Inside strong bond between Camilla and lookalike sister who became her 'rock'

29 December 2023 , 09:36

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Annabel has been a 'rock' to Camilla throughout the years (Image: WireImage)

Queen Camilla has over time become a loved member of the Royal Family but she didn't face her journey alone, as her sister is said to have been her "rock" during her toughest years.

Camilla and her sister Annabel Elliot, who is 18 years her junior, showed their close bond in behind-the-scenes footage from the King's Coronation in the BBC1 documentary, Charles III: The Coronation Year.

The programme not only saw the King and Queen at the forefront but it also highlighted the sister's relationship as Annabel was named as a "Queen's Companion". In one clip, Annabel got emotional as she watched her sister head to Westminster Abbey to be crowned Queen.

"When I thought back to being two years old and watching the Queen's Coronation on a tiny black and white television and there goes this golden coach with my sister in it," she says. "I can't explain the feeling because it's so surreal. This cannot be happening. It was quite a moment." But although the coronation looked plain sailing, Annabel still grappled with nerves for her big sister. "Going into the Abbey, I think I had that nervousness all the time," she said. "She's quite a bit smaller than I am. I'm feeling: 'Is she going to be all right?"

Camilla and her younger sister Annabel (Ann Cleaver/REX/Shutterstock)

Camilla and Annabel can often be found together at events (Alan Davidson/REX/Shutterstock)

Growing up in Sussex, both sisters were described as "perfect" and did everything together. They went to the same schools, attended the same Pony Club events and were spotted at the same parties later on in life. This didn't differ when it came to marriage as they both tied the knot within a year of each other and welcomed children at the same time, which saw them create sweet memories on family holidays together.

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Camilla first married Brigadier Andrew Parker Bowles but when their marriage broke down, Camilla and Annabel took time away from the spotlight and travelled to Venice together and enjoyed activities including painting. It was also found that before the future Queen got married to Parker Bowels, they would spend Christmas apart, with Camilla residing at Annabel and her husband's home in Dorset, reports Daily Mail.

The sisters were said to be "rocks" to each other after their mother Rosalind Shand passed away in 1994, their father, Bruce Shand, died in 2006, and their younger brother Mark died in 2014. Sadly, Annabel's husband passed away after enduring a long illness and Annabel was organising his funeral at the same time as she was supporting her sister ahead of the coronation. The devoted sister described Camilla and said: "She's somebody who is completely loyal" and said she "isn't somebody who has huge highs and lows." Charles III: The Coronation Year can be found on BBC iPlayer.

Monica Charsley