According to her, childhood 'was perfect in every way'. She grew up with dogs and cats, and, at a young age, learnt how to ride by joining Pony Club camps, going on to win rosettes at community gymkhanas. ĭuring her childhood, Shand became an avid reader through the influence of her father, who read to her frequently. He was most notably a partner in Block, Grey and Block, a firm of wine merchants in South Audley Street, Mayfair, later joining Ellis, Son and Vidler of Hastings and London. Her father had various business interests after retiring from the army. Her mother was a charity worker who during the 1960s and 1970s volunteered at the Chailey Heritage Foundation (which helps young children with disabilities) near their Sussex home.

On 1 November 1947, Shand was baptised at St. One of her maternal great-grandmothers, Alice Keppel, was a mistress of King Edward VII from 1898 to 1910. Camilla has a younger sister, Annabel Elliot, and had a younger brother, Mark Shand. Rosalind Cubitt, daughter of Roland Cubitt, 3rd Baron Ashcombe. Her parents were British Army officer-turned-businessman Major Bruce Shand and his wife The Hon. Her family split their time between their country house – 18th century The Laines in Plumpton, East Sussex – and their London house in South Kensington. She has also campaigned to raise awareness of issues such as rape, sexual abuse, literacy, animal welfare, and poverty.Ĭamilla Rosemary Shand was born at King's College Hospital, London, on 17 July 1947. Since 1994, Camilla has campaigned to raise awareness of osteoporosis, which has earned her several honours and awards. She is also the patron, the president, or a member, of numerous charities and organisations. Ĭamilla carries out public engagements representing the monarchy, often alongside her husband. Charles and Camilla's coronation took place at Westminster Abbey on.

Upon the death of Queen Elizabeth II on 8 September 2022, Charles became king with Camilla as queen consort. From the marriage until her husband's accession, she was known as Duchess of Cornwall. In 2005, Camilla married Charles in the Windsor Guildhall, which was followed by a televised Anglican blessing at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. Their relationship was highly publicised in the media and attracted worldwide scrutiny. Camilla and Charles were romantically involved periodically, both before and during each of their first marriages. In 1973, she married British Army officer Andrew Parker Bowles they divorced in 1995. Ĭamilla was raised in East Sussex and South Kensington in England and educated in England, Switzerland, and France. Camilla (born Camilla Rosemary Shand, 17 July 1947 later Parker Bowles) is Queen of the United Kingdom and the 14 other Commonwealth realms as the wife of King Charles III.

From Maid to Duchess by Regina James