Charles and Camilla forced apart

Prince Charles once spoke of the "soul refreshing" quality of the hills and pine forests around Balmoral Castle. It is to be hoped that he has found some solace this week in the rugged Highland scenery of the Royal estate.

Tomorrow, he must emerge from the seclusion of Balmoral and guide his sons through the ordeal of Diana's funeral. It will be the most difficult day of their lives, and possibly of his too. For so strong is national sentiment towards his ex-wife that it must be possible that the Prince will be booed or hissed by the crowds lining the route of the procession.

As he steels himself for the funeral, Prince Charles must be reflecting on the cruellest hand yet dealt him by Fate. Diana's new relationship with Dodi Fayed had magnified his chances of softening public attitudes towards Camilla Parker Bowles, the woman he has loved for more than two decades.

Now everything has changed. Prince Charles's priority, now and for many years to come, must be William and Harry. As their only parent, he will need to devote more time to them and fill the void left by their mother's death.

As he tries to console the boys in these early days, one can only speculate on his own confused emotions. A huge sense of loss, no doubt, for friends say that despite the bitter circumstances in which he parted from Diana, a strong bond endured from their 15-year marriage. But a loss tinged with ambivalence, possibly with anger, certainly with the guilt that he could have helped prevent her premature passing.

Amid his anguish, the Prince is deprived of the company of Camilla, the woman on whom he relies for emotional support. He has spoken to her by telephone many times from Balmoral, according to friends. But given the near-sanctification of Diana, it is inconceivable that they can meet in the near future, and their longer-term hopes of being together have been virtually dashed.

The campaign waged by the couple's friends to rehabilitate Camilla as an acceptable companion, even future wife, for Prince Charles has been abandoned. A party next week in aid of the National Osteoporosis Society, of which she is patron and at which he was to be guest of honour, has been cancelled. So has a holiday that they planned to take together in Scotland later this month.

"Diana's death has set Charles and Camilla back years," said Judy Wade, Royal correspondent for Hello! magazine. "It is the worst thing that could possibly have happened to them. Their situation is absolutely hopeless.

"If Camilla's car is seen near Highgrove in the next six months, it could be the end of them. The public simply won't tolerate it."

The Prince will need to muster all his resources for Saturday. Dr David Starkie, a constitutional expert, detects a growing mood of hostility towards him. "There is such a national head of steam building up at the moment that anything could happen at the funeral," he said.

"I'm not sure that the Royal Family know what they are letting themselves in for. I feel desperately sorry for Prince Charles."