Sarah Mitchell
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, is the wife of King Charles III and queen consort of the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth realms. She was born on 17 July 1947 and is known for her charitable work, particularly in raising awareness of osteoporosis. Camilla was previously married to British Army officer Andrew Parker Bowles, who, along with their children, was Roman Catholic. Camilla and Charles' relationship received negative publicity due to the popularity of his first wife, Princess Diana of Wales. However, they persevered, and after their respective divorces and a period of public mourning for Diana, they married in 2005.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Camilla Parker Bowles |
| Title | Duchess of Cornwall, Duchess of Rothesay, Countess of Chester, Queen Consort |
| Date of Birth | 17 July 1947 |
| Spouse | Prince Charles |
| Children | Tom Parker Bowles |
| Religion | Unknown, her husband was Roman Catholic and her children were raised as Roman Catholics |
| Education | Educated in England, Switzerland, and France |
| Awards and Honours | Ethel LeFrak Award (2005), Kohn Foundation Award (2007), Honorary Fellowship from King's College London (2007), Honorary Doctorate from the University of Southampton (2016) |
| Charity Work | Patroness of the National Osteoporosis Society (now the Royal Osteoporosis Society), National Literacy Trust |
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What You'll Learn
Camilla's first solo engagement as Duchess of Cornwall
Camilla, the Duchess of Cornwall, and now Queen Consort, has been involved in a number of charitable endeavours and has supported several causes over the years.
Her first solo engagement as Duchess of Cornwall was a visit to Southampton General Hospital. She also attended the Trooping of Colour for the first time in June 2005, appearing on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. In the same year, she also made her inaugural overseas tour, visiting the United States.
In 2013, the Duchess embarked on her first official solo engagement abroad, travelling to Paris, France, to learn more about the work of Emmaus UK, a charity for the homeless that was one of the first patronages she took on after her marriage to the Prince of Wales in 2005. During her visit, she sampled homemade cake at Emmaus Bougival, met with representatives of the charity, and attended a reception at the residence of the British Ambassador, Sir Peter Ricketts, and his wife, Lady Suzanne.
Camilla has also been recognised for her work in raising awareness of osteoporosis, receiving awards from the Kohn Foundation and the National Osteoporosis Society, which was renamed the Royal Osteoporosis Society in 2019. In 2016, she was awarded an honorary doctorate from the University of Southampton for her efforts in this area.
In October 2022, as Queen Consort, Camilla undertook her first major solo engagement, visiting London's Chelsea and Westminster Hospital to highlight the work of independent domestic violence advisors (IDVAs) and other staff supporting victims of domestic violence. She met with SafeLives pioneer Shana Begum and her three-week-old baby, Jeremy, praising Shana for her work in raising awareness of domestic abuse and healthy relationships.
Throughout her time as Duchess of Cornwall and now as Queen Consort, Camilla has continued to actively support and promote various charitable causes and organisations.
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Camilla's work on raising osteoporosis awareness
Camilla, Queen Consort of the United Kingdom, has been actively involved in raising global awareness about osteoporosis, a disease that weakens bones to the point where they break very easily. Her mother, Rosalind Shand, died at 72 after suffering from the disease. In an interview, Queen Camilla recalled that her mother "lost about eight inches in height and became so bent she was unable to digest her food properly, leaving her with no appetite at all". She also recalled how her mother "literally screamed from pain when she moved or someone touched her".
Queen Camilla has been honoured multiple times for her work on raising awareness about osteoporosis. In 2005, she was honoured with an Ethel LeFrak award from an American charity. In 2007, she received the Kohn Foundation Award from the National Osteoporosis Society (now the Royal Osteoporosis Society) and an honorary fellowship from King's College London for raising the profile of osteoporosis. In 2016, she received an honorary doctorate from the University of Southampton in recognition of her efforts in raising awareness about osteoporosis. She is also the president of the Royal Osteoporosis Society, a UK charity dedicated to raising awareness about the condition.
In 2007, Queen Camilla opened the Duchess of Cornwall Centre for Osteoporosis at the Royal Cornwall Hospital in Truro. In 2009, the National Osteoporosis Society created The Duchess of Cornwall's Award (later renamed The Queen's Award for Osteoporosis) to recognise achievements in the field of osteoporosis. In 2011, she wrote an article about her mother's suffering and death due to osteoporosis. She has also shared her mother's story with her children and grandchildren as a warning about the disease.
Queen Camilla has urged the elderly to get checked for osteoporosis, emphasising that it is a devastating bone disease that was rarely diagnosed and seldom discussed when her mother and grandmother had it. She has also highlighted the importance of bone health, exercise, and nutrition in preventing osteoporosis. The Royal Osteoporosis Society, of which Queen Camilla is a member, has volunteers who share their experiences of living with osteoporosis to raise awareness about the condition.
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Camilla's marriage to Andrew Parker Bowles
Camilla Shand, now Queen Camilla, married Captain Andrew Parker Bowles, a retired British Army officer, on July 4, 1973, at the Guards' Chapel at Wellington Barracks in London. The wedding was described as the "'society wedding of the season," with 800 guests in attendance.
