The coronation of King Charles III will be the first to include the crowning of a Queen Consort since 1937. Camilla , who married Prince William and Prince Harry ’s father in 2005, will be crowned alongside her husband at Westminster Abbey on May 6, 2023—less than a year after the passing of Queen Elizabeth.
Following Charles’ accession to the throne in 2022, the King spoke of his “darling wife” in his first address as monarch. “In recognition of her own loyal public service since our marriage 17 years ago, she becomes my Queen Consort,” he said. “I know she will bring to the demands of her new role the steadfast devotion to duty on which I have come to rely so much.”
Before the coronation of Their Majesties, here are over 10 fun and surprising facts about Queen Camilla:
© Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty ImagesThe Queen was born on July 17, 1947 at King’s College Hospital in London.
© WireImageCamilla’s engagement ring once belonged to her husband’s grandmother, Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother.
© Getty ImagesLike Charles, Camilla has two children from her first marriage: Tom Parker Bowles and Laura Lopes.
© Getty ImagesAhead of the coronation, the palace revealed that Her Majesty “keeps fit by taking Silver Swan ballet classes.” According to The Guardian , Camilla said in 2020 that she “got a group of ancient friends together and the four of us clatter around and when we are in London, we do it once a week. It makes all the difference.”
© Getty ImagesAt home in Wiltshire, Her Majesty makes her own honey, which is sold at Fortnum & Mason to raise money for charity.
© Getty ImagesThe royal, who is no stranger to dazzling jewels, chooses clip-on earrings because her ears are not pierced, per the palace.
© Getty ImagesCamilla is a fan of the dance competition show Strictly Come Dancing.
© Getty ImagesThe Queen (pictured with a shirt worn by Colin Firth in Pride and Prejudice) has said that Elizabeth Bennett is a “heroine of mine.”
© Getty ImagesIn 2022, Camilla admitted to The Australian Women’s Weekly that she gets “petrified making speeches.”
© Getty ImagesPrince William and Prince Harry’s stepmother has been described by the palace as a “keen gardener.” On The News Agents podcast in 2023, Camilla’s son Tom said that his mother “really loves gardening.” He added, “She always has done, way before she is, well, the Queen, as she will be.”
© Getty ImagesThe Queen’s son also said on the podcast that growing up, his mother “was a good cook.” He revealed, “She just loves fresh fish and fresh vegetables.”
© Stefan Rousseau/PA Images via Getty ImagesThe Queen has five grandchildren—Lola Parker Bowles, Freddy Parker Bowles, Eliza Lopes, Louis Lopes and Gus Lopes—and five step-grandchildren—Prince George, Princess Charlotte, Prince Louis, Prince Archie and Princess Lilibet.
During a 2022 interview with BBC Morning Live , Camilla said, “What’s so lovely about being a grandmother is they teach you things and, hopefully, they learn a few things from us.”
Her Majesty’s grandsons will have roles at the coronation, serving at Pages of Honour.
