Peter Hitchens has expressed that even though he holds no ‘personal animosity’ towards Camilla Parker Bowles, his allegiance to the Church of England prevents him from acknowledging her as Queen.
On the Alas Vine & Hitchens podcast, he mentioned feeling ‘provoked’ by media outlets like the BBC that have granted her the royal title.
Hitchens highlighted that King Charles, identifying as a ‘strong traditionalist’ within the Church of England, seems ‘contradictory’ in insisting others address his wife as Queen.
You can listen to the latest episode of Alas Vine & Hitchens by clicking the player below or here
The Church of England, led by Charles, traditionally resisted remarriage post-divorce, yet altered its stance in 2002 to permit it under specific conditions. Nevertheless, some church traditionalists argue Camilla should retain the title of Queen Consort.
Emphasising his ‘strictness’ on the issue, the author said he still feels Charles should never have married Camilla.
While expressing no ‘personal animosity’ towards Camilla Parker Bowles, Peter Hitchens reiterates that his dedication to the Church of England precludes him from recognizing her as Queen.
The broadcaster voiced on the Alas Vine & Hitchens podcast his irritation with media outlets like the BBC for using the title for Camilla. Listen here
Hitchens argued that as King Charles has modelled himself as a ‘strong traditionalist’ in the Church of England, it is ‘contradictory’ for him to demand others refer to his wife as Queen
Hitchens explained: ‘The other day, I heard a story about the Queen revealing she’d been molested on a train going to Paddington some years before and fought off her attacker with a high-heeled shoe.
‘I thought: the Queen? She would never have had to do that. She could have frozen off any assailant with a stare.
‘Then I realised they weren’t talking about the Queen – they were talking about a lady I will always think of as Camilla Parker Bowles.
‘I have tried [to call her Queen], out of niceness and politeness, but when I hear the phrase Queen, she doesn’t come to my mind, and I don’t think she ever will.’
Charles and Camilla married on April 9, 2005, in a civil ceremony at Windsor Guildhall, followed by a religious blessing at St George’s Chapel in Windsor Castle.
Upon Queen Elizabeth’s death in 2022, Camilla was initially named Queen Consort, but the Palace changed the title to Queen in invitations to Charles’s coronation.
Since then, all official communication from the Palace has styled Camilla as ‘Her Majesty The Queen’.
Hitchens however believes this went against ‘old and ancient law’, the same law, he points out, that gives Charles his legitimacy as monarch.
‘It is nothing to do with any kind of personal animosity’, he insisted.
‘This is a fundamental refusal to accept this person is the Queen in the way in which the previous Queen was.
‘It’s only because the Palace keep pushing media to refer to her as Queen, that I feel this way.
‘I didn’t think it was right for them to get married because I am strict on these matters.
Upon Queen Elizabeth’s death in 2022, Camilla was initially named Queen Consort, but the Palace changed the title to Queen in invitations to Charles’s coronation
Hitchens however believes this went against ‘old and ancient law’, the same law, he points out, that gives Charles his legitimacy as monarch
Columnist Sarah Vine disagreed with her co-host, saying that whilst she understands not referring to Camilla as Queen, she believes they should have got married. Listen here
‘Camilla Parker Bowles still has a living husband and according to the laws of God and man, you can’t marry somebody while you have a living spouse.
‘Charles makes out to be a very strong traditionalist in the Church of England… if he’d gone through life being a progressive liberal, who didn’t believe in that sort of thing, it wouldn’t be quite so bothersome.
‘But it’s just so contradictory.
‘Charles is King through very old and ancient law. If he respects that law and expects other people to respect it – it seems to me to apply in this case as well.’
Columnist Sarah Vine disagreed with her co-host, saying that whilst she understands not referring to Camilla as Queen, she believes they should have got married.
‘I want to live in a world where people are able to marry the people they love’, she argued.
‘I am all for people having their own happiness’, Hitchens replied.
‘Edward VIII had a similar problem. He wanted personal happiness, but he was told he could have personal happiness or the throne.
‘He chose to abandon the throne. Charles is having both.’
To listen to the debate in full, search for Alas Vine & Hitchens now, wherever you get your podcasts.