Camilla and Andrew had met in the late 1960s, and their wedding was officiated as a Roman Catholic ceremony, despite Camilla remaining an Anglican and not converting to Catholicism. After their marriage, the couple lived at Bolehyde Manor and later at Middlewick House near Corsham in Wiltshire. They had two children, Tom and Laura.
Andrew Parker Bowles had ties to the Royal Family, as his parents were friends of the Queen Mother, and he served as a page to Queen Elizabeth II at her coronation. He had also previously dated the Princess Royal. Camilla, meanwhile, had been linked romantically to the then-Prince Charles, both before and during their respective first marriages.
In 1994, after 21 years of marriage, Camilla and Andrew issued divorce proceedings, citing that they had been living separately for years. Their divorce was finalised on March 3, 1995, and the following year, Andrew married Rosemary Pitman.
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Camilla's relationship with Prince Charles
Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, first met in 1970 and were romantically involved periodically before and during each of their first marriages. Charles and Camilla's relationship was highly publicized in the media and scrutinized worldwide. In 1973, Camilla married British Army officer Andrew Parker Bowles, and Charles famously wed Princess Diana in 1981. Despite their marriages, Camilla and Charles's physical relationship allegedly continued, with Camilla's husband being aware of the affair. Princess Diana herself spoke publicly about the affair in a 1995 interview, where she acknowledged her own extramarital relationship.
Camilla and Andrew Parker Bowles divorced in 1995, and Charles and Diana's relationship also ended around the same time. Charles and Camilla continued their relationship, and in 2005, they married in a civil ceremony at Windsor Guildhall, followed by an Anglican blessing at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. The wedding was attended by their sons, Tom and Prince William, who acted as witnesses, and other dignitaries, including the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh.
After their marriage, Camilla became known as the Duchess of Cornwall and acquired a high rank in the British order of precedence. She also moved into Clarence House, Charles's official residence. In the years following their marriage, Camilla and Charles carried out public engagements and represented the monarchy. Camilla has also been recognized for her work in raising awareness of osteoporosis, receiving several awards and honors, including an honorary doctorate from the University of Southampton in 2016.
In 2021, Camilla and Charles received their first doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. On February 10, 2022, they celebrated their 17th wedding anniversary, and on September 8, 2022, Charles became king upon the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, with Camilla as queen consort. Their coronation took place at Westminster Abbey on May 6, 2023.
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Camilla's patronage of several charities
Queen Camilla is the patron of numerous charities and organisations, with her charity work focusing on several themes, including health, literacy, supporting those in need, the elderly, victims of rape and sexual abuse, domestic violence, empowering women, food, animals, dance, and heritage and the arts.
Camilla's first solo engagement as the Duchess of Cornwall was a visit to Southampton General Hospital. She has also supported organisations working to combat poverty and homelessness, such as Emmaus UK, which she visited during her solo trip to Paris in 2013. She annually hosts disabled and terminally ill children from her patronages Helen & Douglas House and Roald Dahl's Marvellous Children's Charity for lunch at Clarence House, where they also decorate the Christmas tree.
In 2016, Queen Elizabeth II passed on several patronages to other members of the Royal Family. As part of this, Camilla assumed new patronages at Barnardo's, Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, and The Royal School of Needlework. In June 2018, she took on The Royal Society of Literature. Her first patronage was the Royal Osteoporosis Society (ROS), which was formerly called the National Osteoporosis Society. Her interest in this charity stems from her mother's suffering and early death from the disease in 1994. For her work in raising awareness of osteoporosis, she has received several awards, including the Kohn Foundation Award in 2007 from the National Osteoporosis Society.
Camilla has also highlighted the work of domestic abuse charities and their efforts to support victims and survivors. In November 2016, she visited the Dubai Foundation for Women and Children, a shelter for victims of domestic violence, child abuse, and human trafficking. She has also visited projects run by Barnardo's, focusing on child sexual exploitation, and has met with key decision-makers to discuss rape and sexual abuse. In March 2022, as president of the Royal Voluntary Service, she launched the organisation's Platinum Champions Awards to honour volunteers who have improved lives in their communities.
In addition to her work with osteoporosis and domestic abuse charities, Camilla has also been involved with the following organisations:
- The Brooke, a charity providing free veterinary treatment for horses and donkeys worldwide.
- The British Equestrian Foundation and the Kennel Club Charitable Trust.
- The Langford Trust for Animal Health and Welfare, which supports the University of Bristol Veterinary School.
- The Animal Care Trust under the umbrella of The Royal Veterinary College.
- The Silver Line, a confidential, free helpline for older people in the UK that offers information, friendship, and advice.
- Duchenne UK, a charity formed by the merging of Duchenne Children's Trust and Joining Jack.
- Maggie's Cancer Caring Centres, a UK cancer charity offering support to those diagnosed with cancer and their loved ones.
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Frequently asked questions
No, Camilla is not Catholic. Her ex-husband, Andrew Parker Bowles, was Roman Catholic, and their children were raised as Roman Catholics.
Camilla is the wife of King Charles III and is the current Queen Consort of the United Kingdom.
Camilla is known for her work in raising awareness of osteoporosis, for which she has received several awards. She has also been recognised for her work with literacy charities.
The relationship received negative publicity due to the popularity of Charles' first wife, Princess Diana. However, the couple persevered, and their commitment was described by Charles as "non-negotiable".
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