King Charles knew he needed to find the perfect moment to introduce his sons to his new partner, Camilla Parker-Bowles.
Princes William and Harry were well aware of the infidelity in their parents' marriage and watched their unpleasant divorce play out in the world's media.
Then the Prince of Wales, Charles waited a long time to bring the two sides of his life together, especially after they both went "very quiet" the first time he suggested it just a few months before Princess Diana's death.
According to royal expert Angela Levin, the meeting final came shortly before the boys arranged a surprise 50th birthday party for the dad. In her new book Camilla: From Outcast to Queen Consort, Levin claims that both William and Harry knew that Charles would want Camilla at the celebration, but knew it would be better to meet her before hand, privately and away from prying eyes.
William went first and a London meeting was set for June 12, 1988.
Levin writes: "William turned up unexpectedly early. Camilla offered to disappear, but her aide, Amanda MacManus, suggested it would be a good idea if they met earlier. William agreed.
"They talked for about half an hour and their meeting apparently went as well as could be hoped. The Prince was friendly and Camilla was sensitive enough to let the relationship progress at his pace and not ask difficult questions."
And once the tense meeting was over, Camilla reportedly announced: "I need a gin and tonic".
A few weeks later William and Camilla met for another lunch.
Then it was Harry's turn.
The younger Wales brother is believed to have had a more strained relationship with his future stepmother, however their first meeting was said to be a success.
When Charles announced he was to marry Camilla, Harry used an interview to say he and William "love her to bits". But since then there have been reports that Harry "can't stand" Camilla and she could come in for criticism in his upcoming memoir, which is said to be due out later this year.
In her book which has been serialised in The Telegraph, Levin adds: "It is always difficult to take on the role of stepmother and William and Harry presented the then-Duchess of Cornwall with an almost impossible challenge.
"One insider felt that being Prince Harry ’s stepmother in particular wasn’t easy. 'The Duchess always felt quite wary of Harry and used to see him out of the corner of her eye looking at her in a long and cold way. She found it rather unnerving. Otherwise, they got on quite well.'
The insider adds: "She never interfered directly or tried to be a surrogate mother. Instead, she was a supportive figure in the background."
