Camilla's wild party years and colourful love life from fun flings to job firing

22 August 2023 , 13:56

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Camilla's wild party years and colourful love life from fun flings to job firing

She's now seen as the supportive Queen at the side of her husband King Charles as well as a doting grandmother.

And it appears to be a far cry from Queen Camilla's younger days when pals have spoken out about her carefree attitude and love of fun-filled parties. One of those to lift the lid on a young Camilla was her former flame Kevin Burke, who has sadly died at the age of 77.

He was thought to have been her first love and previously spoke fondly of the Queen Consort, describing her as the "most fun partner you could possibly wish for." So what exactly did Camilla get up to in her younger years? Here we take a look...

Society balls

Camilla, who had the maiden name of Shand, is the oldest daughter of Major Bruce Shand and his wife Rosalind and first attended Dumbrells School in Sussex, and then went on to Queen's Gate School in South Kensington - but she only left with one O-level and didn't achieve any A-levels.

King Charles' wife Queen Camilla (POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Like many of her peers, she then went to a finishing school in Switzerland before returning to London to hit the London society scene as a debutante. At that time she was known to her friends as Milla, and she became a regular at parties in 'Swinging London' during the early 60s and was often described as the life and soul.

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Sacked from job

But it seems her love of the social scene may have played a hand in her losing her short-lived job at a prestigious firm in London's Mayfair. It seems it ended when Camilla came in late to work after being out partying the night before.

The incident is detailed in a book called On The Fringe - A Life In Decorating by designer Imogen Taylor, who worked at the Colefax and Fowler, the same interior design firm as Camilla. Taylor told The Sunday Times in 2016: "There were lots of debutantes working for us, even Camilla. She worked for us for a moment but got the sack." In the book, Taylor remembers that the boss was somewhat temperamental.

Camilla (far left) with some pals as a 16-year-old (John Silverside/ANL/REX/Shutterstock)

She writes: "He would shout and bellow so the whole building heard every word. The Duchess of Cornwall was one assistant who fell victim to one of the tantrums. I think she came in late having been to a dance."

First love

Meanwhile, it was in the early 1960s that she struck up a relationship with the late Mr Burke, in what was a brief love affair. Mr Burke spoke very fondly of his former flame, who went on to become Queen, saying in Jessica Jayne's biography: The Duchess of Cornwall her story and secrets: "It was the best fun, and I had the best and most fun partner you could possibly wish for.

"Camilla was immensely popular and although she wasn't a beauty, she was attractive and sexy. I remained with Camilla all that year. I suppose we were in love and then she ditched me. Why? Well, the short answer is that she was having a ball in London."

It is believed it is around 1965, when she met her future first husband, dashing Household Cavalry Officer Andrew Parker Bowles.

Complicated romance

It was in the early 1970s when Camilla first met her current husband King Charles at a polo match in Windsor Great Park - and they immediately hit it off over a common interest in the outdoors. She was an avid horse lover who previously admitted she spent her childhood preoccupied with "charging about on them."

At the time it is understood Camilla had joked about her own great-grandmother having had a relationship with King Edward VII, telling Charles: "My great-grandmother was the mistress of your great-great-grandfather. I feel we have something in common."

Camilla at a society party in 1965 (Desmond O'Neill)

Camilla with Charles at a polo match in 1972 (Getty Images)

What made the relationship at the time ironic was that Andrew Parker Bowles has previously dated Charles' sister Princess Anne. However, Charles and Camilla began dating but as the future King embarked on his career in the Royal Navy their romance is said to have cooled before they broke things off.

Crestfallen marriage

By the time Charles returned from his Navy duties in the early 1970s, he received the news that Camilla was to wed. She had finally become engaged to Andrew Parker Bowles with the pair marrying in July 1973.

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Camilla married Andrew Parker Bowles at Guard's Chapel in July 1973 (Getty Images)

Charles was reportedly stunned when he heard the news of Camilla's pending marriage. Royal biographer Sally Bedell Smith said: "He couldn't understand how such a 'blissful, peaceful, and mutually happy relationship,' had ended so abruptly, after such a promising start."

Camilla and Andrew have two children, Tom and Laura, but divorced in 1995. Of course, Charles later married Princess Diana, but their marriage also failed with them divorcing in 1996. However, Charles continued to hold a torch for Camilla, with the pair finally settling down and getting wed in 2005.

Jennifer Newton