Whatever Love Means

I was really looking forward to watch this when it aired during Christmas 2005. I am not a fan of Charles and Camilla at all, but for some reason I have always found the Royals a fascinating family to follow. Their lives seems to be like one long running soap opera and of course when it comes to scandals this one takes the biscuit.This program was meant to make the public symphasise with Camilla, but instead really shows her up. In the film she has the portrayal of a very rich but cheap tart who seemed to constantly lead Charles along and then let him down. When they first meet they both know that they have something special, but before long when Charles is off in the navy she gets engaged with hardly any thought. Next she gets pregnant, but they still can't stay away from each other. There are bits when Camilla seems to feel sad and cry, but that dosen't match her actions. They both agree that he needs to marry someone. Camilla personally takes on the job to find a young, sweet, naive virgin while she and Charles can see each other without her suspecting much. There is a horrible over whelming sense of betrayal and the thought that they are going to ruin someones life forever, especially Camilla finds a house for him and Diana to live in - that is 20 minutes away from her. Also in the scene where Camilla tells Diana not to hunt, so she can be alone with him is very calculating. You want Diana to run away when she confronts him about her fears of his adultery before the wedding, but you know she isn't going to. At the end Camilla and Charles are tearful that he is going to be married, but this still dosen't make them nicer people to feel sorry for, because of what they are doing. It was a very watchable and thrilling programme, you forget that you know exactly what is going to happen.

I have been a avid Royal watcher since I was a little boy. And in fact I remember gathering around a portable TV to watch the wedding of Charles and Diana with my family while we where camping. From what I can say about this movie is that it gives us more of a background into Charles' relationship with Camilla and their undying love for each other. However it barely scratches the surface of Diana's story and the hell she faced with in the Royal "firm". While this movie is a good starting place for those unfamiliar with the history of the current royal family to get the entire picture you really need to get your hands on a copy of the movie " Diana: Her True Story " starring Serena Scott Thomas as the Late Pincess of Wales.

The actors all fit the roles that they play well and this is a watchable and entertaining movie start to finish. Definitely worth the time take to watch it...

This is a curiosity piece for those who are royal watchers. It details the story of the relationship of Camilla Parker Bowles and Prince Charles. For some reason, it came out choppily edited and one scene jumped a bit too abruptly to the next. The actors playing the main roles tried hard but Charles came out looking like a social misfit (seemingly the only woman who took to him, according to this film, were Lady Diana and Camilla--actually he had serious relationships). Camilla comes out looking like a tea and sympathy type (what about it dearie) who takes Charles in and has a long term relationship with him. The actress playing Diana is a total miscast. All she has is the hairdo, but she cannot convey or channel Diana. For one thing, she is quite wooden, too mature for the part of a starry eyed nineteen year old and the other she is all wrong physically and facially for the part. Charles towers over her which is quite jarring. In reality, Charles and Diana were about the same height, she being quite tall. There are factual errors, the most blatant being when Camilla tells Charles Princess Caroline is a prospect and probably still a virgin (this takes place in Fall 1979 when Caroline was married about a year to Philippe Junot). Also, Charles' other significant other Lady Kanga is completely left out; she had a major role in his life around the seventies and early eighties. This is a once see for those who enjoy movies about royals. For others, it's best to avoid.

With all the depth and dramatic quality of a Harlequin romance, this film is a glaringly obvious attempt to sell Camilla Parker Bowles to the British public (and the world) as sensitive, loving, strong and patriotic. So it will be just fine when she becomes queen. Q.E.D. In other words, this is a shallow propaganda effort that also destroys the image of Diana, portraying her as something of a bimbo. Laurence Fox was a dreadful choice to play Charles. His appearance is totally wrong. Nor did he master Charles' body language and vocal inflections. A very poor job! Likewise the portrayal of Philip.(Actually the Queen and her mother turn out pretty well.) But overall, it is a shallow royal soap opera and, like the soaps, it leaves you hanging with an ending that guarantees a sequel. Let's hope it's better than the original!

Once again, no listing of the music. Does anyone know what was the opening music, in the first minute or so? I'm sure I have heard it in another movie.

As for the film itself, the general script/storyline is so well known, certainly to anyone living in the UK, that the interest could only be sustained in obscure details -eg what do the royal apartments look like; and does HRH always wear a tie at home. The only snippets that I found of interest concerned details of princess Anne's personal life. Her character, as depicted, did not correspond to the popular image of her. I wonder, was is fact or fiction?.

As for the family, we saw something of Anne, of Uncle Dickie and a brother or two -and that was about it (oh, and a note delivered from Papa).

I am thinking of instituting communications by notes in our household, with my sons. But i would have to rely on the cat to deliver them.

And the music---if anyone knows, please help....