Queen Camilla of the United Kingdom

Camilla (born Camilla Rosemary Shand, later Parker Bowles; 17 July 1947) is Queen of the United Kingdom and the 14 other Commonwealth realms as the wife of King Charles III.

Camilla was raised in East Sussex and South Kensington in England and educated in England, Switzerland, and France. In 1973, she married British Army officer Andrew Parker Bowles; they divorced in 1995. Camilla and Charles were romantically involved periodically, both before and during each of their first marriages. Their relationship was highly publicized in the media and attracted worldwide scrutiny. 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. From the marriage until her husband’s accession, she was known as Duchess of Cornwall. Upon the death of Queen Elizabeth II on 8 September 2022, Charles became king with Camilla as queen consort. Their coronation took place at Westminster Abbey on 6 May 2023.

Camilla carries out public engagements representing the monarchy, often alongside her husband. She is also the patron, the president, or a member, of numerous charities and organizations. Since 1994, Camilla has campaigned to raise awareness of osteoporosis, which has earned her several honors and awards. She has also campaigned to raise awareness of issues such as rape, sexual abuse, illiteracy, animal welfare, and poverty.

Early Life and Education

Camilla Rosemary Shand was born at King's College Hospital, London, on 17 July 1947. Her family split their time between their country house-18th century The Laines in Plumpton, East Sussex-and their London house in South Kensington.

Her parents were British Army officer-turned-businessman Major Bruce Shand and his wife The Hon. Rosalind Cubitt, daughter of Roland Cubitt, 3rd Baron Ashcombe. Camilla has a younger sister, Annabel Elliot, and had a younger brother, Mark Shand. One of her maternal great-grandmothers, Alice Keppel, was a mistress of King Edward VII from 1898 to 1910. On 1 November 1947, Shand was baptized at St. Peter’s Church, Firle, East Sussex.

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. Her father had various businesses interests after retiring from the army. 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.

During her childhood, Shand became an avid reader through the influence of her father, who read to her frequently. 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. According to her, childhood "was perfect in every way." Biographer Gyles Brandreth describes her background and childhood:

Camilla is often described as having had an "Enid Blyton sort of childhood." In fact, it was much grander than that. Camilla as a little girl, may have had some personality traits of George, the tomboy girl among the Famous Five, but Enid Blyton's children were essentially middle-class children and the Shands, without question, belonged to the upper class. The Shands had position and they had help-help in the house, help in the garden, help with children. They were gentry. They opened their garden for the local Conservative Party Association summer fete.

Titles

9 April 2005 -8 September 2023 Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall

9 April 2005-8 September 2023 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

House: Windsor (by marriage)

Religion: Church of England

(https://en.wikipedia.org)