Charles, Camilla and Diana: a history of their love triangle

1947

Camilla Shand is born on July 17th, making her 16 months older than Prince Charles Philip Arthur George, born November 14, 1948. The daughter of a British Army officer, Camilla grows up socializing with royals and attends Queens Gate school in London and private schools in Switzerland.

1970

Charles and Camilla meet for the first time at a polo match at Windsor Great Park, a royal park. They discover that they both love polo and the outdoors and have the same sense of humor. Camilla jokes about the fact that her great-grandmother had had an affair with King Edward VII, saying, “My great -grandmother was the mistress of your great-great-grandfather. I feel we have something in common.” They begin dating, but Charles leaves to serve in the Royal Navy for eight months. When he returns, Camilla is engaged to someone else.

1973

In July, Camilla marries Andrew Parker Bowles, an Army cavalry officer seven years older than she is -- and who had previously dated Prince Charles’s sister, Princess Anne. They go on to have two children, Tom and Laura Parker Bowles. Charles and Camilla are still friends - in fact, Prince Charles becomes Tom’s godfather.

1980

Charles, 31, begins dating Lady Diana Spencer, 18. The Prince had briefly dated her older sister, Lady Sarah Spencer, who takes credit for the match, saying, “I introduced them—I’m Cupid.” 

 

1981

 

Charles proposes to Diana on February 6. After the news breaks on February 24, he makes a slightly jarring comment when a television interviewer asks him and Diana if they’re in love. Diana blushes and says, “Of course;” Charles adds, “Whatever love means.” 

On July 29, with an estimated 750 million people watching around the world - and with Camilla reportedly in attendance - they marry in St. Paul’s Cathedral. They have two sons, Prince William, born in 1982, and Prince Harry, born in 1984, but their relationship soon becomes rocky. 

 

1986

According to Charles’s authorized biography, he begins an affair with Camilla that year.

1989

Diana confronts Camilla, approaching her at a party and saying, "I know what's going on between you and Charles and I just want you to know that." Сamilla responded: '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 Diana said, "I want my husband, 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."

1992

In June, Andrew Morton’s book Diana: Her True Story is released; the Princess of Wales had recorded multiple tapes for the freelancer writer, and its publication shocked the world, thanks to its explosive stories about Diana’s jealousy over Charles’s involvement with Camilla. 

In December, Prime Minister John Major announces that Charles and Diana had officially separated.

1994 

Prince Charles had allowed a documentary filmmaker to follow him for a year and a half in the hopes of repairing his reputation, damaged by Diana's stiries. When the documentary airs, one portion has the opposite effect. The filmmaker, Jonathan Dimbleby, asks Charles if he was “faithful and honorable” during his marriage to Diana. Charles says, “Yes, yes…Until it became irretrievably broken down, us both having tried." The Prince also discusses Camilla, calling her “a great friend of mine," he said. He adds, "She has been a friend for a very long time—and will continue to be a friend for a very long time."

1995 

In January, Camilla and Andrew Parker Bowles announce that they will divorce. In November, Martin Bashir does a televised interview with Diana where he asks if Camilla was a factor in the breakdown of her marriage. She says sadly, "Well, there were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded."

1996

Charles and Diana’s divorce is finalized. 

1997

Shortly after Charles hosts a 50th birthday party for Camilla at his country home, Highgrove, Diana dies tragically in a car accident in Paris. As the world mourns the loss of the People’s Princess, Charles, along with Diana’s sisters, flies to Paris to bring Diana’s body back to England.
Charles, Prince Philip, Princes William and Harry, and Diana’s brother walk in the funeral procession as mourners line the streets and pile flowers in front of Diana’s residence at Kensington Palace. Due to Diana's death, Charles pauses his campaign to introduce the public to his relationship with Camilla. 

1999 

In January, Charles throws a 50th birthday party for Camilla’s sister at the Ritz Hotel in London. He and Camilla arrive separately but leave the party together in full view of crowds of reporters and photographers ready to capture them appearing in public together for the first time. Later that year, she and Charles vacation in Greece with Princes William and Harry.

2000

Charles and Camilla face the hurdle of getting the Queen’s official approval. At last, she accepts an invitation to an event at Highgrove—a 60th birthday party for the King of Greece—knowing Camilla would be there. It’s interpreted as a sign that she accepts their relationship.

2005

In February, Charles and Camilla, announce their engagement 35 years after they first met. On April 8, they marry in a civil ceremony with Prince William as the best man. The Queen does not attend the wedding, but does go to the reception afterwards. In order to have Diana remain as the only Princess of Wales, Camilla gains the title Her Royal Highness The Duchess of Cornwall. 

2021

Nowadays Charles and Camilla live in Clarence House in London. They've lived there since 2003. The home is opened up to the public in August each year, where visitors can be given a guided tour of the five rooms and adjoining spaces on the ground floor.  

 

Camilla and Charles never had any children together, but they have two dogs Bluebell and Beth.