Camilla - The Duchess of Cornwall is also called the Duchess of Rothesay.
It is very curious that Camilla's great-grandmother (on her mother's side) - one of the socialites, the beautiful Alice Keppel, was for 12 years the mistress of King Edward VII himself, who is Charles' great-great-grandfather.
Duchess Camilla of Cornwall. Who is she?
The Duchess is the second wife of Charles, Prince of Wales. For a long time they were lovers even before the prince's marriage to the famous Diana. They met the prince in the 70s, however, as you know, her candidacy as a bride for Charles was not suitable then, according to his parents.
The resumption of their relationship in the 80s was the main reason for the discord in the relationship between Charles and Princess Diana. Charles married Camilla in 2005, long after the death of Princess Diana (1997). By then, she had separated from her first husband.
The ceremony of their celebration was devoid of its usual scope and pomp.
Biography of the Duchess in her youth
The Duchess of Cornwall Camilla Rosemary (photo attached) has come a long way beforeto be with beloved Charles again.
Her full name is Camille Rosemary Shand. She is the oldest of her parents' three children.
Camilla was born into an English family on July 17, 1947 in London. Mother - Rosalind Maud, father - Bruce Middleton Hope Shand. Four years later, the family moved to a village in East Sussex.
The girl first studied at a local school, then at a school in the London district of South Kensington. Later she studied in Switzerland and at the British Institute in Paris.
Camilla (Duchess of Cornwall) was spontaneous and sociable in her youth. This attracted the shy prince to her. They met Charles in 1970 at a polo match. At that time, the girl met with his friend - a young cavalry officer Andrew Parker-Bowles.
After the Prince's military service (1971), they drifted apart for a while. Subsequently, Camilla still married the same friend of his.
Camilla's marriage periods
Quite an interesting period of life lived the Duchess of Cornwall Camilla. Her biography has developed quite original and curious on a personal level. She married Parker-Bowles in 1973, and the following year they had a baby - a son, Thomas. Charles, as their best friend, became the boy's godfather. And Camilla, in turn, participated in the choice of a bride for Charles. She was also present at the solemn and magnificent wedding of the prince with Diana Spencer. The unkind attitude of the British towards Camilla by that time was already obviousfelt.
The death of Diana spurred the British to a new wave of dislike for Camille.
In 1995, she divorced her husband. In 2000, the mother of the Prince of Wales finally approved Camilla as a bride, and in 2005 their long-awaited wedding took place. From that moment on, she became known as “Her Royal Highness, the Duchess of Cornwall.” From now on, she is Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall (photos with the Prince of Wales have since become common in the press). The people began to slowly get used to the new chosen one of Charles due to the fact that Camilla was cautious and reserved, tried never to discuss her relationship with her husband and acted modestly.
The very first independent visit as a representative of the British royal family she made to the capital of France - Paris (visited the famous fashion house Dior and the Louvre).
Children, grandchildren. Scandals in the royal family
Duchess Camilla of Cornwall has two children (a son and a daughter) from her first marriage to Parker-Bowles:
- Tom Parker-Bowles (born 1974),
- Laura Lopez (b. 1978).
Camilla has 5 grandchildren in total:
- Tom's children - Freddie (2010) and Lola (2007);
- Laura's children - Eliza (2008), Gus and Louis - twins (2009).
Charles and Diana have two sons, for whom the Duchess became a stepmother:
- Prince William, now Duke of Cambridge (b. 1982);
- Prince Harry (Henry)(Born in 1984).
The Duchess also has a grandson from her stepson - Prince William. His name is George. Small squabbles in the royal family are associated with him. The Duchess of Cornwall Camilla expressed doubts about the child of Kate Middleton and her husband Prince William. She believes that perhaps the father of the newborn is not a prince, but a man who is not at all involved in their royal family. Camilla demanded a DNA test.
And this is all because, according to the Duchess, baby George is completely different from Prince William. In this regard, according to Camilla, the royal family must be convinced of the loy alty of the Duchess of Cambridge. With such statements by her daughter-in-law, Elizabeth II was greatly indignant and shocked. The Prince's stepmother decided to downplay the Duchess of Cambridge's existing popularity with this kind of gossip.
Duchess titles
Camilla owns the titles of her husband, which he received immediately at birth.
After her marriage to the Prince of Wales, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall has the following several titles:
- HRH The Princess of Wales;
- Duchess of Rothesay;
- Duchess of Cornwall;
- Countess Chester.
After Charles receives the royal title, the duchess will have the title of princess consort.
Awards
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, has, as befits the ladies of such a society, the corresponding awards:
- Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (2012);
- Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal (2012) and others
Curious facts from the life of Camilla
Deprived of the favor of Elizabeth II, the Duchess of Cornwall Camilla nevertheless arranged her life quite well. Her biography is full of a wide variety of curious and curious moments of life.
There are some interesting facts from the biography of the duchess.
The Duchess's family comes from one of Britain's most influential noble families.
Instead of April 8, 2005, the solemn marriage of Camilla Rosemary Shand and the Prince of Wales took place a day later, due to the death of Pope John Paul II. The presence of Prince Charles at the funeral was necessary.
Like Camilla's mother-in-law, Queen Elizabeth II, the Duchess had a great love for dogs. She adopted a couple of pets from a dog shelter. At the same time, the Duchess is the patron of the Kennel Club - a charitable organization and the Moorland Mousie Trust - a charitable foundation (they work with ponies).
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, Madonna and Canadian singer Celine Dion are distant relatives.
Camilla's TV hobby is the famous show "Dancing with the Stars". She even attended once as a jury member and graded the participants.
Charles is 16 months younger than the Duchess: she was born in July 1947 at the King's College Hospital in London, andPrince of Wales - in November 1948 at Buckingham Palace itself.
