These 30 IRL Photos of Camilla Parker Bowles as a Young Woman Prove She’s Always Been Royal AF

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These 30 IRL Photos of Camilla Parker Bowles as a Young Woman Prove She’s Always Been Royal AF

Thanks to The Crown, we are all very much aware of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles’s tumultuous relationship—and there's more drama coming when the show returns for its upcoming fifth season in legit five days!

Season 3 of the hit show revealed how the eventual couple met, the fact they were dating while Camilla was on a break from her future first husband, Andrew Parker Bowles, and how Princess Anne was actually dating Andrew for a quick sec while Camilla and Charles were together. So yeah, you could say things were pretty complicated!

Meanwhile, Charles and Camilla's relationship didn’t change all that much after Charles and Princess Diana got married. In fact, they got back together once Charles and Diana separated and divorced and were married themselves in 2005, which allowed Camilla to be Queen Consort of England once Queen Elizabeth died earlier this year and Charles became the king of England. (Quick side note: A Queen Consort is not the same as a Queen. Basically, Camilla holds the female equivalent of her husband Charles' title but *not* his sovereignty or political and military powers.)

So yeah, we know how these two got together IRL, but you might still be wondering what Camilla was like at that age. Did The Crown (and the actress who plays her, Emerald Fennell) do Camilla justice? Here are the very few pictures we could find of Camilla Shand as a young woman.

And FYI before we dive in: Rumor has it that Camilla and Charles' wedding is when The Crown will finally end—paving the way for a potential spin-off involving Prince Charles and his sons, Prince Harry and Prince William. We all know how drama-filled that particular chapter of royal history is, so stay tuned.

(Getty Images)
2/31
1952

Starting with bb Camilla! She’s on the left, in a starring role as a bridesmaid.

(William Vanderson - Getty Images)
3/31
1970

Here she is with her future husband Charles at a polo match. This was before they were both married to other people.

(Serge Lemoine - Getty Images)
4/31
1973

As you know, she didn’t marry Prince Charles right away. Here she is on the day of her first wedding.

(Frank Barratt - Getty Images)
5/31
1973

The hair here is truly iconic.

(Wood - Getty Images)
6/31
1973

Did you have people with swords at your wedding? Probably not!

(Wood - Getty Images)
7/31
1973

Another angle of that same photo. Again, so fancy.

(Frank Barratt - Getty Images)
8/31
1975

This was after she got married to someone else, but Charles was still single.

(PA Images - Getty Images)
9/31
1976

Behold, an early paparazzi photo.

(Robin Jones - Getty Images)
10/31
1979

This is the most British photo I’ve ever seen in my entire life.

(Tim Graham - Getty Images)
11/31
1979

Like, Charles is wearing Hunter boots, I’m pretty sure.

(Tim Graham - Getty Images)
12/31
1979

Those PANTS. Hello.

(Tim Graham - Getty Images)
13/31
1979

Spot Camilla in the background as Charles and his turtleneck triumphantly step on this bale of hay.

(Tim Graham - Getty Images)
14/31
1980

So this was before Charles and Diana got married, but obviously Camilla is still in the picture as a friend.

(Express Newspapers - Getty Images)
15/31
1980

They went to go watch Charles play polo together. So many good boots in one picture.

(PA Images - Getty Images)
16/31
1980

I wonder who this random man is?

(PA Images - Getty Images)
17/31
1980

Diana said in an interview after she and Charles split that she felt like there were three people in her marriage, hinting at Camilla.

(PA Images - Getty Images)
18/31
1989

I think, more than anything, we need to have a conversation about this hat.

(Tim Graham - Getty Images)
19/31
1998

And this one, too, while we're at it!

(Tim Graham - Getty Images)
20/31
1992

This woman loves a polo match!

(Neil Munns - PA Images - Getty Images)
21/31
1994

New decade, same car pic vibes.

(Barry Batchelor - PA Images - Getty Images)
22/31
1998

And another one for good measure.

(Tim Graham - Getty Images)
23/31
1994

Another day, another hat!

(Martin Keene - PA Images - Getty Images)
24/31
1995

More Hunter boots!!

(Mathieu Polak - Getty Images)
25/31
1995

But mostly hi to these very good dogs.

(Barry Batchelor - PA Images - Getty Images)
26/31
1995

We love a girl who rides horses. LOVE.

(Mathieu Polak - Getty Images)
27/31
1995

Camilla 🤝🏻 horse 'fits.

(Mathieu Polak - Getty Images)
28/31
1999

I, too, would simply love to have a cute lil staycation at the London Ritz with my beau.

(Tim Graham - Getty Images)
29/31
1999

*Zooms in on fancy-looking chandeliers* Yep, I would not be mad about this.

(Tim Graham - Getty Images)
30/31
1995

Here's Camilla on her way to a party at The Ritz with Charles. (Timeline note: Charles and Diana's divorce was finalized in 1996, but they were separated at this point.)

(Julian Parker - Getty Images)
31/31
1995

Okay, Camilla!

(PA Images - Getty Images)

Season 5 of 'The Crown' will depict Prince Charles and Camilla Barker Bowles' relationship amid his separation from Princess Diana. Here's what Camilla looked like IRL.