Prince Charles and his wife Camilla have been pursuing their happiness for over 30 years. During this time, both managed to get married, have children, divorce, but throughout their lives they did not lose sight of each other and maintained a love relationship. This couple went through harsh public condemnation, rejection of the royal family and relatives. Finally, reunited in adulthood, Charles and Camilla look truly happy. Now no one doubts that only true love can withstand such tests.
Dating history
Camilla is far from a canonical beauty, moreover, she is a year older than Charles, so the phenomenon of his strong feelings for her is difficult to explain in terms of appearance or age. Moreover, Princess Diana was 13 years younger than her husband, but this did not help the prince to truly love and appreciate her.
Charles and Camilla Shand met in the early 1970s. They both belonged to the aristocratic circle, so they often attended the same events. Some biographers claim that the prince first noticed an interesting young woman during a polo match. However, they were officially introduced to each other by a common acquaintance, Lucia Santa Cruz, within the walls of her house.
The young people immediately developed mutual sympathy. In addition, they found out that Camilla's great-grandmother was once the mistress of the prince's great-grandfather, King Edward VII. They say that about this coincidence, the girl wittily remarked to Charles: "I think we have something in common."
The acquaintance quickly grew into a novel, which was well known in secular circles. They often appeared together at polo games or in private clubs for aristocrats. Charles even got to know Camilla's family and introduced her to some of his relatives. However, the relationship ended unexpectedly when the prince was forced to join the Royal Navy in 1973 and left his beloved, without clarifying their future.
First marriages
Unfortunately, long-term traditions still remained strong in the royal family, so Charles and Camilla would not have been allowed to marry anyway. To make up an equal party to the heir to the British throne, the bride was not noble enough. In addition, the prince's grandmother, the queen mother, dreamed of becoming related with her close friend Baroness Ferma with the help of her grandson. By the way, it was her granddaughter, Diana Spencer, that Charles eventually married. According to one version, the engagement to Camilla was also prevented by the prince's unwillingness to marry earlier than 30 years.
Anyway, while he was away, the ex-girlfriend got engaged and married her longtime admirer, Major Andrew Parker Bowles. The wedding, held on July 4, 1973, was even attended by members of the royal family - the Queen Mother and Princess Anne, who had been courted for a short time by the groom. Charles learned about this from a letter from Camilla herself, when he was in the West Indies. He took the unexpected news hard and wrote to his friends that he was not left with a feeling of devastation.
Already at the end of 1974, Camilla had her firstborn son Tom, and a little more than three years later, daughter Laura. They talked to Charles and decided to remain friends. Although, according to some sources, the couple resumed their love relationship in the late 70s.
Meanwhile, the prince was busy looking for a suitable bride. Finally, he met Diana Spencer, who suited him perfectly. Before proposing to her, Charles saw the young girl only 13 times. According to rumors, his father, Prince Philip, insisted on the imminent engagement. Camilla and her son were among the guests at the royal wedding in 1981. Many years later, Diana admitted that she knew about her and even looked for her with her eyes when she walked to the altar.
Treason and scandals
Family life and the birth of children in both families did not prevent Charles and Camilla from maintaining a relationship. By the way, the prince even agreed to become the godfather of her eldest son Tom. According to the official version, the lovers resumed their romance in 1986. Princess Diana soon found out about it. Outwardly, everyone continued to preserve the appearance of prosperous families, until a scandal broke out in 1992.
A secret recording of a telephone conversation between Charles and Camilla, recorded in 1989, was leaked to the press. The audience was shocked by the intimate and embarrassing details of the lovers' conversation. It was impossible to deny further, so the heir to the British throne and his wife Diana soon announced their separation. Two years later, Charles publicly admitted to adultery during an interview for a documentary. True, he did not name his mistress. In addition, many years later, journalists learned that other characters in this drama - Diana and Andrew Parker Bowles - also cheated on their spouses. This somewhat reconciled public opinion with the entire scandalous situation.
In 1995, Camilla officially divorced her husband, and a year later, Charles followed her example. The tragic death of Diana once again threw their relationship back, because it was necessary to wait out the wave of mass grief. Therefore, the first official appearance as a couple took place only in January 1999. Earlier, the prince tried to introduce the chosen one of his mother - Queen Elizabeth II, but she ignored the holiday in honor of the 50th anniversary of her son, which was to be attended by Camilla. His children from his marriage to Diana also did not immediately accept this relationship. True, in 1999 it became known that Charles with his sons and longtime lover arranged a family vacation in Greece.
Reunion
Finally, in June 2000, the Queen gave her tacit consent to Camilla's presence in the life of the heir to the throne. She attended the birthday of the King of Greece at the same time as the new couple, which meant her favor to them. In 2003, Camilla officially moved to Clarence House, the prince's residence in London.
When the couple announced their engagement in February 2005, discussions erupted in the community about the title that Charles's second wife would wear. As expected by the majority, Camilla received the title of Duchess of Cornwall, and if her husband ascends to the throne, she will not be able to become a queen, so she will be officially called the consort princess. By the way, the title of Princess of Wales also passed to her, but out of respect for Diana's memory, the prince's wife decided not to use it.
The marriage registration took place in April 2005 at Windsor Town Hall. The groom's best man was his eldest son William. The Queen and her husband congratulated the newlyweds later, attending a gala reception at Windsor Castle.
More than 10 years have passed since then. Let not immediately, but Camilla managed to become part of the royal family. Her granddaughter from her daughter Laura was even a flower page at the wedding of Prince William and Kate Middleton. People around them note how Charles and Camilla glow with happiness, being around. Well, the heir to the throne in all interviews does not skimp on compliments for his wife.
Their amazing relationship history after years no longer seems so wrong and scandalous. After all, hardly any other force, except for true love, could force this couple to go through all the obstacles prepared by fate, and reunite in order to live together at least the rest of their lives.
