Camilla Rosemary Shand (July 17, 1947) is Queen of the United Kingdom and the 14 other Commonwealth realms as the wife of King Charles III.
She is the first child and daughter of British Army officer-turned-businessman Major Bruce Shand and his wife The Hon. Rosalind Cubitt. She was raised in East Sussex and South Kensington in England and educated in England, Switzerland, and France.
Camilla met Prince Charles in mid-1971. Andrew Parker Bowles had ended his relationship with her in 1970 and was courting Princess Anne, Charles's sister. Though Camilla and Charles belonged to the same social circle and occasionally attended the same events, they had not formally met. They became close friends and eventually began a romantic relationship, which was well known within their social circle. As a couple, they regularly met at polo matches at Smith's Lawn in Windsor Great Park, where Charles often played polo. The relationship was put on hold after Charles travelled overseas to join the Royal Navy in early 1973, and ended abruptly afterward.
The same year, Camilla married British Army officer Andrew Parker Bowles. The couple had two children: Tom and Laura. Both children were brought up in their father's Roman Catholic faith, particularly during the lifetime of their paternal grandmother Ann Parker Bowles; Camilla remained an Anglican and did not convert to Roman Catholicism. They divorced in 1995 after 21 years of marriage.
When Lord Mountbatten was assassinated in 1979, Charles was grief-stricken by his death, and reportedly relied heavily on Camilla Parker Bowles for solace. During this period, rumours began circulating, among close friends of the Parker Bowleses and in polo-playing communities, that Camilla and Charles had rekindled their intimate relationship. A source close to Parker Bowles confirmed that by 1980 they had indeed rekindled as lovers. Camilla’s husband, Andrew, reportedly approved of the affair, while he had numerous lovers throughout their marriage. Nevertheless, Charles soon began a relationship with Lady Diana Spencer, whom he married in 1981.The affair became public knowledge in the press a decade later, with the publication of Diana: Her True Story in 1992, and following both of their divorces, Prince Charles declared his relationship with Parker Bowles was "non-negotiable".
They got married in 2005 in the Windsor Guildhall, and the wedding 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.
She 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 organisations. Since 1994, Camilla has campaigned to raise awareness of osteoporosis, which has earned her several honours and awards. She has also campaigned to raise awareness of issues such as rape, sexual abuse, literacy, animal welfare, and poverty.
She became queen consort on September 8, 2022 upon her husband's accession as King Charles III, following the death of Queen Elizabeth II.
The coronation of Charles III and Camilla took place on May 6, 2023. Upon Charles's accession, Camilla assumed the style "Her Majesty The Queen Consort", which distinguished her from Queen Elizabeth II. Since the coronation, she has been styled "Her Majesty The Queen", consistent with past queens consort.
Until today, some Princess Diana's fans can't forgive Camilla for the breakdown of Diana and Charles's marriage and the damage that the secret affair did to the princess.