See 18 Throwback Photos of King Charles and Queen Camilla Before They Acceded to the Throne
See 18 Throwback Photos of King Charles and Queen Camilla Before They Acceded to the Throne
Zoey Lyttle, Alexandra Schonfeld, Brendan Le, Emily KrauserThu, April 9, 2026 at 11:00 AM UTC
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King Charles and Queen Camilla leave the Service of Prayer and Dedication at Windsor Castle in Berkshire, England, following their wedding on April 9, 2005Credit: Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty -
King Charles and Queen Camilla reportedly first met in the early 1970s
The royal couple wed at Windsor Castle in 2005
Camilla became queen consort on Sept. 8, 2022, when Charles acceded to the throne following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth
King Charles and Queen Camilla's love story goes back more than 50 years.
After reportedly meeting in the early 1970s, the two had a fling before the future monarch entered the Navy. They would go on to start families with other people — he married the late Princess Diana in July 1981, with the pair separating in December 1992. Camilla's ex-husband is Andrew Parker Bowles, with whom she was married to from 1973 to 1995.
King Charles and Camilla reunited publicly in the 1990s and married in April 2005. Charles acceded to the throne following the death of his mother, Queen Elizabeth, in September 2022. At that time, Camilla also became queen consort.
From royal outings to intimate vacations, look back on the royal couple's lasting love with these throwback photos celebrating over two decades of marriage.
01 of 18
Curbside Chat
King Charles and Queen Camilla appear at a polo match, circa 1972Credit: Hulton-Deutsch Collection/CORBIS/Corbis via Getty
The royal couple reportedly met in the early '70s, according to the 2007 book Charles and Camilla: Portrait of a Love Affair. Around 1972, Camilla was photographed chatting with King Charles at a polo match.
02 of 18
Night on the Town
King Charles and Queen Camilla are photographed in the backseat of a car after leaving the Royal Opera House in London on Feb. 14, 1975Credit: David Cole/Shutterstock
They eventually began a romantic relationship that lasted through the '70s, but called it off when King Charles set off to join the Navy.
Here, they were photographed together in the backseat of a car after a night out at the Royal Opera House in London in February 1975.
03 of 18
Smitten at First Sight
King Charles and Queen Camilla are spotted together in 1979Credit: Tim Graham/Getty
The two were photographed together again in this 1979 photo.
In the book The Duchess, Penny Junor detailed how King Charles was immediately taken with Camilla during the earliest days of their relationship.
"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," Junor wrote in her 2018 biography of the royal. "He also liked that she was so natural and easy and friendly, not in any way overawed by him, not fawning or sycophantic. In short, he was very taken with her, and after that first meeting, he began ringing her up."
04 of 18
Stepping Out
Queen Camilla and King Charles leave the Lyric Theatre in London after seeing the Marx Brothers' play 'Animal Crackers' on April 28, 1999Credit: Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty
The former flames reunited in the public eye following their respective divorces — Camilla split from Parker Bowles, her first husband, in March 1995, while King Charles and Princess Diana finalized their divorce in August 1996.
They waited until 1999 to make their first official appearance as a couple, stepping out that January to celebrate Camilla's sister Annabel Elliot's 50th birthday with a party thrown by King Charles at the Ritz Hotel in London. Though they arrived separately at the party, per Elle, over 150 photographers waited outside the soiree to capture King Charles and Camilla as they left together.
A couple of months later, in April 1999, the two were photographed (above) keeping a bit of distance between them as they left the Lyric Theatre in London, where they took in the Marx Brothers' musical comedy Animal Crackers.
05 of 18
Not-So-Hidden Night Out
Queen Camilla (center) and King Charles leave the Royal Festival Hall in London after a performance of Rachmaninoff's 'Hidden Perspectives' on May 6, 1999Credit: Dave M. Benett/Getty
In May 1999, they were photographed in their car with a friend following a performance of Rachmaninoff's Hidden Perspectives.
For the July 2022 issue of British Vogue, Camilla opened up about her experience dating King Charles in the '90s, when the world watched them become a public item again.
"It's not easy," she told the publication. "I was scrutinized for such a long time that you just have to find a way to live with it. Nobody likes to be looked at all the time and, you know, criticized … But I think in the end, I sort of rise above it and get on with it. You've got to get on with life."
06 of 18
Pretty in Pink
Queen Camilla and King Charles attend a reception at the headquarters of Charles' charity in London on June 20, 2000Credit: Gareth Davies/Getty
Camilla frequently accompanied King Charles to high-profile public appearances, like a reception for his charity, then known as The Prince of Wales' Charitable Fund, in East London in June 2000.
07 of 18
Sweet Smooch
Queen Camilla welcomes King Charles with a kiss at a National Osteoporosis Society event at Somerset House in London in June 2001Credit: Pool Photograph/Corbis via Getty
While attending a National Osteoporosis Society event at Somerset House in June 2001, King Charles and Camilla shared their first public kiss.
The moment came months after Queen Elizabeth joined the couple for lunch, signaling her approval of the romance.
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08 of 18
Big Steps Forward
Queen Camilla and King Charles walk together in London on the way to host Charles' staff Christmas lunch at the Ritz Hotel on Dec. 19, 2001Credit: Tim Graham Photo Library via Getty
The two walked close together as they made their way to the staff Christmas dinner that King Charles hosted at the Ritz Hotel in London in December 2001.
09 of 18
Quality Time Together
King Charles and Queen Camilla leave St. Mary's Church in Sandringham, Norfolk, England, on March 17, 2002Credit: Sean Dempsey - PA Images/PA Images via Getty
They were also seen spending time at some of the royal countryside estates, including this spring 2002 getaway to Sandringham with friends. While in Norfolk, they attended a Sunday morning service at St. Mary's Church on St. Patrick's Day with King Charles' older son, Prince William (not pictured).
During their first marriages, each had two children with their respective spouses. King Charles welcomed William and Prince Harry with Diana, while Camilla shares daughter Laura and son Tom with Parker Bowles.
10 of 18
Side by Side
Queen Camilla and King Charles attend the Mey Highland Games in Scotland on Aug. 9, 2003Credit: Mark Cuthbert/UK Press via Getty
The world was well aware of the duo's rekindling by the time Camilla started consistently joining King Charles during his royal engagements in 2002.
She moved into King Charles' residence at Clarence House the following year, per the BBC, where the palace had established an office for the future queen. Around that time, the two appeared in good spirits at the Mey Highland Games in August 2003. (The King is the honorary president of the annual contest.)
11 of 18
So Fascinator!
King Charles and Queen Camilla attend a garden party at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburg, Scotland, on June 1, 2004Credit: David Cheskin - PA Images/PA Images via Getty
Camilla's style is always one to watch, including this all-white number for a garden party at the Palace of Holyroodhouse in Edinburgh in June 2004. She topped off her look for the Scotland event with a posh statement hat.
12 of 18
Major Commitments
King Charles and Queen Camilla in 2003Credit: Anwar Hussein Collection/ROTA/WireImage
King Charles has regularly brought his beloved to royal commitments. When the two met members of a North Pole expedition team in 2003, Camilla made sure to bundle up.
13 of 18
Never Let You Go
King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive at the Royal Gala Charity's performance of 'Mamma Mia!' in London on June 10, 2004Credit: Anwar Hussein/WireImage
The couple enjoyed a glam night out in June 2004, taking in a gala performance of Mamma Mia! in London, which raised funds for the then-prince's charity.
14 of 18
Good Sports
King Charles and Queen Camilla enjoy the Mey Highland Games in Caithness, Scotland, on Aug. 7, 2004Credit: Christopher Furlong/Getty
King Charles and Camilla were all smiles as they watched the tug-of-war event during the 2004 Mey Highland Games in Scotland.
15 of 18
Milestone Moment
King Charles and Queen Camilla are seen at Birkhall in Scotland on Feb. 10, 2005Credit: Tim Graham Picture Library/Getty
In celebration of their February 2005 engagement, this photo of the couple wearing coordinated outfits and sporting matching grins at Birkhall in Scotland was released.
16 of 18
Time to Celebrate
King Charles and Queen Camilla attend a dinner at Windsor Castle in England on Feb. 10, 2005Credit: Anwar Hussein/Getty
In their first public appearance following their engagement announcement, the future King and Queen got all dressed up for a dinner at Windsor Castle on Feb. 10, 2005.
17 of 18
Wedding Day
King Charles and Queen Camilla leave the Service of Prayer and Dedication at Windsor Castle in Berkshire, England, following their wedding on April 9, 2005Credit: Tim Graham Photo Library/Getty
The couple tied the knot on April 9, 2005, in a small civil ceremony at Windsor Guildhall, a town hall building near Windsor Castle.
18 of 18
Plaid Perfection
King Charles and Queen Camilla arrive at Crathie Kirk in Scotland on April 9, 2006Credit: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty
In April 2006, King Charles and Camilla donned matching plaid attire when they stepped out at Crathie Kirk, the church near Ballater, Scotland, that royals attend while staying at the nearby Balmoral estate. The two were spending their first wedding anniversary at Birkhall, the king's royal home in Scotland.
Before Queen Elizabeth's death in September 2022, the late monarch shared her "sincere wish" for Camilla to step into the role of consort once Charles acceded to the throne.
According to a royal insider, it was important that Queen Elizabeth formally appoint Camilla with the title before Charles actually became King. The late ruler gave her approval during her Platinum Jubilee in February 2022, just months before she died.
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