Queen Camilla facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Camilla |
|
|---|---|
Formal portrait, 2019
|
|
| Queen consort of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms |
|
| Tenure | 8 September 2022 – present |
| Coronation | 6 May 2023 |
| Born | Camilla Rosemary Shand 17 July 1947 King's College Hospital, London, England |
| Spouse | |
| Issue |
|
| House | Windsor (by marriage) |
| Father | Bruce Shand |
| Mother | Rosalind Cubitt |
| Signature |  |
| Education |
|
Camilla (born Camilla Rosemary Shand, on 17 July 1947) is the Queen of the United Kingdom. She is also Queen of 14 other Commonwealth realms. She is the wife of King Charles III. These other countries include Australia, Canada, and New Zealand.
Camilla grew up in England. She lived in East Sussex and South Kensington. She went to school in England, Switzerland, and France. In 1973, she married British Army officer Andrew Parker Bowles. They later divorced in 1995. Camilla and Charles had a romantic relationship before and during their first marriages. This relationship was very public. In 2005, Camilla married Charles. Their wedding was at the Windsor Guildhall. A blessing followed at St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. Before Charles became King, she was known as the Duchess of Cornwall. On 8 September 2022, Charles became King. This happened after his mother, Queen Elizabeth II, passed away. Camilla then became queen consort. Charles and Camilla's coronation was held at Westminster Abbey on 6 May 2023.
Queen Camilla does many public duties. She represents the King. She also supports many charities and groups. Since 1994, she has worked to make people aware of osteoporosis. This work has earned her many awards.
Contents
Early Life and School
Camilla Rosemary Shand was born in London. Her birthday is 17 July 1947. Her family spent time at their country house in Plumpton, East Sussex. They also had a home in South Kensington, London. Her father was Major Bruce Shand, a businessman. Her mother was The Hon. Rosalind Cubitt. Camilla has a younger sister, Annabel Elliot. She also had a younger brother, Mark Shand. One of her great-grandmothers was Alice Keppel. Alice was a friend of King Edward VII. Camilla was baptised in Firle, East Sussex.
Her mother worked for a charity. It helped young children with disabilities. Her father was a wine merchant. He read to Camilla often. This made her love reading. She grew up with pets. She learned to ride horses at a young age. She won awards at horse shows. She said her childhood was "perfect in every way".
When she was five, Camilla went to Dumbrells school. It was a school for boys and girls. From age 10, she went to Queen's Gate School in London. Her classmates called her "Milla". A teacher remembered her as "bright and lively". Camilla left Queen's Gate in 1964.
At 16, she went to a finishing school in Switzerland. Then, she studied French in Paris for six months. In 1965, Camilla was a debutante in London. She shared flats with friends in Kensington and Belgravia. She worked as a secretary. She also worked as a receptionist for a decorating firm. She was reportedly fired for being late after a dance.
She continued to ride horses. She also loved painting. She took private lessons. Her other hobbies included fishing and gardening.
Her Marriages and Family
First Marriage
Camilla met Andrew Parker Bowles in the late 1960s. He was a British Army officer. Their engagement was announced in 1973. They married on 4 July 1973. The wedding was in London. Camilla was 25 and Andrew was 33. It was a big social event. Many royal guests attended. These included Princess Anne and Princess Margaret.
The couple lived in Wiltshire. They had two children. Their son, Tom Parker Bowles, was born in 1974. Their daughter, Laura Lopes, was born in 1978. Tom is a godson of King Charles III. The children were raised in their father's Catholic faith. Camilla remained an Anglican.
In 1994, Camilla's mother died. This was a hard time for her. In December 1994, Camilla and Andrew started divorce proceedings. They had been living apart for years. Their divorce was finalized on 3 March 1995.
Relationship with Charles
Camilla met Prince Charles in 1971. They became close friends. Soon, they started a romantic relationship. This was well known among their friends. They often met at polo matches. Charles also met Camilla's family. Their relationship paused when Charles joined the Royal Navy.
There are different ideas about why they broke up. Some say Charles was too young to marry. Others say Camilla wanted to marry Andrew Parker Bowles. Some believe Charles's family did not approve of Camilla. They remained friends, though. After Lord Mountbatten's death in 1979, Charles relied on Camilla. They reportedly became romantically involved again. Charles later married Lady Diana Spencer in 1981.
Their affair became public in the 1990s. This happened after a book was published. Also, a private phone call between Camilla and Charles was recorded. This caused a big scandal. Charles's public image was hurt. Camilla was criticized by the media. In 1994, Charles spoke about their relationship. He said Camilla was a "great friend". He admitted their relationship restarted after his marriage broke down.
