King Charles and Camilla’s love story is something else. Some argue that it’s one of the most beautiful, while others claim the scandals have put a stain on it that will never disappear. They first met at a polo match in 1972, as they were introduced by their mutual friend Lucia Santa Cruz, the daughter of the Chilean ambassador.

The couple dated for a while but stopped when Charles left to serve in the Royal Navy. By the time he returned, Camilla was involved and engaged to Andrew Parker Bowles.

King Charles and Queen Camilla’s love story
Andrew and Camilla married in 1973, but Camilla maintained a close and friendly relationship with Charles. The now-king started dating 19-year-old Diana Spencer in 1980.

When Diana was introduced to the Bowles couple, Camilla thought the young lady was “sweet and cute” and approved of her. At first, Diana and Camilla got along well. But things soon grew uncomfortable.

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According to Charles’ authorized biography, Charles and Camilla’s affair started in 1986. Charles was still married to Princess Diana at that point. She found out about it – and confronted Camilla.

Things for Charles and Diana continued as usual, at least from the public’s perspective. But it wasn’t long before the couple’s fairytale life was over.

In 1992, the couple announced their separation, though both continued with their official royal duties. Four years later, in August of 1996, they reached a final agreement for the divorce. In newly discovered letters, Diana revealed new details about the dirty divorce.

By that stage, things had already reached the ears of the public regarding Charles’ relationship with Camilla. And what happened in December 1989 confirmed that they had been having an affair for years.

Just months after Charles and Diana formally separated, the press published a full transcript of a telephone call between the then-future King and Camilla, known as the Tampongate scandal.

The phone call revealed an intimate and sexual exchange between the couple. But, according to The Diana Chronicles, the person who recorded it had kept it to himself for years.

Charles and Camilla tied the knot in 2005 at Windsor Castle. While the now-queen had a tough time being accepted by the public – and Queen Elizabeth – as the years went by, she became increasingly popular. Today, there is no doubt that royal fans adore her.