From the Duchess of Cornwall to the Queen Consort and soon to be Queen, Camilla Rosemary Shand has lived much of her life in the spotlight.
From her first marriage to Andrew Parker Bowles in 1973 to her second marriage to heir apparent to the British throne Prince Charles III in 2005, the now 75-year-old has been a polarizing presence in the royal family for decades.
Despite this however, Camilla has managed to keep both of her children – Tom, 48 and Laura, 45 – and five teenage grandchildren – Lola, 16, Elizabeth, 15, Louis and Gus, 14, and Freddy, 13 – out of the public eye.
Camilla in a rare sighting alongside her two adult children. IMAGE: Getty
But all that is set to change on May 6th when King Charles is crowned as King, and Camilla Queen, with her grandchildren expected to take centre stage during the proceedings.
In fact, the teenagers will hold a canopy over their grandmother as she is anointed with holy oil during the most sacred part of the ceremony, in what has been described as a ”bold move” by royal watchers.
The role has historically been performed by other duchesses, with Camilla’s choice to include her family by blood in the official proceedings signalling the ”blended family” of Camilla and Charles.
So, with all that said and done, we thought we would take a look at lives so far of the ‘step’ family set to officially start mingling with the Mountbatten-Windsor’s’.
Lola Parker Bowles
Just look at that sweet face! IMAGE: Getty
The oldest grandchild of Camilla recently celebrated her sweet 16th. She is the daughter of Tom Parker Bowles and his ex-wife Sara Buys.
In a rare public mention by her grandmother, Camilla revealed to Vogue that despite her busy schedule she plays Wordle every day with Lola.
”She’ll text me to say, ‘I’ve done it in three,’ and I say, ‘Sorry, I’ve done it in two today.’ It’s very satisfactory when it tells you how brilliant you are!”
In the same interview Camilla also added that she was ”well versed” in teenagers nowadays.
”The girls [Lola and Eliza] are beginning to get into clothes and make-up and, you know, it’s rather frightening when you see them, coming out with pierced ears and a lot of new makeup and funny coloured hair stuff.”
Eliza Lopes
When she was a mere toddler, Eliza’s face was broadcast to millions across the globe. IMAGE: Getty
Born just one year after her cousin Lola, Eliza is the eldest daughter of Laura and Harry Lopes.
If her name (or face) rings a bell you might remember Eliza (who was a toddler at the time) appearing as a bridesmaid in the wedding of her step uncle Prince William to Kate Middleton in 2011.
And who could forget that sweet moment where the then Prince Charles (her step granddaddy) was seen picking her up to give her a better view of the crowds amassing outside Buckingham Palace.
In a recent interview with the Daily Mail to celebrate her 75th birthday, Camilla mentioned how much Eliza adored reading.
”I have a granddaughter that’s very into Philip Pullman and she’s been through His Dark Materials, so I think I got her La Bell Sauvage and the twin boys [Louis and Gus], one I got Dracula and the other I put on to Lord of the Rings…so those are the children’s books.”
Louis and Gus Lopes
The twins at Trooping of the Colours in 2016. IMAGE: Shutterstock
The 14-year-old twin brothers to elder sister Eliza, the pair were only two years old at the time of William and Catherine’s royal wedding and did not make an appearance.
However, over the years Camilla has offered royal fans an insight into her relationship with them, recently telling British Vogue that the duo were ”always keeping tabs on her.”
‘It’s nice getting a text,” she said.
”We learn from very young people, and they learn from us, too. That’s the way it’s always been.”
Freddy Parker Bowles
Freddy is rarely seen in public. IMAGE: Pinterest
The youngest step-grandchild of Prince (or should we say King) now has yet to attend any official royal engagements with his grandmother and stepfamily.
He has however been spotted out and about with his family for personal outings, including to the Abba Voyage concert with his grandmother and all her other blood related grandchildren.