Improving Public Image
After their divorces, Charles said his relationship with Camilla was important. He worked to improve Camilla's public image. In 1999, they made their first public appearance together. This was at a birthday party in London. Many photographers were there. In 2000, Camilla went with Charles to Scotland. In 2001, she became president of the Royal Osteoporosis Society. This helped introduce her to the public.
Camilla later met Queen Elizabeth II. This meeting was seen as the Queen's approval. The Queen invited Camilla to her Golden Jubilee in 2002. Camilla sat in the royal box at Buckingham Palace. Charles paid for her security staff. Camilla moved into Clarence House with Charles in 2003. She still kept her own home, Ray Mill House. In 2004, she went with Charles to many official events. People began to wonder when they would get engaged. Polls showed that many people supported their marriage.
Despite this, some people who supported Diana were still upset. They wrote letters to newspapers. This feeling was also seen online. However, The Independent newspaper named Camilla a very influential woman in 2023 and 2024.
Second Marriage
On 10 February 2005, Camilla and Charles announced their engagement. Charles gave Camilla a diamond ring. It was believed to have belonged to his grandmother. Charles was to be the head of the Church of England. Marrying a divorced person was seen as controversial. But the Queen, government, and Church of England agreed. They offered their best wishes. Clarence House received many supportive letters.
The wedding was planned for 8 April 2005. It was to be a civil ceremony at Windsor Castle. A religious service would follow. But Windsor Castle did not have a license for civil marriages. So, the wedding moved to the Windsor Guildhall. The wedding was also delayed by one day. This was so Charles could attend the Pope's funeral.
On 9 April 2005, the wedding took place. Charles's and Camilla's parents did not attend. Camilla's son Tom and Charles's son Prince William were witnesses. The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh attended the blessing service. Afterwards, the Queen hosted a reception. The couple then went to Scotland for their honeymoon. They also did their first public duties together.
Duchess of Cornwall
.jpg)
After marrying Charles, Camilla became the Duchess of Cornwall. She was the second highest-ranking woman in the UK. This was after Queen Elizabeth II. The Queen later changed the royal order for private events. Camilla was placed fourth. This was after the Queen, Princess Anne, and Princess Alexandra.
Within two years, the Queen showed Camilla more royal family membership. She lent Camilla the Greville Tiara. This tiara belonged to the Queen Mother. She also gave Camilla the badge of the Royal Family Order of Elizabeth II.
Clarence House became Camilla's official home. The couple also stayed at Birkhall for holidays. They used Highgrove House for family gatherings. In 2008, they started staying at Llwynywermod in Wales. Camilla still keeps her home, Ray Mill House. She uses it to spend time with her children and grandchildren.
In March 2007, Camilla had a hysterectomy. In April 2010, she broke her left leg. This happened while walking in Scotland. In November 2010, Camilla and Charles's car was attacked. This happened during student protests. They were unharmed. In 2011, their private information was reportedly targeted. This was part of a phone hacking scandal.
On 9 April 2012, the Queen gave Camilla the Royal Victorian Order. In 2015, a pub was named after Camilla. It is called the Duchess of Cornwall Inn. In 2016, the Queen made Camilla a member of the British Privy Council. In 2022, she made Camilla a Royal Lady of the Most Noble Order of the Garter. In February 2022, Camilla tested positive for COVID-19. She had completed many public duties between 2005 and 2022.
Foreign and Domestic Trips
Camilla's first solo public duty was in Southampton. She attended the Trooping the Colour in June 2005. She appeared on the balcony of Buckingham Palace. Her first trip abroad was in November 2005. She visited the United States. She met George W. and Laura Bush. They also visited New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. In March 2006, they visited Egypt, Saudi Arabia, and India.
In 2007, Camilla named two ships. These were HMS Astute and the cruise ship MS Queen Victoria. In November 2007, she toured Turkey with Charles. In 2008, they toured the Caribbean, Japan, and Indonesia. In 2009, they visited Chile, Brazil, and Italy. They met Pope Benedict XVI in Italy. They also visited Canada.
.jpg)
In March 2011, Camilla and Charles visited Portugal, Spain, and Morocco. In June 2011, Camilla represented the royal family at Wimbledon. In August 2011, she visited Tottenham after the London riots. In September 2011, she attended a memorial service for the 9/11 attacks. In November 2011, she traveled with Charles. They toured South Africa and Tanzania.
In March 2012, the couple visited Norway, Sweden, and Denmark. This was for Elizabeth II's Diamond Jubilee. In May 2012, they visited Canada for the Jubilee. In November 2012, they toured Australia, New Zealand, and Papua New Guinea. Camilla presented the Melbourne Cup in Australia.
