Queen Camilla Siblings: All About Annabel Elliot and Mark Shand
Queen Camilla PHOTO/The International Times
Queen Camilla, born Camilla Rosemary Shand on July 17, 1947, at King’s College Hospital in London, is the current Queen of the United Kingdom and the 14 other Commonwealth realms as the wife of King Charles III.
She grew up in a well-to-do family on a country estate in Plumpton, East Sussex, and later in South Kensington, London, enjoying a privileged childhood filled with equestrian activities and social gatherings.
Her father, Major Bruce Shand, was a decorated war hero and wine merchant, while her mother, Rosalind Cubitt, came from an aristocratic background as the daughter of the 3rd Baron Ashcombe.
Camilla received her education at Queen’s Gate School in London, followed by finishing schools in Switzerland and France, where she studied French literature.
In her early adulthood, she worked briefly as a secretary and receptionist in London firms, immersing herself in the city’s vibrant social scene.
She married British Army officer Andrew Parker Bowles in 1973, and the couple had two children: Tom Parker Bowles, born in 1974, who became a food writer, and Laura Lopes, born in 1978, an art curator.
Their marriage ended in divorce in 1995 amid public scrutiny over her long-standing relationship with Charles, then Prince of Wales.
Camilla and Charles married in a civil ceremony in 2005, after which she took the title Duchess of Cornwall.
Upon Queen Elizabeth II’s death in September 2022, Charles ascended the throne, and Camilla became Queen Consort; she was crowned alongside him in May 2023 and is now styled as Queen Camilla.
Siblings
Queen Camilla has two younger siblings.
Her sister, Annabel Elliot, born on February 2, 1949, is an accomplished interior designer and antiques dealer who runs her own business specializing in high-end furnishings and renovations.
Growing up together in Sussex, the sisters shared a strong bond, attending the same schools and enjoying similar interests in horses and country life; they remain incredibly close, often seen supporting each other at public events like Wimbledon tennis matches.
Annabel married businessman Simon Elliot in 1972, and they had three children: Ben, Alice, and Catherine.
Tragically, Simon passed away in March 2023 after a long illness, a loss that deeply affected the family, coming just months before Camilla’s coronation.
Annabel has occasionally collaborated on royal projects, including interior design work for properties like the Duchy of Cornwall estates, and she has described finding it challenging to curtsy to her sister in her new royal role, highlighting their familial informality.
Camilla’s brother, Mark Shand, born on June 28, 1951, was a charismatic adventurer, travel writer, and dedicated conservationist who founded the Elephant Family charity in 2002 to protect Asian elephants from extinction.
Also Read: José Wilker Siblings: Meet Maria Auxiliadora Almeida
Known for his globe-trotting lifestyle and books like “Travels on My Elephant,” Mark was a beloved figure in conservation circles and shared a warm relationship with Camilla, who supported his causes.
His life was cut short in April 2014 when he died at age 62 from head injuries sustained in a fall outside a New York charity event.
Career
In her early twenties, after returning from studies in France, Queen Camilla worked as a secretary for various firms in London’s West End, including the decorating company Sibyl Colefax & John Fowler, where she honed administrative skills in a creative environment.
Following her marriage to Andrew Parker Bowles, she largely stepped away from paid employment to raise her family but remained active in social and equestrian circles.
Her public career truly began after her 2005 marriage to Charles, where she embraced duties as the Duchess of Cornwall, undertaking official engagements and supporting charitable initiatives.
A cornerstone of her work has been advocating for osteoporosis awareness, motivated by her mother’s death from the condition in 1994; she became patron of the Royal Osteoporosis Society in 1994 and its president in 2001, launching campaigns to promote bone health worldwide.
Camilla has also championed literacy, founding The Duchess of Cornwall’s Reading Room in 2021—rebranded as The Queen’s Reading Room in 2023—which evolved into a charity promoting reading through podcasts, book clubs, and literary festivals.
Her portfolio extends to over 90 patronages, including organizations focused on domestic violence (such as SafeLives), animal welfare (like the RSPCA and Battersea Dogs & Cats Home), the arts (including the London Taxidrivers’ Fund for Children), and elderly care.
Accolades
Queen Camilla has amassed a distinguished array of honors, awards, and titles that recognize her contributions to charity, public service, and the monarchy.
Among her royal distinctions, she was appointed a Dame Grand Cross of the Royal Victorian Order (GCVO) in 2012 by Queen Elizabeth II, acknowledging her personal service to the sovereign.
In 2024, she became a Lady of the Order of the Garter, England’s highest order of chivalry, and later that year, a Lady of the Order of the Thistle, Scotland’s equivalent, making her one of the few individuals to hold both.
Internationally, her efforts in osteoporosis advocacy earned her the Ethel LeFrak Global Impact Award in 2005 from the American charity Hospital for Special Surgery, highlighting her global influence on health awareness.
In a historic move in 2025, she was named Vice Admiral of the United Kingdom, becoming the first woman and first royal family member to hold this honorary naval title, reflecting her longstanding support for the Royal Navy.
That same year, Pope Francis bestowed upon her the Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Pope Pius IX, a rare papal honor recognizing her humanitarian work.
Academically, Camilla received an Honorary Doctorate of Literature from the University of London in November 2024, presented by her sister-in-law, Princess Anne, in tribute to her promotion of reading and literature.
Additionally, she has been granted royal warrants to favored suppliers, including her facialist and wedding dress designer, and she launched the Queen’s Reading Room Medal in 2025 to celebrate literary achievements.