I don't know why my other post was blank. Perhaps my guardian angel warning me not to post something that is going to get me dumped on.

Diana evolved into using her fame to do good in the world. She seems to have been a good mother. She also seems troubled. I can't blame that all on Charles. Women cope with cheating husbands and loss every day of the week and don't have butlers and chauffeurs and all the rest to help them through it.

I feel sorry for Prince Charles. I can't even imagine what it is like to be groomed from the womb to be in the public spotlight. And not just a public spotlight like a rock star where anything goes, but having scrutiny of one's every least little word and deed discussed in depth by people who have never met one and think one "stands for" someting or "represents" him.

Politicians get to choose this path. Charles did not.

I agree that maybe he should have stood up for himself and Camilla before marrying Diana. Still, I'd have to say I can't imagine how hard it would be to stand up to the entire House of Windsor.

I think he and Camilla are entitled to grab whatever little piece of happiness they can for themselves. I think they are brave to go against public opinion to have their wedding and pledge their love to each other in a public way. This can't be easy for them, esp. when you consider that the only life Charles has ever known is to try to please all of the people all of the time -- and many of them the court officials who are very hard to please. For someone who has spent his life in that situation, this is almost like an act of pure and total rebellion.

As for the succession, I am an American. I don't related to royalty very well. I don't think there should be any royalty at all. I also don't think that movie stars and sports stars should be treated like royalty. Maybe your wish that Charles not ascend to the throne will come true, LostAngel.

Sorry to go against the grain of public opinon about Charles.