As King Charles and Queen Camilla mark their 20th wedding anniversary on April 9, their journey together is nothing short of extraordinary. From scandal and public outrage to acceptance and admiration, their enduring love story proves that sometimes, true connection really does conquer all.
A Royal Romance Built to Last
While much is often said about the affectionate displays between Prince William and Kate Middleton or Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, King Charles III has shown his own capacity for charm—especially when it comes to Camilla.
Speaking ahead of their 10th anniversary in 2015, then-Prince Charles told CNN how deeply he valued his wife’s presence:
“It’s always marvelous to have somebody who, you know, you feel understands and wants to encourage,” he said. “Although she certainly pokes fun if I get too serious about things. And all that helps.”
Through decades of scrutiny and scorn, Camilla has stood by her partner with grace and quiet strength. Known to many as “the other woman” during Charles’ tumultuous marriage to Princess Diana, Camilla endured years of vilification before gradually winning over the public and the palace alike.
From Vilified Mistress to Beloved Queen
In 1997—the same year Diana tragically died in a car crash—polls revealed that 86 percent of Brits opposed Camilla ever becoming queen. And yet, two decades later, she’s preparing to celebrate her 20th wedding anniversary alongside her husband, now King Charles III, during an official state visit to Italy.
Tom Bower’s 2018 biography Rebel Prince: The Power, Passion and Defiance of Prince Charles recalls the royal family’s rocky acceptance of the couple. At one point, Queen Elizabeth II reportedly referred to Camilla as “that wicked woman.” It wasn’t until February 2022 that she publicly endorsed her daughter-in-law as a future queen consort, stating her “sincere wish.”
Charles has always acknowledged the difficulties his wife faced. “You can imagine it is a real, real challenge,” he told CNN in 2015. “But she’s, I think, been brilliant in the way she’s tackled these things.”
Love Rekindled
The couple’s spark ignited long before their official relationship began. Introduced by mutual friend Lucia Santa Cruz at a polo match in 1970, 23-year-old Camilla Shand caught Charles’ attention immediately.
As childhood friend Broderick Munro Wilson recalled to Dateline NBC in 2005, she made quite the first impression: “She says to him: ‘Oh you know your great-grandfather and my great-grandmother were lovers. How about it?’”
Others credit Santa Cruz for the bold intro, joking, “Now you two be very careful, you’ve got genetic antecedents—careful, careful!” Regardless of who said what, the chemistry was undeniable.
Biographer Penny Junor described how Charles was quickly enamored: “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… In short, he was very taken with her, and after that first meeting he began ringing her up.”
Roads Not Taken
Despite their strong connection, their early romance was short-lived. Charles’ decision to join the Royal Navy, and public opinion at the time, worked against them. According to royal biographer Chris Wilson, “She wasn’t a virgin… and back in the early 1970s, weird as it seems, we wanted to have a Princess of Wales who’d never been to bed with anyone else.”
Camilla would go on to marry Andrew Parker Bowles, a man she loved deeply, according to her friend William Shawcross. Meanwhile, Charles was left heartbroken.
Junor recounted Charles’ anguish, writing that he found it “particularly cruel” their “blissful, peaceful and mutually happy relationship” was cut so short.
Still, the two remained close. Charles was even named godfather to Camilla’s son, Tom. By the late 1970s, their romantic connection quietly rekindled—reportedly with Andrew’s knowledge. “The English aristocracy like to serve their royal family,” Wilson noted. “Andrew Parker Bowles was prepared to lay down his wife for his country.”
“There Were Three of Us”
As Charles moved forward publicly with Lady Diana Spencer, Camilla never disappeared from his life. Diana noticed. She asked Charles not to invite Camilla to their wedding, but by 1989, Diana felt compelled to confront her.
“I said, ‘I know what’s going on between you and Charles and I just want you to know that,’” Diana revealed in tapes later shared with author Andrew Morton. Camilla replied, “You’ve got everything you ever wanted… What more do you want?” To which Diana responded: “I want my husband… But I do know what’s going on. Don’t treat me like an idiot.”
The charade fell apart for good in 1992, when tapes of a private and explicit phone call between Charles and Camilla leaked to the press. Nicknamed “Camillagate,” the scandal sent shockwaves across the globe. Shortly after, Charles and Diana officially separated.
In a 1994 interview, Charles admitted to infidelity but insisted it happened only after the marriage had “irretrievably broken down.” Diana famously countered: “There were three of us in the marriage, so it was a bit crowded.”
Winning Over the Crown—and the Crowd
Charles and Camilla’s relationship became public in the late ’90s, but not without struggle. Bower recounts Charles confronting his mother at Balmoral, pleading for acceptance. The Queen, after a few martinis, replied: “I want nothing to do with her.”
Public perception only worsened after Diana’s tragic death. Charles feared he’d be blamed entirely. “They’re all going to blame me, aren’t they?” he reportedly muttered.
Camilla faced intense backlash—even being pelted with bread rolls at a supermarket. “It was horrid,” she recalled in 2017. “It was a deeply unpleasant time and I wouldn’t want to put my worst enemy through it.”
Still, she never lashed out. “She’s always been discreet… She has never sort of stooped,” said Shawcross. Instead, she quietly built up a reputation through charity work and public service.
She eventually met William and Harry, appeared at public events with Charles, and by 2000, even the Queen began softening. Her first joint appearance with Camilla came at King Constantine of Greece’s birthday party. It was a turning point.
When Charles and Camilla wed in 2005, the Queen skipped the civil ceremony but did attend the blessing and reception. She even offered a memorable toast: “They have overcome Becher’s Brook and The Chair and all kinds of other terrible obstacles… My son is home and dry with the woman he loves.”
A Queen in Her Own Right
Camilla initially adopted the title Duchess of Cornwall, avoiding “Princess of Wales” out of respect for Diana’s legacy. For years, the plan was that she’d be known as princess consort. But time changed everything.
“It’s now 21 years since the death of Diana… with a greater acceptance of Camilla today,” royal expert Dickie Arbiter explained in 2018. “She has shown herself to be a good support… making her not only an asset to the country but to the institution of monarchy.”
Through her more than 90 charitable endeavors and unwavering loyalty, Camilla has become one of the most respected figures in the royal family.
“I try to keep him in order,” she joked during a visit to Belfast in March 2024, referencing King Charles’ ongoing battle with cancer.
The Power of Love and Laughter
Even the royal press corps adores her. “She always shows up with a great smile and is never, ever grumpy,” said photographer Arthur Edwards. Another royal reporter declared her “my favorite royal, by a country mile.”
Camilla has brought lightness to Charles’ life. “She’s made a massive difference in him… They have a great affection and humor between them,” said a royal correspondent.
Photographer Alexi Lubomirski saw that chemistry firsthand during a portrait session at Clarence House: “As soon as they looked at each other, there was a sparkle in their eyes—that’s when the magic happened.”
To their close friend William Shawcross, “They are a cozy couple. They laugh at each other’s jokes, they support each other… They sort of wink across the table.”
Writer Kathy Lette agrees, calling their journey “a reality tale,” rather than a fairy tale. “They’re old enough, they’re experienced enough to know that this is what they really, really want.”
And after 20 years of marriage, it’s clear: against all odds, they got exactly that.
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