Queen Camilla

**Camilla** (Camilla; née Shand; formerly Parker Bowles; born 17 July 1947) is Queen of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and the Commonwealth realms as the wife of King Charles III. She became queen on 8 September 2022, after the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

## Early life

She was born Camilla Rosemary Shand in King's College Hospital, London. She grew up in Sussex. She has a sister, Annabel Elliot (born 1949) and had a brother, Mark Shand (1951-2014).

From 1973 to 1995, she was married to Andrew Parker Bowles. They had two children.

## Marriage to Prince Charles

Prince Charles, later Charles III, 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, Diana, Princess of Wales, who held that title from 1981 until her divorce in 1996, from which time she was styled as "Diana, Princess of Wales". Charles and Diana divorced the year prior to her death. The relationship between Camilla and Prince Charles began when they met at a polo match in 1970. Camilla was seen to be an unsuitable match for the future king.

The Duchess took many visits, mostly in Great Britain — often with Prince Charles, but sometimes on her own. She lives at Clarence House, which is a part of St James's Palace in London (very close to Buckingham Palace). She lives there with King Charles and his sons, Prince William, Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry.

## Family

Camilla was married once before, to Andrew Parker Bowles — from 1973 until they divorced in 1995. The couple had 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.

## Queen consort

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. Despite public opposition to her being called Queen as the consort to the King (because of public preference to the late Diana, Princess of Wales) it was announced that she would take the title following the wish of Elizabeth II.

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 Consort**
* 6 May 2023 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 Queen.