In 2013, they toured Jordan. They met King Abdullah II and Queen Rania. They visited Syrian refugee camps. Camilla attended the State Opening of Parliament for the first time. She also made her first solo trip outside the UK to Paris. They attended the inauguration of King Willem-Alexander of the Netherlands.
.jpg)
In June 2014, Camilla and Charles attended the 70th anniversary of D-Day. In November, they toured Mexico and Colombia. In May 2015, they visited Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. In April 2018, they toured Australia. They attended the opening of the 2018 Commonwealth Games. They also toured West African countries. In March 2019, Charles and Camilla visited Cuba. They were the first British royals to do so. This trip aimed to strengthen UK-Cuban ties.
In January 2020, Camilla attended commemorations in Poland. This marked 75 years since the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. In March 2021, they visited Greece. This was their first foreign visit since the COVID-19 pandemic began. In March 2022, they visited Ireland for Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee. In May 2022, they took a trip to Canada for the Jubilee.
Queen Consort
_(cropped).jpg)
Camilla became queen consort on 8 September 2022. This was when her husband, Charles III, became King. In his first speech, Charles thanked Camilla. He praised her "loving help and steadfast devotion". On 10 September, she attended the Accession Council. Charles was formally proclaimed King there. Camilla was a witness.
After becoming Queen, Camilla changed the role of lady-in-waiting. She created the new role of queen's companion. This role is less formal. Companions help her at public events. On 13 February 2023, Camilla tested positive for COVID-19. This caused her to postpone some events.
Camilla was crowned alongside Charles on 6 May 2023. The ceremony was at Westminster Abbey. On 16 June 2023, Charles appointed Camilla to the Order of the Thistle. On 5 July, she went with Charles to a service in Scotland. The Honours of Scotland were presented to him. It was announced that Camilla would not receive a special payment from Parliament. Her activities would be funded through the Sovereign Grant.
.jpg)
In March 2023, Camilla went with Charles on a state visit to Germany. This was his first foreign visit as King. In September and October 2023, they visited France and Kenya. In November, Camilla was with Charles at his first State Opening of Parliament.
In 2024, the King was diagnosed with cancer. The Queen took his place at some events. She attended the Commonwealth Day service. She also attended the Royal Maundy. She was the first consort to hand out the ceremonial coins at this event. In June, she and Charles went to Normandy. They attended the 80th anniversary of D-Day. In October, she went with Charles on a tour of Australia and Samoa. In November, she cancelled some events due to a chest infection. It was later found to be pneumonia.
Helping Others: Charity Work
Patronages
Camilla supports over 100 charities and groups. She is a patron or president for them. She is an honorary commodore-in-chief of the Royal Navy Medical Service. In 2012, she gave medals to naval medical teams. In February 2013, she became Chancellor of the University of Aberdeen. This is a special role. She is the first female chancellor of the university.
_-_040.jpg)
In 2015, Camilla became president of the Women of the World Festival. This festival celebrates women's achievements. It also looks at problems like domestic violence. In 2018 and 2020, she became vice-patron of the Royal Commonwealth Society and the Royal Academy of Dance. In March 2022, she launched the Platinum Champions Awards. This honored 70 volunteers. The Queen also made Camilla patron of London's Royal National Theatre. In January 2024, Camilla became the first royal patron of the Anne Frank Trust UK.
In May 2024, Camilla took on 15 new patronages. These included the Army Benevolent Fund and the Royal Voluntary Service.
Fighting Osteoporosis
In 1994, Camilla joined the National Osteoporosis Society. Her mother and grandmother died from this disease. She became patron of the charity in 1997. In 2001, she became its president. In 2002, she launched a book. It helped women protect themselves from osteoporosis. She also attended a conference in Lisbon. This conference focused on osteoporosis treatment. She gave her first public speech there. In 2004, she attended another conference in Dublin. In 2005, she gave a presentation on osteoporosis in the United States.
In 2006, Camilla started the Big Bone walk campaign. She led a walk to raise money for the charity. This campaign raised £200,000. It continues almost every year. In 2011, she appeared in a BBC radio show. This helped raise awareness of the disease. In 2013, she worked with Strictly Come Dancing to raise funds. By 2006, she had spoken at over 60 events. She also opened bone scanning units. She attends World Osteoporosis Day events every year. She continues to meet with health experts.
For her work, Camilla received awards. She got the Ethel LeFrak award in 2005. She received the Kohn Foundation Award in 2007. In 2007, she opened the Duchess of Cornwall Centre for Osteoporosis. King's College London gave her an honorary fellowship. In 2009, the National Osteoporosis Society created an award in her name. In 2016, she received an honorary doctorate. In 2019, the charity was renamed the Royal Osteoporosis Society.
