Why is it fine for royals to take lovers but their common husbands and wives are to remain faithful?

Question

I don't understand why it was suitable for Charles to always have Camilla yet such a stink was made about Diana wanting companionship. Camilla's husband must have been fine with the arrangement between her and Charles, also. Is it a monarchy thing?

Answer 1

Who said it was "fine"?  Not me. I think it was deplorable, in remarkably bad taste, and showed an amazing degree of arrogance and disregard for the feelings of anyone else.

But I'd think the same if it had happened to a commoner, too.

Answer 2

A woman can be certain that any child she has is hers. A man can never be certain that any child his wife has is his.

Kings wives were chosen for diplomatic and political reasons and it was vital that they be virgins at the time of the marriage and that they had no other lovers. This ensured that any children were those of the king.  It was treason for the queen to sleep with anyone but the king. Anne Boleyn and Catherine Howard lost their heads for treason because they committed adultery. (Howard certainly, Boleyn possibly)

Children of the mistresses of the king are usually given the surname "Fitzroy" (It means "son of the king" in early French). Some were given Duchies - a son of Charles II was made the Duke of Monmouth but as their illegitimacy was known, they could never be king.

Once Diana had divorced Charles, she could have any lovers she liked but until then she had to remain faithful unless Charles and the Queen gave her permission to take lovers.

Charles could sleep with whoever he liked. That's the way it works, unfortunately.

Answer 3

Is that any different than everyday life? Men still get away with a lot, but women are immediately labelled "golddiggers" "no good" and worse.

Answer 4

Double standards

Answer 5

Amen! I am sooo sick of people dissing on Princess Diana. Unfortunately, royalty especially the men have been allowed to do whatever they want without question.  Look at King Henry VIII. This is how it's been with one exception, King Edward VIII.  He gave up the throne for the woman he loved, and became the Duke of Windsor instead.