Queen Camilla's life in photos

Despite the terrible news from the royal family in recent months, Queen Camilla has stepped up to the task and attended royal visits on behalf of her husband, King Charles III. Although she has needed to step back for a short spell, the Queen Consort, born in 1947, is doing a remarkable job. We take a look at her life in photos.

Charles' second wife was crowned alongside her husband on 6th May 2023. She cannot be the monarch together with Charles, as she has married into the royal family and has not inherited the honor. However, while she should be anointed 'Queen Consort,' this cumbersome title has already been shortened to 'Queen Camilla'.

"There’s a view in the Palace that Queen Consort is cumbersome, and it might be simpler for Camilla to be known just as the Queen when the time is right," a source had said to Marie Claire at the time of the coronation.

The first sign of Camilla dropping the title consort came from The Daily Mail. They reported that Camilla launched the "Queen’s Reading Room" - formerly the "Duchess of Cornwall’s Reading Room." There is no 'Consort' to be found.

Although Camilla has had many titles, she was previously most commonly referred to as the Duchess of Cornwall and not the Princess of Wales. The reasons? There already was a Princess of Wales: Diana. Out of respect, the Duchess always rejected the title.

Camilla is now known as Queen Consort. The role will be mainly standing in for the King, acting as regent if need be. She will not have the same political and military powers as her husband The King (at least historically), but she has the same social rank and status.

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So how did this lady evolve from a character surrounded by scandal in the 80s, to Britain's most important female royal, stepping in for the King himself?

This controversial topic has raised many questions, the main one being, does the great British public accept her as their new Queen? The Duchess has had a long journey - is her past controversy now be behind her?

Camilla was born into an upper class family, sixteen months before the birth of Prince Charles. She was educated in Switzerland and Paris.

In an interview with the Daily Mail, she said that her mother would sit at the dinner table and the minute there was a moment of silence she would say: "Talk, I don’t care what it is about… but keep the conversation going." The Queen Consort followed this by claiming that she has never not been able to speak.

She met Charles in the early 1970s at a polo match and maintained a relationship with him until he joined the Royal Navy. He subsequently left for duty.

In 1973, Camilla married a former boyfriend of Princess Anne: Andrew Parker Bowles. They had two children: Tom and Laura.

Interestingly, Prince Charles, as he was then, was named as Godfather to Tom.

Charles returned from the Navy to find Camilla now married with a family. It was his fate to be married to Lady Diana Spencer.

According to Diana in her famous interview with Martin Bashir, "there were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded."

In 1995 Camilla and her husband Andrew got divorced. The following year, Charles and Diana also got divorced. The original couple of Camilla and Charles went public about their relationship two years later.

The Royal Observer tells us that on July 18, 1997, Charles had organised a 50th birthday celebration for Camilla. He made sure photographers were there to capture her arrival and departure - the following morning.

The couple were preparing to declare their relationship more publicly, and the then-Prince had quietly begun paying Camilla a yearly allowance - one that would befit a royal mistress. The Royal Observer states that he 'even sent his staff to do her supermarket shopping.'

Just a month later, a nation wept when the Queen of Hearts, Princess Diana, was tragically killed in a car accident in 1997. All eyes turned to the tragically sad journey Diana had lived. And then all eyes turned to Camilla.

As many wept for the princess, Camilla kept out of sight, respecting the world's mourning. According to The Royal Observer, Camilla was a 'great comfort' to Charles after the death of his ex-wife.

Royal commentators reflected the wishes of the public at the time, when they warned Camilla to stay in hiding. Royal correspondent, Judy Wade, said: "If Camilla Parker-Bowles is seen anywhere near his home in the next six months, he’ll be toast. He’s got to keep a low profile with her."

Even though Charles wanted Camilla to attend the funeral, everyone knew it was a terrible idea, including the late Queen. The Crown, in fact, forbade her attendance, according to the Royal Observer.

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The acceptance of her relationship with the King of England would be difficult for the British Public to warm to. It was also tough for the late Queen herself.

Author Tom Bower claims that Charles tried to speak to his mother on several occasions, but says the Queen would not condone her son's adultery, nor forgive Camilla for not leaving Charles alone to allow his marriage to recover.

In 2005, the royal couple got engaged, 35 years after first meeting each other. Charles presented Camilla a 3-diamond, 5-carat emerald cut ring that once belonged to the Queen Mother.

The wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles took place in a civil ceremony at Windsor Guildhall, on 9 April 2005. According to Vanity Fair, Duchess Camilla was suffering from serious sinusitis. So much so, that her friends were worried she wouldn't be well enough to walk down the aisle.

Tom Bower also claimed in his book that Queen Elizabeth refused to attend Charles and Camilla's civil ceremony. Her Majesty reportedly didn't even speak to her new daughter-in-law at the afternoon reception.

Princess Diana had always been so loved by people all over the world that it made news of Prince Charles' affair all the more difficult.

In 2014 Camilla’s brother unexpectedly died at the age of 62. He fell and hit his head outside a charity event in New York City. The Daily Mail reported at the time that Camilla and Charles were 'utterly devastated.'

Despite this rough ride, she is quoted in the Daily Mail as saying that she doesn’t take herself too seriously. "You have to laugh at yourself," she said, "because if you can’t, you may as well give up."

When talking about their country retreat, Camilla is quoted as saying: "I’d be out in the garden all day if I were allowed," according to the Express.

On the anniversary of her succession to the throne, the Queen made a public statement about her time as the monarch and her view on the future.
"When, in the fullness of time, my son Charles becomes King, I know you will give him and his wife Camilla the same support that you have given me," the queen had said in her statement.

"And it is my sincere wish that, when that time comes, Camilla will be known as Queen Consort as she continues her own loyal service," she added, throwing her support behind Camilla.

Needless to say, it made the headlines.

The BBC reports royal author Penny Junor saying that Camilla has been "loyal, discreet and works her socks off with her charities and supports the prince... She's taken to this job at a relatively late age and she's been extraordinary."

Aside from supporting her husband and being at his side during public events, Camilla champions her own causes and interests. She supports literacy charities, animal welfare and organisations helping victims of domestic abuse.

Camilla took on other duties during the jubilee weekend. These included attending lunches with the public and the Trouping the Colour event - representing the senior royals. Camilla also appeared next to her husband in a cameo in 'Eastenders', a series that has been broadcast into British homes since 1985. Kellie Bright, actress on the show, said they had been "amazing sports", according to the BBC.

Royal author, Penny Junor, continued by saying that Camilla will bring warmth to the role of Queen Consort. "She's fun and friendly and she has a twinkle in her eye. She makes people feel good for having met her."

A public opinion poll by The Mirror prior to the Late Queen Elizabeth II's death, reveals that Brits are all for Queen Camilla, with 55% of respondents supporting the Duchess of Cornwall becoming Queen Consort. However, some people believe that Charles' first wife, the late Princess Diana, would have been more fitting for the role.

The passing of Queen Elizabeth II has meant that Camilla took on her royal title: Queen Consort to King Charles III and will be anointed so. After her husband has stepped back from royal duties while he undergoes treatment for cancer, it looks as if her quiet days in the garden may have to wait a little while...

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