Birthday of the Queen Consort in the UK Date in the current year: July 17, 2024

Queen Camilla has been the Queen consort of the United Kingdom and other Commonwealth realms since September 8, 2022, the day her husband Charles became king upon the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth II.

The future queen was born Camilla Rosemary Shand on July 17, 1947. Her father was recently retired British Army officer Bruce Shand and her mother was British aristocrat Rosalind Shand (née Cubitt), daughter of Roland Cubitt, 3rd Baron Ashcombe. Camilla attended school in England and Switzerland and studied French and French literature at the University of London Institute in Paris. After completing the six-month course of studies, she moved to London.

Camilla met her first husband, British Army officer Andrew Parker Bowles, in the late 1960s. They had an on-an-off relationship, during which she met Charles, Prince of Wales. Camilla and Charles became friends, and eventually their relationship turned romantic. However, it ended abruptly in 1973, when Charles joined the Royal Navy and Camilla got engaged to Parker Bowles.

Camilla married Andrew Parker Bowles on July 4, 1973. The couple had two children, Tom (born in 1974) and Laura (born in 1978). About a year after her daughter’s birth, Camilla rekindled her friendship and then intimate relationship with Charles. Her husband reportedly approved of the affair since he was unfaithful himself. However, Charles soon began a relationship with Diana Spencer and married her in 1981.

Five years into Charles and Diana’s marriage, it began to fall apart due to the couple’s age difference and general incompatibility. By late 1986, Charles had fully resumed his affair with Camilla. Charles and Diana officially separated in 1992, and his affair with Camilla became public soon after. The divorces of Charles and Diana and Camilla and Andrew were finalized in 1996.

Following their respective divorces, Charles declared that his relationship with Camilla was “non-negotiable”. Camilla began to accompany Charles at some events in an unofficial capacity; their first official public appearance as a couple was in 1999.

Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles got married in 2005, and Camilla became Duchess of Cornwall. She did not use the title Princess of Wales due to its close association with Diana. On September 8, 2022, Queen Elizabeth II passed away. Charles ascended the throne as King Charles III, and Camilla became queen consort.

The Queen Consort’s birthday is one of the designated flag flying days in the UK. On this day, the Union Flag must be flown on all government buildings. Local authorities and organizations are encouraged to fly flags on the occasion, but it is not mandatory. Other flag flying days that have to do with special occasions in the Royal Family include the King’s wedding anniversary (April 9), the King’s official birthday (3rd Saturday of June), the birthday of the Prince of Wales (June 21), and the King’s actual birthday (November 14).