paragraph in yesterday’s “Daily Telegraph”: “Her Majesty’s decision to continue her duties despite her husband’s illness cements her role in the heart of the nation.”