Even before King Charles III’s accession to the throne, the public kept its eyes magnified on Queen Camilla. She had become one of the most controversial figures to join the British royal family. Before marrying King Charles III on April 9, 2005, Charles and Camilla met in 1970 at a polo match. According to Britannica, many people in their friend group assumed that Charles would propose to Camilla. But after they broke up, in 1973, the then-25-year-old Camilla wed British Army officer Andrew Parker Bowles. The couple had two children together but eventually divorced in 1995.
Throughout their first marriages, King Charles III and Camilla continued their romantic connection. According to NBC News, in the 1990s, the public blamed Camilla for the devastating end of Princess Diana and Charles’s marriage. British tabloids often referred to Camilla as the “third person” in Diana and Charles’ relationship. She was even regarded as one of, if not the, “most hated woman in Britain.”
It took decades, but Camilla changed how the public viewed her by using her platform to delve into humanitarian work. According to Charles and Camilla’s official website, she is the patron or president of more than 100 charities. According to Express, Camilla is ranked the 11th most famous royal family member, only four places behind her husband, King Charles III.
Amidst the controversy surrounding Camilla’s marriage to Charles, she had a rock to hold on to—her younger sister Annabel Elliot, who, unbeknownst to many, had been working hand-in-hand with Charles as his chief interior designer. However, in July 2024, Prince William removed Annabel from the monarchy’s payroll after taking over the Duchy of Cornwall.
