The thing about Andrew Parker Bowles and Camilla’s marriage was that it always suited them just fine, and their arrangement was perfectly acceptable within the aristocracy AND the royal family. Andrew cheated on Camilla, Camilla cheated on Andrew, and they were both fine with it and relatively discreet about it. It was Charles and Diana’s marriage troubles which put the spotlight on the Parker-Bowles situation. Anyway, Andrew and now Queen Consort Camilla are still quite close. He even steps in for her and makes appearances on her behalf. He was invited to Charles and Camilla’s wedding and he was reportedly quite jolly about his ex-wife’s situation. And now Andrew Parker Bowles is going to the coronation.
“Being divorced, I don’t think you can have it both ways.” So said the Duchess of York last week, explaining why she is not invited to the coronation on May 6. One man, however, can and will have it both ways. Andrew Parker Bowles, Camilla’s former husband, will be front and centre of the congregation at Westminster Abbey watching his first wife crowned alongside King Charles, while his grandchildren take centre stage with official roles in the ceremony.
Camilla, 75, and Parker Bowles, 83, divorced in 1995 after 22 years of marriage but remain the closest of friends, seeing each other regularly. They have two children — Tom Parker Bowles, 48, a food writer, restaurant critic and the King’s godson; and Laura Lopes, 45, a gallerist — and five grandchildren. Tom’s son, Freddy, 13, and Laura’s twin sons, Gus and Louis, also 13, will be Camilla’s pages of honour at the coronation, carrying the train of her robes.
A friend of Parker Bowles’s said of his enduring relationship with the Queen: “They are joined at the hip. He arranges so much for her. They have lunch together the whole time. He’s right in there. He was always, and still is, Camilla’s co-conspirator.”
Friends politely describe Parker Bowles, who was unfaithful to Camilla during their courtship and marriage, as “a bit of a rogue” and “very naughty with women”. It has often been suggested that he was one of the inspirations for Rupert Campbell-Black, the central character in several of Jilly Cooper’s bonkbuster books.
Known as “the Brigadier” among friends and in royal circles, Parker Bowles, a retired army officer who served with the Blues and Royals, part of the Household Cavalry, has moved in royal circles for decades. Before his marriage to Camilla in 1973, he had a romance with Princess Anne. They remain close friends and are often spotted together at Royal Ascot.
It’s true about Andrew and Anne – they’re also quite close, still, to this day. There are tons of photos of Andrew and Anne together at horse events, chatting away and flirting with each other (and her husband is suspiciously never around those events). The point, I suppose, is that Andrew isn’t simply close to his ex-wife – he’s close to many within the extended Windsor clan. He’s always been part of that circle. He never sold out Camilla, even though Cam’s PR has been working overtime to emphasize the fact that Andrew cheated on her constantly. Like she wasn’t banging a whole-ass heir to the throne throughout her first marriage. Still, Andrew has a good life and he’s not going to mess it up by giving some tell-all interview. So his reward is seeing his ex-wife crowned in person. Now, do I also think it’s tacky that the coronation is all about Camilla’s “victory lap” and it’s entirely a Parker-Bowles affair? Sure, that too.
Photos courtesy of Avalon Red.
