Ten years on, Prince Charles has found happiness with Camilla

LONDON (AFP) - Vilified after the death of Diana 10 years ago, Prince Charles has finally found happiness with the love of his life in a relationship the British public has come to accept, if not yet embrace.

For many Britons and for Diana herself, Charles' extra-marital affair with long-term friend Camilla Parker-Bowles caused the break-up of the royal marriage and was the source of his wife's unhappiness.

When Diana died, his popularity plunged even further.

"The public hated him, held him responsible," says Penny Junor, a biographer of the Prince of Wales.

"The public remembered and believed what she had said in that interview (with the BBC in 1995), that the marriage failed because Charles was obsessed with Camilla."

In a poll taken shortly after Diana's death on August 31, 1997, a majority of British people said they did not believe Charles should be king and should instead abdicate to let his son William take over when Queen Elizabeth II dies.

But gradually, public opinion began warming towards the royal widower as people saw his affection for the two young sons that Diana had so loved.

"People started to perceive him in a new light, they got to know how he had a very close loving relationship with both his boys. (Before) we only saw the Diana side of things," said Joe Little, managing editor of Majesty magazine.

Prince Charles was increasingly left to live his life in peace, although he did intervene publicly over issues such as modern architecture, or what was seen as his excessive lifestyle.

However, the official confirmation of his relationship with Camilla in 1999 forced his aides to step up their efforts to win over the public.

The divorcee Camilla -- who turned 60 last month -- was still viewed as a home wrecker by many people and became as demonised in the press as Diana was glorified.

But gradually, Junor notes, as people began to see Camilla was not the "rottweiler" that Diana called her but a "charming, friendly, easy and not ambitious person -- the public perception changed 100 percent".

Little added: "There was a gradual if not begrudging acceptance of the situation."

With the blessing of Buckingham Palace, Charles married his long-time love in April 2005, in a ceremony attended by his sons William and Harry.

Camilla became the Duchess of Cornwall and started taking part in official royal events, although she has been careful to stay out of the spotlight.

"She supports him rather than eclipses him, which is really what he had hoped Diana would do," Little said.

"She's proved to be incredibly good for Charles. He's a much different person now."

For Junor, it is because Camilla "makes the prince happy, she makes him laugh, she cheers him up," that she has been accepted.

But the duchess commands nothing like the kind of adoration that prompted then-prime minister Tony Blair to describe Diana as the "People's Princess" after her death.

In an opinion poll published last year, a majority of respondents said they would not want to see Camilla become queen when Charles finally takes the throne, and 56 percent objected even to the title 'princess consort.'

"There are people who'll never accept her, who (will not) believe that Diana was anything other than a saint. These people will never ever convert," Junor said.

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