Prince Charles 70th birthday: Camilla Parker Bowles reveals OTHER side to ‘serious’ royal

Prince Charles and his wife Camilla Parker Bowles starred in the BBC observational documentary, Prince, Son and Heir: Charles at 70, which aired on BBC One last Thursday.

The programme featured exclusive access to the Prince of Wales from the last 12 months – including interviews with him, Camilla, 71, and his two children – Prince William, 36, and Prince Harry, 34.

In the footage, the royal discussed her husband’s personality.

As she began, Camilla – who married the heir to the throne back in 2005 – discussed how she thought some people assumed the Prince was “very serious”.

“He’s a very exceptional man,” she said.

“They see him as a very serious person, which he is.”

However, the Duchess went on to address how he had a “lighter side” – something which she said she wanted other people to get a glimpse of.

“But, I would like a lot of people to see the lighter side of him.”

Later in the documentary, Camilla opened up about the Prince’s relationship with his grandchildren, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis – as well as with her own.

“He will get down on his knees and crawl about with them for hours,” she revealed. “You know, making funny noises, and laughing.”

Camilla is a grandmother-of-five, with her daughter having three children, and son being father to two youngsters.

The mother-of-two shares her two children with her ex-husband, Andrew Parker Bowles, who she was married to between 1973 and 1995.

Speaking of Prince Charles in the BBC film, she told viewers: “My grandchildren adore him, absolutely adore him.

“He reads Harry Potter. He can do all the different voices, and I think children really appreciate that.”

Today, the royal reached his 70th birthday – with photos being released to mark His Royal Highness’ special day.

Elsewhere, a body language expert has claimed that Prince Charles is “suddenly” mirroring his late uncle Lord Mountbatten.

The royal, who died at the age of 79 back in 1979, was the uncle of Prince Charles’ father, Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.

And, according to body language specialist Judi James, the heir to the throne appears to be exhibiting similar “posturing” to his close relative.

She told Express.co.uk: “Charles and Camilla have their tour of Africa and Charles’s 70th birthday celebrations, and suddenly they are both adopting a look of old-school regality.”

Judi expanded on some signs she’d spotted, explaining: “Charles is suddenly emerging with some high-status posturing that is more reminiscent of his parents and his uncle Lord Mountbatten in the 50s and 60s than modern UK royalty.”

Prince, Son and Heir: Charles at 70 is available to watch now on BBC iPlayer.

Who is Camilla Parker Bowles?

Camilla Parker Bowles is the Duchess of Cornwall and wife of Prince Charles.

Family life

Camilla was born on 17 July 1947 at King’s College Hospital, London, England.

Her parents were Major Bruce Shand and Rosalind Cubitt, the daughter of a baron.

She has a younger sister Annabel Elliot, 69, and a younger brother Mark Shand who passed away in 2014. He sadly died after falling and hitting his head.

Education

Camilla first attended Dumbrells school in Ditchling before moving onto Queen’s Gate School in Queen’s Gate, South Kensington at age 10, where she was known as “Milla”.

She attained one O-level before attending a Mon Fertile finishing school in Tolochenaz, Switzerland.

She then went on to study French at the University of London Institute in Paris.

First marriage to Andrew Parker Bowles

Camilla married Andrew Parker Bowles, an officer, on 4 July 1973, when Camilla was 26. The Queen Mother and Princess Anne attended the big day.

The couple have two children, Tom, who Prince Charles is a godfather to, and Laura.

The couple divorced amicably in March 1995.

Marriage to Prince Charles

Prince Charles told in his biography that he and Camilla had rekindled their love in 1986 after his marriage had “irretrievably broken down”.

They announced their engagement in February 2005, which was the Queen Mother’s.

It is thought to be one of the most valuable rings in the royal collection.

They wed on April 2005 at Windsor Guildhall, where Prince William acted as a witness for the pair, before honeymooning in Scotland at Prince Charles’ home in Birkhall.