Princess Anne & Andrew Parker Bowles at Royal Ascot 2011,Image: 512455570, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries call London + 44 (0)20 7421 6000 , New York + 1 646-329-6242 or Hamburg + 49 (0)40 530 240 5959, Model Release: no, Credit line: Michael Webberley / Avalon 
THE QUEEN AND THE DUKE OF EDINBURGH WITH THE PRINCE OF WALES AND THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL AT THE STAE OPENING OF PARLIAMENT 2015.:ANDREW PARKER BOWLES WAS WAS THE DUCHESS OF CORNWALL’S GUEST,Image: 524426876, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: NO UK USE FOR 48 HOURS – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Photoshot – sales@photoshot.com London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Florida: +1 239 689 1883 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251, Model Release: no, Credit line: – / Avalon 
104459, BRENTWOOD, UNITED KINGDOM – Wednesday September 11, 2013. Andrew Parker Bowles attends the funeral of Hugh van Cutsem at Brentwood Cathedral in Brentwood. **UK, AUSTRALIA & NZ OUT** **FEE MUST BE AGREED PRIOR TO USAGE** **E-TABLET/IPAD & MOBILE PHONE APP PUBLISHING REQUIRES ADDITIONAL FEES**,Image: 528423091, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS, DIRECT SALES ONLY UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE IN CAPTION – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – sales@avalon.red London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: +1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251 Madrid: +34 91 533 4289, Model Release: no, Credit line: i-Images, PacificCoastNews.com / Avalon
114725, Andrew Parker Bowles with his ex-wife Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall at the Cheltenham Festival Ladies Day at Cheltenham Racecourse. Cheltenham, United Kingdom – Wednesday, March 12, 2014. UK, FRANCE, AUS, NZ, CHINA, HONG KONG, TAIWAN, SPAIN & ITALY OUT,Image: 529367368, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS, DIRECT SALES ONLY UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE IN CAPTION – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – sales@avalon.red London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: +1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251 Madrid: +34 91 533 4289, Model Release: no, Credit line: i-Images, PacificCoastNews / Avalon 
117802, Andrew Parker Bowles arrives for the funeral of Mark Shand at Holy Trinity Church in Stourpaine. Dorset, United Kingdom – Thursday May 1, 2014. UK, FRANCE, AUS, NZ, CHINA, HONG KONG, TAIWAN, SPAIN & ITALY OUT,Image: 530718699, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS, DIRECT SALES ONLY UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE IN CAPTION – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – sales@avalon.red London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: +1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251 Madrid: +34 91 533 4289, Model Release: no, Credit line: i-Images, PacificCoastNews / Avalon 
128034, HRH The Duchess Of Cornwall and her ex husband Andrew Parker Bowles at a party to celebrate the publication of ‘Let’s Eat meat’ by Tom Parker Bowles held at Fortnum & Mason, Piccadilly in London. London, United Kingdom – Tuesday October 21, 2014. NORTH AMERICA & SOUTH AMERICA ONLY,Image: 531074760, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS, DIRECT SALES ONLY UNLESS STATED OTHERWISE IN CAPTION – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Avalon.red – sales@avalon.red London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Los Angeles: +1 (310) 822 0419 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251 Madrid: +34 91 533 4289, Model Release: no, Credit line: Xclusive, PacificCoastNews / Avalon
Princess Anne, the Princess Royal and Andrew Parker Bowles attend Cheltenham Racecourse on Gold Cup Day.13 March 2009. Picture by /,Image: 542492570, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: WORLD RIGHTS – Fee Payable Upon Reproduction – For queries contact Photoshot – sales@photoshot.com London: +44 (0) 20 7421 6000 Florida: +1 239 689 1883 Berlin: +49 (0) 30 76 212 251, Model Release: no, Credit line: Anwar Hussein / Avalon 
CAMILLA and ANDREW PARKER BOWLES enjoy a day at the races – Date: 07.06.1992. Ref: B115_083601_0980. COMPULSORY CREDIT: Alan Davidson / Bandphoto / UPPA/Photoshot. All rights reserved,Image: 559914192, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: FEE PAYABLE UPON REPRODUCTION Universal Pictorial Press & Agency 29-31 Saffron Hill, London. EC1N 8SW Tel: +44 (0)20 7421 6000, Model Release: no, Credit line: Bandphoto / UPPA / Avalon 
HRH Princess Anne with her hausband Timothy Laurence and Andrew Parker Bowles seen at Cheltenham Racecourse for day 3, St Patrick’s day, Cheltenham, UK,Image: 671436687, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: JULES ANNAN / Avalon
HRH Princess Anne with Andrew Parker Bowles seen at Cheltenham Racecourse for day 3, St Patrick’s day, Cheltenham, UK,Image: 671436959, License: Rights-managed, Restrictions: , Model Release: no, Credit line: JULES ANNAN / AvalonncG1vNJzZmivp6x7pLHLnpmirJOdxm%2BvzqZmcWlkZn96e8Cnm6udp5S9or7KnqmYmp%2Bsuaa%2FvrCgpaSPlsG1sc2dlq2glZSwsL7Op5itoZ%2BjrKmxvpyYpqGcoa6grdGelqOnmaOypavArZatoJWUtaq8jg%3D%3D