Princess Diana's Secret Nickname for Camilla Parker Bowles Revealed — 'The Rottweiler'

Princess Diana's Secret Nickname for Camilla Parker Bowles Revealed — 'The Rottweiler'

BY YEET MAGAZINE — ROYAL DESK | October 9, 2026

Diana didn't call her "Camilla." She didn't call her "Mrs Parker Bowles." She didn't call her "the other woman." According to royal insiders, Princess Diana had a nickname for Camilla Parker Bowles. She called her "the Rottweiler." It was private. It was cutting. And it said everything about what Diana thought of the woman who had been sleeping with her husband since before the wedding. The nickname leaked eventually. It's been reported for years. And it's still one of the sharpest, saddest details of the Charles-Diana-Camilla triangle that tore apart the monarchy in the 1990s.

Why Did Diana Call Camilla 'The Rottweiler'?

Because Camilla wasn't going away. That's the simplest answer. Camilla was always there. Before the wedding. During the marriage. After the separation. She was in the background. She was on the phone. She was in the room at every party. Diana knew it. Everyone knew it.

And Camilla was tough. She wasn't some meek mistress hiding in the shadows. She was loud. She was confident. She was the daughter of a major. She was a countrywoman. She rode horses. She drank. She smoked. She wasn't going to bow down to Diana.

The word "Rottweiler" is harsh. But it's not random. Rottweilers are tough, protective, and stubborn. They don't back off. Diana saw Camilla as a woman who refused to be pushed aside.

What Was Camilla to Charles?

Camilla Shand met Charles in 1971. They dated. They fell in love. But Charles was in the Navy. He left. By the time he came back, Camilla was engaged to Andrew Parker Bowles. She married Andrew in 1973.

Charles married Diana in 1981. But he never stopped loving Camilla. According to Diana, the affair resumed within years — possibly before the wedding, definitely during the marriage.

Diana found out. She confronted Camilla at a 1989 party. The confrontation was recorded later in the 1992 documentary tapes. Diana said she told Camilla: "I know what's going on. I'm sorry I'm in the way. It must be hell for both of you."

Camilla reportedly replied: "You've got everything you ever wanted. You've got all the men in the world falling in love with you. You've got two beautiful children. What more could you want?"

Diana said: "I want my husband."

How Diana Found Out About Charles and Camilla

Diana discovered the affair in 1986. Charles and Camilla had been exchanging letters. Diana found them. She also overheard a phone call between Charles and Camilla in 1989. That call was recorded. It became known as "Camillagate."

In the call, Charles said he wanted to "live inside" Camilla's trousers. He said he'd be reincarnated as her tampon. The transcript was published in 1993 and became one of the biggest royal scandals of the century.

Diana was humiliated. She'd already been struggling with bulimia and depression. The Camilla situation made everything worse. For more context on Charles and Diana's marriage, see our coverage of whether Charles ever really loved Diana and how Camilla restored her image over the years.

The Timeline: Charles, Diana, and Camilla

What Did Diana Say About Camilla Publicly?

Diana gave one interview that changed everything. In November 1995, she sat down with Martin Bashir for BBC Panorama. She talked about the affair. She talked about the marriage. She talked about Camilla.

She said: "There were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded."

That line became one of the most famous quotes of the 20th century. It summed up everything. Diana knew. Charles knew. Camilla knew. The world knew.

Diana also said she confronted Camilla. She said she told her: "I know what's going on. I'm sorry I'm in the way." She said Camilla responded: "You've got everything you ever wanted."

After the interview, the Queen told Charles and Diana to divorce. They did, in 1996.

Did Camilla Ever Respond to the Nickname?

Not publicly. Camilla has never commented on the "Rottweiler" nickname. She's never spoken about her affair with Charles in any detail. She's kept quiet. She's stayed in her lane. She's done her royal duties. She's rebuilt her image.

Today, Camilla is Queen. She's 79 years old. She's been married to Charles since 2005. She's earned respect. She's changed public opinion. But the nickname lingers.

For more on Camilla's transformation, see our coverage of her journey from mistress to Queen.

Why Does This Nickname Still Matter?

Because it's a reminder of how ugly the Charles-Diana marriage really was. Behind the fairy tale wedding, behind the palace walls, behind the smiling photos, there was bitterness, jealousy, and a nickname that said more than any interview ever could.

Diana called Camilla "the Rottweiler." It wasn't kind. It wasn't fair. But it was honest. It was how she felt. And it tells you everything about the woman who would one day become Queen.

Frequently Asked Questions