Queen Camilla is the Queen Consort of the United Kingdom, known for her long-standing relationship with King Charles III and her evolution from a controversial figure to a widely accepted senior royal. She gained public attention for her self-deprecating humour, her work with charities supporting victims of sexual assault and osteoporosis, and most recently for quietly wearing one of the royal family’s most historic pieces of jewelry at the State Opening of Parliament.
Quick Facts
Full Name: Camilla Rosemary Shand (later Parker Bowles)
Age: 78 (born July 17, 1947)
Nationality: British
Occupation: Queen Consort of the United Kingdom
Known For: Wife of King Charles III; wearing the historic George IV State Diadem at Parliament
Marital Status: Married to King Charles III (since 2005)
Children: Tom Parker Bowles (born 1974) and Laura Lopes (born 1978)
Early Life and Background
Camilla Rosemary Shand was born in London to Major Bruce Shand, a British Army officer, and his wife Rosalind, a member of the Cubitt family. She was educated in the United Kingdom, Switzerland, and France, and later worked as a secretary and receptionist at a London decorating firm. In 1973, she married British Army officer Andrew Parker Bowles, with whom she had two children before their divorce in 1995.
Career and Achievements
Camilla has been a working member of the Royal Family since marrying Charles in 2005, initially using the title Duchess of Cornwall to respect the legacy of Diana, Princess of Wales. Over the years, she has become patron or president of numerous charities, focusing on health literacy, osteoporosis (which killed her mother), and supporting victims of domestic violence and sexual assault.
In February 2022, Queen Elizabeth II announced her “sincere wish” that Camilla be known as Queen Consort when Charles became King. Following Elizabeth II’s death in September 2022, Camilla assumed the role and was crowned alongside Charles at Westminster Abbey on May 6, 2023.
Major Event or Controversy
For decades, Camilla was a controversial figure due to her extramarital affair with Charles during his marriage to Princess Diana. After Diana’s death in 1997, a sustained public relations campaign gradually rehabilitated her image, culminating in the late Queen’s endorsement. In his 2023 memoir Spare, Prince Harry described Camilla as a dangerous “villain” who leaked stories to the press to rehabilitate her own reputation, though Buckingham Palace declined to comment.
Why She Is In the News
Camilla is in the news following the State Opening of Parliament on May 13, 2026, where she wore the George IV State Diadem a crown set with 1,333 diamonds and valued at over £8,000 in 1820 (equivalent to roughly $1.1 million today). While the diadem was first noticed, Camilla also wore a pair of Queen Victoria’s pearl drop earrings, dating back to 1847 and bequeathed by Victoria to be worn by “future Queens in right of it”. This marked the third time she has worn the diadem to the State Opening, continuing a tradition established by Queen Elizabeth II.
Conclusion
Queen Camilla is a former “tabloid pariah” who transformed into one of the most senior and accepted members of the modern monarchy. At the 2026 State Opening of Parliament, she demonstrated her understanding of soft power by wearing a collection of historic gems including the George IV State Diadem and Queen Victoria’s pearl earrings connecting her reign directly to two of Britain’s most iconic former queens.
