Queen Camilla's Ex-Husband Representing Her at Royal Event Was an 'Oddity'

Queen Camilla's ex-husband, Andrew Parker Bowles, made an unexpected appearance last week on the list showing members of the royal family's work engagements, when it was revealed he officially represented his former spouse at the funeral of a royal relative.

The funeral was for John Bowes-Lyon, a relation of Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother. While King Charles was represented at the London event by the Earl of Rosslyn, the court circular said that "the Queen Consort was represented by Brigadier Andrew Parker Bowles."

Parker Bowles and Camilla married in 1973, following her brief relationship with the then-Prince Charles. Charles married Princess Diana in 1982, but some time afterward he became romantically involved again with Camilla. The Parker Bowles divorced in 1995, and Charles and Diana followed suit in 1996.

Although they have remained friends, sharing two children, Tom and Laura, the fact that Parker Bowles should be called on to act in an official royal capacity has been described as odd on the latest episode of Newsweek's The Royal Report podcast.

"There was a really weird thing this week where Camilla's ex-husband, Andrew Parker Bowles, represented her at an event that she couldn't go to.... That was an oddity," Newsweek chief royal correspondent Jack Royston told royal commentator Kristen Meinzer.

"It was almost like Fergie and Andrew level," Meinzer responded, referring to the close relationship maintained by Prince Andrew and Sarah, Duchess of York, despite their divorce in 1995.

The duchess lives with the prince at his home, Royal Lodge, in Windsor Great Park, and following the death of Queen Elizabeth II last month, they appeared side by side to view floral tributes left by members of the public.

"It seems like [they're] very tight with each other," Meinzer continued, speaking about Camilla and Parker Bowles. "You know, attending each other's events...'I'll just step in for you, honey, it's fine.'"

To this, Royston raised the idea that if Charles pursues his reported goal of "slimming down" the British royal family to make the institution appear as better value for the money, there may be no royals left to perform the number of duties required, leaving ex-husbands as a possible option in the future.

"With Fergie and Andrew, obviously neither of them really moved on, so it kind of made sense," Royston said. "But obviously Camilla has definitely moved on from that relationship.

"It's another one of those things where, if Charles wants to slim down the monarchy, then this is what's going to happen. There's going to be all of these events that there's nobody to go to, and then weird stuff like this is going to happen," he said.

Royston said that if Charles pursues his goal in a way "that upsets everybody"—such as removing the prince and princess titles from his grandchildren Archie and Lilibet Mountbatten-Windsor—"under the guise of slimming down," there could be "ex-husbands flying around performing royal duties," which might raise eyebrows.

When Queen Elizabeth II died, under the convention set out by King George V in 1914, Archie and Lilibet, the children of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, became eligible to use the title HRH (His/Her Royal Highness) Prince or Princess of the United Kingdom. This is because with the death of the queen they ceased being the great-grandchildren of the monarch and instead became the grandchildren of the monarch, with Charles' accession.

Despite this, no decision has come yet from Buckingham Palace about the titles, which have not been updated on the royal family website. Technically, it is within Charles' power to withhold the titles, although the decision would open him up to criticism.

The months of November and December are busy for all royals in a normal year, as they prepare for a Christmas break. King Charles and Queen Camilla will undertake increased engagements, including a state visit from the president of South Africa, and Charles' first Christmas address to the nation.

Do you have a question about King Charles III, William and Kate, Meghan and Harry or their family that you would like our experienced royal correspondents to answer? Email royals@newsweek.com. We'd love to hear from you.