Anne's forgotten relationship with Camilla's ex - and the royals' thawing bond

02 February 2023 , 16:14

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Anne's forgotten relationship with Camilla's ex - and the royals' thawing bond

King Charles often has his wife Queen Camilla at his side as he carries out his royal duties.

But another female royal, who he can also count on for their backing is his sister Princess Anne.

And during a reception at Buckingham Palace yesterday to celebrate East and South-East Asian communities both Camilla and Anne, as well as Prince Edward, were in attendance with the King.

The event celebrated the contribution East and South-East Asian communities make to Britain and there were more than 300 people at the reception from across various sectors; including the arts, media, fashion, business, and healthcare.

It was a rare occasion with both the Queen Consort and Princess Royal at the same event alongside the monarch.

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And it seems the two women have an interesting shared past that has thawed into a more relaxed bond...

Shared dating history

Princess Anne with Queen Camilla at Royal Ascot (REX/Shutterstock)

The two women are sisters-in-law (PA)

Viewers of The Crown will know one season three storyline sees the then Prince Charles grow close with Camilla, while Anne becomes entangled with her on-and-off boyfriend, Andrew Parker Bowles.

As you may expect, the story has been heavily dramatised for the sake of the programme - but there does lie a grain of truth behind it.

It is known that Anne and Major Andrew Parker Bowles were incredibly close, bonded over a shared interest in horses, and began dating in June 1970.

But as author Sally Bedell Smith suggests in her book 'Prince Charles: The Passions and Paradoxes of an Improbable Life: In the Shadow of the Throne' as Andrew was Catholic, he was "an unlikely candidate for marriage to a member of the Royal Family".

Camilla at the Buckingham Palace reception last night (Getty Images)

Anne at the same reception last night (PA)

After their romance cooled, Camilla and Andrew began a relationship, and the pair married in 1973, having two children Tom and Laura.

But despite their marriage - and Anne tying the knot with former husband Mark Phillips - the princess and Andrew remained close - with him even becoming a godfather to Zara Tindall.

Of course, Andrew and Camilla eventually divorced, paving the way for her to marry Charles in 2005 - meaning the Queen Consort and Anne are now sisters-in-law.

Royal relatives

Princess Anne pictured at Cheltenham Racecourse with Andrew Parker Bowles - Camilla's ex-husband (Getty Images)

After marrying Charles and becoming a member of the royal family, it is believed Camilla and Anne had a rocky bond.

According to the book Camilla: From Outcast to Queen Consort, Camilla found Anne's "frosty demeanour difficult and somewhat unnerving to cope with for several years".

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However, the book also claims that Anne has "gradually become more amenable" after seeing Camilla's work for the royal family.

Charles, Camilla and Anne at the Braemar Highland Gathering last year (Getty Images)

And body language expert Judi James previously told the Express: "Now, the two women seem very tolerant of one another to the point of often looking like old friends."

Judi claimed the late Queen's daughter may have been "slow to thaw" to Camilla after her wedding to Charles.

However, she added any apparent distance has seemingly began to disappear over the years.

Jennifer Newton