Queen Camilla loves bonkbuster Bridgerton and 'definitely watches' The Crown on Netflix - despite the show portraying her tampon-gate scandal and Prince Harry bashing the royals in his series

Her love of Strictly Come Dancing is well known - but it appears Queen Camilla has a varied taste in TV programmes after she revealed she's seen the first season of Netflix bonkbuster Bridgerton.

The period drama, which is known for its passionate romance scenes, may seem like a surprising choice for the King's wife. Yet she will certainly resonate with its themes of high society and grandeur. 

Camilla revealed she had 'watched the first lot' of the popular series when attending the Chelsea Flower Show in London, yesterday, alongside King Charles, 75, as he continues his return to public duties amid his cancer diagnosis. 

The Queen was touring a majestic 'Bridgerton' garden designed by Holly Johnston and inspired by the hit show's Penelope Featherington (played by Nicola Coughlan) when she made the admission.

It's not the only Netflix programme the royal has apparently seen; the royal 'definitely' watches The Crown, according to the King's former communications director, who also admitted the series does not 'tickle' His Majesty's interest. 

Camilla's choice in streaming service and shows will be surprising to some, considering Netflix's support of Prince Harry and The Crown portraying the tampongate scandal.

Her love of Strictly Come Dancing is well known - but it appears Queen Camilla (pictured yesterday at the Chelsea Flower Show) has a varied taste in TV programmes after she revealed she's seen the first season of Netflix bonkbuster Bridgerton

The intimate bedtime conversation between Charles, then Prince of Wales, and Camilla was taped by an amateur radio enthusiast who claimed to have stumbled across the pair's conversation in 1989, while moving between audio channels. 

During the call, which has been widely referred to as 'tampongate', the then prince referred to being reincarnated as the tampon brand Tampax, and told Camilla that he wanted to 'live inside' her.

The audio recording along with a transcript of the six-minute call was sold to a tabloid and published. It was circulated again in 1993 by The People, following the separation of Prince Charles and Diana.

Netflix bosses were blasted for the 'crass' and 'bad taste' decision to portray the infamous conversation that sparked a royal scandal, according to The Telegraph.

But it appears The Crown's depiction of Charles and Camilla's relationship hasn't deterred the Queen from watching the programme, according to Kristina Kyriacou, who advised the monarch when he was the Prince of Wales between 2009 and 2016.

Speaking on This Morning in November 2022, she said the explicit phone conversation between Charles and Camilla being used would have been painful for the family.

She told the ITV programme: 'I think the Queen Consort will have definitely been watching it... [she] keeps in touch with her family, her friends, it's an enormous series.'

It's not the only Netflix programme the royal has apparently seen; the royal 'definitely' watches The Crown, according to the King's former communications director, who also admitted the series does not 'tickle' His Majesty's interest. Pictured, Olivia Williams as Camilla Parker-Bowles

Bridgerton (pictured), which is known for its passionate romance scenes, may seem like a surprising choice for the King's wife. Yet she will certainly resonate with its themes of high society and grandeur

Camilla said she'd seen the first season of Bridgerton, which starred Phoebe Dynevor as Daphne and Rege-Jean Page as the Duke

'I don't think the King will have the time. I don't think it's a programme which will tickle his interest.'

Ms Kyriacou added: 'It's a one sided narrative that is 30 years old. Out of respect to his ex-deceased wife and children he would never talk about that situation.  

'It's a dialogue that is fuelled by speculation. It doesn't serve anyone very well to keep rehashing things.' 

It came after a royal expert said the previous month that the Queen 'watches The Crown' with a stiff drink.  

Katie Nicholl told Talk TV: 'I think good for her because she watches it and takes it in the spirit with which it's intended which is with a good pinch of salt.'

Camilla isn't the only royal to watch The Crown, with Prince Harry previously revealing he watches and reportedly even fact-checks the show.

The Duke of Sussex, 39, who has been estranged from his father and brother Prince William since leaving royal life, made the admission during an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in 2023. 

'Yes I have actually watched The Crown,' Harry - who has a production deal with Netflix that is reported to be worth $100 million - told Colbert after the late night host asked if he had seen the series. 'The older stuff and the more recent stuff.'

Olivia Williams as Camilla Parker-Bowles, Dominic West as Prince Charles in the fifth season of The Crown

Harry then burst into fits of laughter and mimed taking notes as Colbert questioned whether he 'fact checks' the show - before admitting: 'Yes, I do actually.' 

He then suggested that The Crown does not offer an entirely factual version of events - before pointing at his bombshell memoir Spare as an apparent example of accuracy, saying: 'Which is why it's so important that history has it right.' 

Netflix not only features The Crown and Bridgerton but also the Sussexes bombshell 2022 Netflix documentary 'Harry & Meghan.'

The series contains a string of revelations and allegations about Harry's mother Princess Diana, how the couple met, their first dates, 'unconscious bias' in the Royal Family and why the Sussexes 'had to quit' royal duties in March 2020, plunging the House of Windsor into crisis. 

Meanwhile, Prince Harry and Queen Camilla's fractured relationship came to light after the Duke claimed in his book Spare last January that his stepmother was leaking stories about the Royal Family to the media to bolster her image.

He also labelled her 'dangerous' and a 'villain' and claimed she had 'sacrificed him' to improve her reputation.

Three months after the book's publication, an aide told The Sunday Times of Camilla's response to Harry's claims, saying: 'It was not stamping of feet or gnashing of teeth – it was much more of an eye-roll response.'

Camilla's close friend Fiona Shelburne, Lady Lansdowne also told the newspaper: 'Of course it bothers her, of course it hurts. 

'But she doesn't let it get to her. Her philosophy is always, 'Don't make a thing of it and it will settle down – least said, soonest mended.'

Camilla speaks to Prince Harry at Buckingham Palace during Trooping the Colour in June 2015

Charles, Camilla and Harry watch a flypast from the Buckingham Palace balcony in July 2005 

But Netflix's close relationship with Prince Harry hasn't stopped Camilla from watching the streaming service.

The Queen yesterday revealed she has seen the first season of Bridgerton after touring a garden inspired by the hit series at the Chelsea Flower Show. 

As she explored the garden, Camilla admitted that she's partial to a spot of guilty-pleasure TV watching and has seen the opening series - which is famously racy. 

Speaking about the show, she revealed: 'I watched the first lot'.

The first season in 2020, which the Queen has seen, featured Daphne Bridgerton (Phoebe Dynevor) and the Duke of Hastings (Rege-Jean Page) as its leads, and captured viewers hearts with its swoon-worthy scenes and stunning attention to detail. 

Meanwhile, Channel 4's Royal Family spoof The Windsors is also said to be 'very popular' at the Palace, according to The Daily Mail's Royal Editor Rebecca English.

She tweeted in 2020: 'I can’t tell you how funny this programme is. Very sharp and well-researched. All of the depictions are side-splittingly funny (Princess Anne is a hoot). Well worth a watch and a giggle. It’s very popular at the palace too.'