According to Divide and Rule: Royal Women and Their Battles by author Catherine Mayer, Charles believed Camilla was the person best suited to guide Diana through the complexities of royal life. Having known Charles for years, Camilla was seen as someone who understood both his personality and the traditions of the monarchy.
However, Mayer writes that Diana viewed Camilla's friendly gestures with suspicion, believing they were attempts to gather information rather than genuine acts of support. The author argues that it is unlikely Camilla acted on her own, suggesting instead that Charles encouraged the relationship in the hope that the two women would form a friendship.
Mayer cites sources familiar with the situation who believe Charles saw Camilla as the ideal person to introduce his fiancée to his world, given her deep understanding of his habits and lifestyle.
The author also suggests this decision reflected a significant misjudgment. She argues that even if Charles failed to recognize how inappropriate the arrangement might appear, Camilla could have declined to take on such a role, considering the emotional complexities involved.
These claims come from Catherine Mayer's book and represent her interpretation of events surrounding the relationship between Charles, Diana, and Camilla during the period leading up to Charles and Diana's marriage.
