Camilla Parker Bowles is known to all Britishers and many people all over the world as the Duchess of Cornwall. Though she has always led a privileged and public life, she became a household name in 1992 after Princess Diana’s infamous comment “there were three of us in the marriage”.
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Camilla Parker Bowles’ Age
Camilla Parker Bowles is currently 71 years old. She was born on 17th July 1947. She was in London and grew up in Plumpton, East Sussex as well as South Kensington, where her family’s second home is located. Bowles was named Camilla Rosemary Shand at birth. Bowles was the eldest child of Rosalind and Major Bruce Shand. Her maternal grandfather was Roland Cubitt, who was the third Baron Ashcombe and her maternal great-grandmother was Alice Keppel, King Edward VII’s mistress during 1898-1910. Her siblings are Annabel Elliot and Mark Shand, who passed away in 2014. Bowles led a grand life ever since birth. At five years old, Bowles went to the co-educational school Dumbrells in Ditchling village. She studied there till she was ten years old when she left to go to Queen’s Gate School in South Kensington. Later at sixteen years old, she went to Tolochenaz, Switzerland to the Mon Fertile finishing school. After which she went to Paris for a six months course in French literature and French language at the University of London Institute.
Camilla Parker Bowles’ Career
After completing her education, Bowles went on to work as a secretary for several West End firms. She was also a receptionist at the decorating firm Sibyl Colefax & John Mayfair. She frequented equestrian activities and was a talented horse-rider. She also pursued other interests such as painting, fishing, gardening, and horticulture.
Camilla Parker Bowles’ Husband
Bowles has been married twice. The first time Bowles got married at the age of 25 to Andrew Parker Bowles, on 4th July 1973. The two met at her debutante party in 1965 which led the way to eight years of on and off the relationship. The wedding took place at the Guards Chapel, Wellington Barracks in London. The couple had two children, Thomas Henry Charles Parker Bowles, also known as Tom, in 1974 and Laura Rose Hopes in 1978.In December of 1994, the Bowles couple filed for a mutual divorce citing that they were living separately for years. The divorce was granted in March 1995.
Bowles second marriage was to Prince Charles, who is currently second in line to the throne. Bowles met the Prince through a mutual friend, in the early 1970s. They hit it off instantly but their relationship could not last long at the time as Prince Charles had to leave for an eight-month trip. It was during his absence that Andrew proposed. Prince Charles got married to Lady Diana Spencer, later Princess Diana in 1981 while Camilla was still in her first marriage. However, their relationship rekindled in 1986 while both of them were married to other people. In 1992, their extra-marital affair came to be known after the publication of Diana: Her True Story. There was even a Camillagate Tape Scandal, wherein recordings and transcripts of their conversation were published. In 1996, the Prince and Princess got divorced. Bowles relationship with the Prince continued however, it was formally acknowledged after much, public image rehabilitation, a year after Princess Diana’s death in 1997. Bowles finally got married to Prince Charles on 8th April 2005 at Windsor Castle and St. George’s Chapel. The parents of the couple did not attend this wedding.
Camilla Parker Bowles’ Children
Bowles’ children are all grown up now. Tom is now a very popular food critic in the UK and has even appeared on MasterChef as a judge. While Laura is a gallery director and co-founder of the Eleven Gallery in London. Bowles has two stepchildren as well. They are Prince Willian and Prince Harry who are third and seventh in line to the throne respectively.
Camilla Parker Bowles’ Net Worth
The estimated net worth of Bowles is $5 million. It is slated to increase manifold when Prince Charles would be named the King.
Where is Camilla Parker Bowles Now?
Bowles is now HRH the Duchess of Cornwall and would be HRH the Princess Consort, if and when Prince Charles ascends to the throne. Bowles was not given the title of Princess upon her marriage to the Prince, as experts believed people still remembered Princess Diana and did not forgive Charles and Bowles for the extra-marital affair. She is also a member of the Royal Victorian Order, Her Majesty’s Most Honourable Privy Council and the Companion of the Star of Melanesia. Camilla is also the president and patron of more than 90 charities.
Last Modified: Mar 5, 2020
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