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King Charles and Queen Camilla: Their decades-spanning love story in photos
King Charles and Queen Camilla's relationship at its core is a love story about duty, timing and patience. The pair, who have been married since 2005, have weathered scandals and headlines while remaining fiercely devoted to one another. After taking the throne in 2023, the pair were dealt another blow: the King's cancer diagnosis. Although the monarch is reportedly continuing treatment to manage his undisclosed illness, the King and Queen have continued to fulfill their royal engagements and support their charities — and one another — in the process.
King Charles (then known as Prince Charles) reportedly met a young Camilla Shand at a polo match at Windsor Great Park in 1971. Despite an immediate spark, the pair's relationship ended Charles opted to go into the Royal Navy and Camilla went on to marry Andrew Parker Bowles in 1973.
Although Charles went on to marry Princess Diana, the pair remained close. In 1986, Charles and Camilla reportedly began their affair, which became tabloid fodder and fuelled Charles and Diana's marital issues. In 1992, Charles and Diana announced their separation. By the time the divorced was finalized in 1996, Camilla was also single.
Charles and Camilla went public with their relationship in 1998, less than a year after Diana was killed in a car accident. The pair moved in together in 2003 and were married two years later. Despite reportedly disapproving of their relationship, Queen Elizabeth II announced in 2022 that it was her wish for Camilla to have the title of Queen Consort.
Keep reading to see more moments from King Charles and Queen Camilla's relationship.
Charles (wearing number 4 jersey) and Camilla are photographed with a friend at a polo match.
By 2000, Charles and Camilla were attending public engagements together.
Charles and Camilla announced their engagement in 2005. The then Prince reportedly proposed on one knee with a five-carat emerald cut diamond ring that reportedly once belonged to his grandmother, the Queen Mother.
Thirty-five years after their first meeting, Charles and Camilla were married on April 9, 2005. The couple were legally wed in a civil ceremony before attending a blessing at Windsor Castle.
Four years after they were married, the pair made their first official visit to Canada.
The then Duchess of Cornwall received a push from her husband after falling and breaking her leg while hiking in Scotland.
The then Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall enjoyed some quality time with koalas during their visit to Australia.
According to royal biographer Penny Junor, King Charles loved that the Queen "laughed at the same silly things as he did" when they first met. The pair have continued to share lighthearted moments throughout their royal service.
As monarch, the King is patron of more than 400 charities. In 2019, the pair hosted the Elephant Family Animal Ball at their home, Clarence House, to help save the Asian elephant from extinction.
It's not often that royals attend film premieres, but King Charles put on his best tuxedo to attend the premiere of the James Bond film No Time to Die in London.
The world caught a glimpse of the then Prince of Wales as a grandfather during the Platinum Pageant to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee. The now King shared a cuddle with his grandson, Prince Louis. Together their majesties have 10 grandchildren, five from Princes William and Harry and five from the Queen's children, her son Tom Parker-Bowles and her daughter, Laura Lopes.
King Charles III and Queen Camilla were photographed sharing an intimate moment while greeting crowds outside of Buckingham Palace after their coronation in May 2023.
King Charles secured his first Royal Ascot win in 2023 with his horse, Desert Hero, who overcame 18-1 odds to win the race. His mother, Queen Elizabeth II, won the Royal Ascot 24 times during her reign.
King Charles and Queen Camilla celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary in April 2025 — a milestone for their decades long relationship and journey to their reign as monarchs.