Promoting Reading
Camilla loves reading. She supports literacy. She is patron of the National Literacy Trust. She often visits schools and libraries. She reads to children. She takes part in literacy celebrations. These include International Literacy Day and World Book Day. In 2011, she donated money to a literacy campaign. She also became patron of BookTrust. Camilla has launched many programs to promote reading. She believes in "igniting a passion for reading in the next generation."
Camilla has been patron of the Queen's Commonwealth Essay Competition since 2014. This competition asks young writers to write essays. Since 2015, she has been involved with 500 Words. This is a competition for children to write stories. She became an honorary judge in 2018. Since 2019, she has supported Poetry Together. This brings generations together through poetry.
In January 2021, Camilla launched the Duchess of Cornwall's Reading Room. This is an online club for readers. In January 2022, she promoted planting books in phonebox libraries. In February 2023, the Reading Room became a charity. The first Queen's Reading Room Festival was held in June. Many celebrities attended. This festival is now an annual event.
In October 2021, Camilla became patron of Silver Stories. This charity connects young people to the elderly. They read stories over the phone. In May 2022, she became patron of Book Aid International. In July 2022, she launched her Birthday Books Project. It provides mini libraries to schools. In May 2023, she opened the first Coronation library. Fifty more will be created. In September 2023, she launched a new UK-France literary prize. This prize is for Young Adult fiction. In January 2024, new manuscripts were added to Queen Mary's Dolls' House library. This project reflects modern British literature.
Other Important Work
Camilla supports animal welfare. She is patron of many animal charities. These include Battersea Dogs & Cats Home and Brooke. She visits animal shelters often. Camilla adopted two rescue puppies. Their names are Beth and Bluebell. In 2012, she opened two veterinary facilities. They treat sick animals. In 2015, she sold honey from her garden. The money went to the Medical Detection Dogs charity. She sends honey every year for charity.
Camilla supports groups fighting poverty and homelessness. She is patron of Emmaus UK. She visits Emmaus communities every Christmas. She also supports credit unions. She says they "serve the people, not profit." Every year, she hosts children with illnesses for lunch. They decorate the Christmas tree at Clarence House. She also supports healthy-eating and arts groups.
In March 2022, Camilla donated to a refugee campaign. This was during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. In February 2023, she and Charles donated to help victims of the 2023 Turkey–Syria earthquakes.
Titles and Honours
When Camilla married Charles, she was called "Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall". In Scotland, she was "Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Rothesay". She was legally the Princess of Wales. But she used the Duchess of Cornwall title. This was because of public opinion. In 2021, Charles inherited his father's titles. Camilla then became the Duchess of Edinburgh.
In 2005, Clarence House said Camilla would be known as princess consort when Charles became King. This was also due to public opinion. However, there is no legal rule for such a title. Camilla would be Queen by law. Public acceptance of Camilla grew. In 2022, Queen Elizabeth II said it was her "sincere wish" for Camilla to be known as queen consort.
Camilla became queen consort on 8 September 2022. This was when Charles became King. She was first called "Her Majesty The Queen Consort". This was to tell her apart from the late Queen Elizabeth II. Since her coronation on 6 May 2023, she has been called "Her Majesty The Queen". This is like past queens consort.
Camilla has received many honours. She is a Royal Lady of the Most Noble Order of the Garter. She is also an Extra Lady of the Most Ancient and Most Noble Order of the Thistle. She is a Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order. She has the Royal Family Order of Queen Elizabeth II. She is also a member of the Privy Council.
Images for kids
-
Formal portrait, 2019
-
Queen Camilla's signature
-
Bolehyde Manor in Allington, Wiltshire
-
In Brazil, 2009
-
With Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles in the 1902 State Landau, 2012
-
Charles and Camilla with George W. and Laura Bush at the White House, November 2005
-
At the official opening of the Fourth Assembly at the Senedd in Cardiff, Wales, 7 June 2011
-
Camilla, June 2022
-
On her coronation day
-
With Charles at the 80th D-Day anniversary in France, June 2024
-
At Barn Croft Primary School for a Commonwealth Big Lunch event, 2018. Camilla has been the initiative's patron since 2013.
-
NIH director Elias Zerhouni welcomes Charles and Camilla to the NIH for a discussion on osteoporosis with Surgeon General Richard Carmona and other health officials, November 2005
-
With Peter McLaughlin, then headmaster of The Doon School which she visited in November 2013 on her India tour
-
Camilla's royal symbols as queen (left) and Duchess of Cornwall (right)
-
Camilla's royal symbols as queen (left) and Duchess of Cornwall (right)
See also
- List of current consorts of sovereigns
