People.com
Royals
All the Twists and Turns of Prince Charles and Camilla's Unconventional Love Story

All the Twists and Turns of Prince Charles and Camilla's Unconventional Love Story

On the couple's 15th anniversary, take a look back at the timeline of Prince Charles and Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall's romance

By Erin Hill

April 09, 2018 05:20 PM

Skip gallery slides

1 of 16

Credit: Serge Lemoine/Getty

Prince Charles first met Camilla Shand in a meeting arranged by mutual friend, Lucia Santa Cruz, at a polo match in 1970. The two had an instant connection: "He loved the fact that she smiled with her eyes as well as her mouth, and laughed at the same silly things as he did. He also liked that she was so natural and easy and friendly, not in any way overawed by him, not fawning or sycophantic. In short, he was very taken with her, and after that first meeting he began ringing her up," royal biographer Penny Junor wrote in her new book, The Duchess: The Untold Story.

2 of 16

Credit: REX/Shutterstock

In 1971, Charles joined the Royal Navy, putting a strain on his relationship with Camilla. To make matters more complicated, she didn't have what were then seen as prerequisites for marrying the Prince of Wales: An aristocratic bloodline and her virginity. They eventually parted ways, and she reconnected with Andrew Parker Bowles (a former boyfriend of Princess Anne), whom she first met in the late 1960s.

3 of 16

Credit: Wood/Express/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

While Charles was in the Caribbean for his service with the Royal Navy, Camilla accepted a marriage proposal from Andrew Parker-Bowles. They tied the knot on July 4, 1973.

The news devastated the prince. Junor details his despair: “It seemed to him particularly cruel, he wrote in one letter, that after ‘such a blissful, peaceful and mutually happy relationship,’ fate had decreed that it should last a mere six months."

Continued on next slide.

4 of 16

Credit: Derek Hudson/Daily Mail/REX/Shutterstock

Despite Camilla's change in marital status, she and Charles remained close friends.

5 of 16

Credit: TIM GRAHAM/Getty Images

Around 1978-1979, she and Charles started up the physical side of their relationship once again (despite her marriage). Parker Bowles was apparently aware of the affair.

“Andrew was in no position to complain; and when he discovered what was going on, he wisely didn’t make a fuss," an excerpt from The Duchess: The Untold Story, says. "Some would say that a part of him actually quite enjoyed the fact that his wife was sleeping with the future King; he might have felt differently had Charles been a traveling salesman.

6 of 16

Credit: Express Newspapers/Archive Photos/Getty

In 1980, Charles begins to court Lady Diana Spencer as a prospective princess. She comes with him on visits to royal residences Balmoral and Sandringham, and attended his polo matches — one of which, with Camilla. Their relationship is surrounded by media buzz and speculation, leading Charles to rush toward a proposal.

Continued on next slide.

7 of 16

Credit: Anwar Hussein/WireImage

Charles and Diana tied the knot on July 29, 1981, in what was dubbed the "wedding of the century." They welcomed their first child, Prince William, in 1982, and their second, Prince Harry, in 1984. Diana later said that these early years were the closest she and Charles ever came to happiness in their marriage.

8 of 16

Credit: Anwar Hussein/Getty Images

By 1986, Camilla and Charles start seeing each other again, even though both are married with children.

At this point, Diana knew about the affair, and even claims to have approached Camilla herself. "I was terrified of her. I said, 'I know what's going on between you and Charles and I just want you to know that,'" Diana said on tapes recorded for Andrew Morton, her biographer. "She said to me: 'You've got everything you ever wanted. You've got all the men in the world fall in love with you and you've got two beautiful children, what more do you want?' So I said, 'I want my husband'. And I said, 'I'm sorry I'm in the way ... and it must be hell for both of you. But I do know what's going on. Don't treat me like an idiot.'"

9 of 16

Credit: Tim Graham/Getty Images

Charles's affair with Camilla became public knowledge when tapes of conversations between Charles and Camilla were leaked in the press in 1992. Prince Charles and Princess Diana officially announce their separation later in the year, in a statement from Prime Minister John Major.

Continued on next slide.

10 of 16

Credit: Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty Images

In 1995, Camilla and Parker Bowles announce their intention to divorce, saying that their differing interests led to the pair living separate lives. The divorce was official in March. That same year, Diana gives an explosive interview to BBC's Panorama, in which she is candid about the affair, saying, "Well, there were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded."

11 of 16

Credit: Julian Parker/UK Press via Getty Images

Charles and Diana divorce on August 28, 1996. Diana is killed in a car crash in Paris one year later. Charles travels to the city to retrieve her body and bring it back to London, where thousands line the streets to mourn her death.

12 of 16

Credit: Tim Graham Picture Library/Getty Images

In 1998 — one year after the death of Diana — Charles introduces William and Harry to Camilla, but it still seems impossible that the two would ever be able to marry if Charles was to retain his position as heir to the throne.

Continued on next slide.

13 of 16

Credit: Tim Graham/Getty Images

Charles and Camilla appear in public for the first time together in 1999.

14 of 16

In 2000, The Queen attends a lunch that both Charles and Camilla are attending — a subtle, but significant acknowledgement of their relationship.

In 2003, Camilla moves into Clarence House, Charles's new London home, and is granted her own office in the space.

15 of 16

Credit: Anwar Hussein Collection/ROTA/WireImage

In 2005, Charles and Camilla announced their engagement in February, and married in a civil ceremony at Windsor Guildhall on April 9. Though Charles's parents didn't attend the ceremony, they did attend the subsequent blessing at St. George's Chapel, and hosted a reception afterwards.

Continued on next slide.

16 of 16

Credit: Chris Jackson/Getty

Since Diana is so closely associated with the title Princess of Wales, Camilla instead goes by "Duchess of Cornwall." It is still not known for certain if Camilla will be granted the title of Queen Consort upon Charles's ascent to the throne after the eventual death of Queen Elizabeth.

Replay gallery

Up Next

By Erin Hill @erinhillny

Every Tiara Worn at a Royal Wedding

Engineer Creates App To Translate Your Cat

The Sweetest Photos of Princes Harry with Diana

All the Twists and Turns of Prince Charles and Camilla's Unconventional Love Story

1 of 16

1 of 16

2 of 16

2 of 16

3 of 16

3 of 16

4 of 16

4 of 16

5 of 16

5 of 16

6 of 16

6 of 16

7 of 16

7 of 16

8 of 16

8 of 16

9 of 16

9 of 16

10 of 16

10 of 16

11 of 16

11 of 16

12 of 16

12 of 16

13 of 16

13 of 16

14 of 16

14 of 16

15 of 16

15 of 16

16 of 16

16 of 16

Up Next

Everything in This Slideshow

Account

More

All the Twists and Turns of Prince Charles and Camilla's Unconventional Love Story

1 of 16

1 of 16

2 of 16

2 of 16

3 of 16

3 of 16

4 of 16

4 of 16

5 of 16

5 of 16

6 of 16

6 of 16

7 of 16

7 of 16

8 of 16

8 of 16

9 of 16

9 of 16

10 of 16

10 of 16

11 of 16

11 of 16

12 of 16

12 of 16

13 of 16

13 of 16

14 of 16

14 of 16

15 of 16

15 of 16

16 of 16

16 of 16

Share the Gallery

Up Next

Share the Gallery

Everything in This Slideshow