From 1973 to 1995, she was married to Andrew Parker Bowles.[1] They had two children: a son, Tom and a daughter, Laura. Tom is married to Sara, and they have a daughter, Lola, born in 2007 and a son, Freddy, born in 2010. Laura is married to Harry Lopes, and has a daughter, Eliza, born in 2008 and two sons, Gus and Louis, born in 2009.
Marriage to Prince Charles
The relationship between Camilla and Prince Charles began when they met at a polo match in 1970.[2] Camilla was seen to be an unsuitable match for the future king.[3]
During Charles' marriage with Princess Diana, he remained a close friend with Camilla. He also admitted to cheating on Diana with Camilla. This made Camilla upopular with the public for some time.
Prince Charles and Camilla married each other on 9 April 2005, and she started to be called Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall.
When their engagement was announced, it was also said that she would not be known as The Princess of Wales, although she legally held this title as the wife of The Prince of Wales. This decision was made due to the popularity of Prince Charles' first wife, Lady Diana Spencer, who held that title from 1981 until her divorce in 1996. Charles and Diana divorced the year prior to her death.[4]
Camilla became Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the other commonwealth realms as consort of Charles III on the 8th September 2022 following the death of her mother in law, Elizabeth II. In accordance with the law of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, as the legal wife of the King, Camilla automatically assumed the feminine form of her husband's title upon his ascension to the throne. The late Queen Elizabeth II had previously expressed her blessing for this, although it was not legally required.
Charles III and Camilla were crowned as King and Queen on 6 May 2023 at Westminster Abbey.
Titles
17 July 1947–4 July 1973: Miss Camilla Shand
4 July 1973–3 March 1995: Mrs Andrew Parker Bowles
3 March1995–9 April 2005: Camilla Parker Bowles
9 April 2005–8 September 2022: Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall
9 April 2005-8 September 2022 (In Scotland): Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Rothesay
9 April 2021-10 March 2023:Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Edinburgh, Her Royal Highness The Countess of Merioneth, Baroness of Greenwich
8 September 2023–6 May 2023: Her Majesty The Queen
6 May 2023–present:Her Majesty The Queen
Camilla was also legally The Princess of Wales as the wife of The Prince of Wales from her marriage in 2005 until 8th September 2022. However, it was decided that she would not use this title in practice out of deference to the late Diana, Princess of Wales. From 8th September 2022 until 6th May 2023, Camilla was called "Her Majesty The Queen Consort", even though she could have been simply called The Queen.