C4 risks another row with show on Camilla's sex life

A documentary depicting the Duchess of Cornwall as a 'woman of easy virtue' whose lost virginity prevented her marrying Prince Charles in her youth is to be shown by Channel 4.

The salacious discussion of Camilla's unsuitability to marry the heir to the throne will be shown tomorrow night.

Channel 4 has already faced a public outcry over plans to broadcast a photograph of Princess Diana dying in her mangled car as part of another documentary next week.

Insensitive revelations about the woman Prince Charles finally married in Windsor two years ago will doubtless be viewed with distaste by members of the Royal Family.

The documentary, Queen Camilla, also reprises the infamous late-night Camillagate tapes in which the couple exchange embarrassingly intimate endearments.

It unfolds with angry scenes outside the Windsor wedding, where one protester, carrying a placard branding the bride a "rottweiler," is heard describing her as a "slut".

The programme is in fact remarkably positive about the role of the woman who has been part of Charles's life for almost four decades.

It goes on to suggest she lost her virginity at 17 - and with it the chance of becoming a royal bride.

The couple are described as "emotionally and physically a perfect match" but viewers are told that Charles "cruelly" could not marry the "love of his life".

The events following 17-year-old Camilla Shand's debutante ball in March 1965 were among the reasons.

Gyles Brandreth, author of Charles & Camilla, says: "The week of her coming out party was a significant one for Camilla Shand. At the end of it she lost her virginity.

"It may seem prurient for us to even discuss when and how the Duchess of Cornwall lost her virginity but actually it's a legitimate question.

"In those days it would have been essential for the Prince of Wales to marry a virgin bride."

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Royal author and biographer Christopher Wilson adds:

"There was never any question of his marrying Camilla. She was not a virgin and the court certainly had no idea of allowing him (Charles) to marry a woman, let's say, of easy virtue.

"Charles knew that and Camilla knew that."

The documentary makes much of Camilla following in the footsteps of her great-grandmother Alice Keppel, who had an affair with another Prince of Wales, later Edward VII.

Like Miss Keppel, Camilla is helping her prince prepare for a "difficult role", it says.

More bluntly Mr Brandreth declares: "She (Camilla) comes from a family that has - in the best sense of the word - been servicing royalty for many generations".

Mr Wilson says of Camilla's first husband, Andrew Parker-Bowles: "He comes from that class of Englishmen that is prepared to lay down his wife for his country. It was a feather in his cap."

The documentary is otherwise remarkably kind to Camilla, comparing her quiet composure and support of her husband to the late Queen Mother.

Speculating on her future, Mr Brandreth says:

"Camilla will be fulfilling the role the present Queen's mother fulfilled and in that secondary role people will accept her and equally she could be as much loved as the Queen Mother in 30 or 40 years time."

John Beyer of Mediawatch UK, which campaigns for standards in the media, said the documentary appeared "very intrusive".

"It seems to me that one can accuse Channel 4 of muck-raking," he said.

"This is yet another bad judgment by Channel 4"