How a witty remark sealed the fate of a royal love story

Queen Camilla is said to have delivered a memorable one-liner to King Charles, igniting the flame of their romance and setting the stage for a relationship that would endure for decades.

Their initial encounter is believed to have taken place around 1971, possibly at a polo match, where Camilla reportedly caught Charles’s attention with her sharp wit. It was there, according to legend, that she quipped, “You know my great-grandmother was your great-great-grandfather’s mistress, so how about it?”

At the time, Camilla had recently ended her relationship with Andrew Parker Bowles, while Charles was navigating his own romantic endeavours within their shared social circle. Though they had not formally met before, they quickly struck up a friendship that eventually blossomed into something more.

Their relationship faced obstacles and was put on hold when Charles embarked on naval service in early 1973. Additionally, there were reported disapprovals from figures within the royal circle, including Queen Mother, who had different aspirations for Charles’s romantic life.

Despite the challenges, Charles and Camilla remained connected, finding solace in each other’s company, particularly after the tragic loss of Lord Mountbatten in 1979. Rumors of a rekindled romance swirled, leading to their first public appearance together in 1999 and culminating in their marriage in April 2005.

While their journey to marital bliss was marked by twists and turns, it was perhaps Camilla’s legendary one-liner that set the stage for a royal romance that would withstand the test of time.