Queen Consort Camilla may be a part of the royal family now — but she was already a queen in her children’s eyes before her marriage to King Charles III.
Camilla and the monarch were first introduced in 1965 and began dating in the early ‘70s. However, Charles eventually had to leave for the Royal Navy service and Camilla moved on with Andrew Parker Bowles. The twosome got engaged shortly after meeting and tied the knot in July 1973.
One year later, the duo welcomed their son, Tom Charles Parker Bowles. Daughter Laura Lopes arrived in 1978. Charles, for his part, wed Princess Diana in 1981. The pair shared sons Prince William and Prince Harry, who were born in 1982 and 1984, respectively.
While Camilla and Andrew were married for over two decades, the twosome split in December 1994 after she secretly rekindled her romance with Charles. The British Army officer, for his part, allegedly had his own extramarital affairs as well.
Charles and Diana, meanwhile, separated in 1992 amid allegations of infidelity on both sides. Their divorce was finalized in 1996. The following year, Diana died in a car crash in Paris at age 36.
Two years later, Camilla and Charles went public with their relationship. While the couple eventually wed in a civil ceremony in April 2005, Camilla and her family faced intense scrutiny from the public at the time.
“It was horrid. It was a deeply unpleasant time and I wouldn’t want to put my worst enemy through it,” Camilla reflected to the Daily Mail in May 2017 of her early days with Charles. “I couldn’t have survived it without my family.”
Queen Elizabeth II — who died at age 96 in September 2022 — announced in February 2022 that her daughter-in-law would earn the title of Queen Consort when Charles ascended the throne. Camilla’s children — who have no place in line of succession — have spoken openly about feeling somewhat detached from the palace.
“[We’re] not quite part of the royal family, to be honest,” Tom told Good Morning Britain in 2018. “My mother married into it. She’s part of it. We’re the common children. We’re just on the side.”
Despite the candid comments, both Tom and Laura have often shown up to support their mother at public events, including Prince Harry’s wedding to Meghan Markle in May 2018 and Garter Day in June 2022. For the latter, Camilla took part in the procession of Garter Knight and Ladies after being appointed a Royal Lady of the Order of the Garter.
In 2015, Tom revealed that he shared a close bond with the former Prince of Wales, who is also his godfather. “I’ve always adored my stepfather; he’s always been a kind and good and lovely man,” the food writer told Australian news show A Current Affair at the time. “He is a man of warmth, intelligence and humanity and I think if it ever happens, he will make a fantastic king.”
Charles and Camilla were blessed and anointed as the United Kingdom’s next monarchs in May 2023, where they were supported by several of her loved ones. The queen’s ex-husband, Andrew, and their two children were all spotted at the Westminster Abbey service. Additionally, three of the former couple’s grandsons served as Camilla’s Pages of Honor during the procession.
Keep scrolling for Queen Consort Camilla’s complete family guide:
