Who are Queen Camilla’s children, grandchildren? Her family exposed in rare royal spotlight
Up until now, Queen Camilla has attempted to keep her own family from her marriage to Andrew Parker Bowles largely away from the royal spotlight.
But her coronation as Queen will put an end to that, with her five grandchildren set for prominent roles, and her own closeness to her children underlined by what is set to be prominent seats in Westminster Cathedral.
The new power Camilla’s family will gain was indicated earlier this month when her son Tom made a rare media performance talking about his mother – and spoke out against Prince Harry’s public mauling of her in his Netflix and Spare whinge-a-thons.
Parker Bowles, 48, indicated the pain his mother had been left in after Harry labelled her a “dangerous” woman who had sacrificed Harry and his brother William on the altar of her PR as part of a “long game” aimed at marriage and the crown.
Speaking on the News Agents podcast, he insisted his mother was no villain with “any sort of endgame” adding: “She married the person she loved and this is what happened.”
Ever since the huge embarrassment of being filmed taking cocaine in 1999 in a tabloid sting, while working as a film publicist, Tom has done everything in his power to make his mother proud and tread the careful path of having his own distinct career while his mother was married to the future King.
He is now an acclaimed food writer, with seven cookery books and many television appearances to his name. As Duchess of Cornwall, his mother has attended several of his cookbook launches, as has his father Andrew Parker Bowles – who will also be at the wedding, a sign of the close relationship the divorced former couple maintain.
Tom Parker Bowles has two children Lola, 15, and Freddy, 13 from his first marriage to fashion writer Sara Buys.
When they split in 2018, after 12 years together, he found love again, a year later, with society journalist Alice Procope who tragically died of cancer in 2021.
His sister Laura, 45, has also had success in her career as an art curator and helps run the Eleven gallery in London’s famous King’s Road.
What you need to know about the coronation:
- Coronation live updates: Celebrities, guests attend historic day at Westminster Abbey
- Royal family is ‘relieved’ Meghan Markle is skipping King Charles’ coronation: biographer
- A timeline of King Charles and Queen Consort Camilla’s complicated relationship
She married well-heeled Calvin Klein model turned chartered accountant Harry Lopes in 2006 and they have three children: Eliza, 15, and twins Louis and Gus, 13.
All of the grandchildren are adored by Charles and Camilla alike and have growing roles within the royal family,
Eliza was a bridesmaid at William and Kate’s wedding in 2011 and the public caught a glimpse of her being picked up by Charles to view the crowds from the balcony.
It has already been confirmed that Camilla’s three grandsons, Freddy, Gus and Louis will be her pages at the Coronation alongside their cousin, her sister Annabel Elliot’s 10-year-old grandson Arthur Elliot.
Wearing scarlet, they will walk behind the Queen and help smooth her robes. And there is speculation that they could have an even more important role.
“It is speculated that the Queen’s grandchildren will hold the canopy over her as she is anointed with oil during the coronation, which is a role previously fulfilled by duchesses. This act is a clear indication of the new King and Queen’s innovative approach to tradition,” says royal expert Jonathan Sacerdoti.
“The anointing is one of the most sacred moments of the coronation and participating in it directly would be a tremendous honor.
“By including Camilla’s grandchildren, the couple will publicly demonstrate trust and affection, introducing them to the world and it also highlights the blended family dynamic of the King and Queen.
“They are actively choosing to represent the growing number of blended families in the United Kingdom. While the Royal Family is undoubtedly distinct from the rest of society, they also reflect the social changes that have impacted the wider public.”
He added: “Including both the Queen and the King’s grandchildren in the coronation will also expand the royal couple’s image and portray them as loving parents and grandparents revealing a more intimate and affectionate side to them which will connect with a younger generation.”
