Before Camilla: These 5 Women in King Charles’ Life Could’ve Been the The Queen Consort
There could have been a completely different Queen consort.
When he was still the Prince of Wales, King Charles III embarked on a quest to find his future queen. He had committed to marry before turning thirty and set three specific criteria for a potential princess: she had to be of aristocratic descent, not a Catholic, and chaste. Additionally, the chosen lady would have to receive the approval of the late Queen Elizabeth II, Charles's mother.
In 1981, Charles married Diana Spencer, who later became widely known as Princess Diana of Wales. The couple had two sons, William and Harry, but their marriage was far from happy and ultimately ended in divorce in 1996.
The Prince of Wales later reunited with his old flame, Camilla Parker Bowles (née Shand), whom he married in 2005. Camilla will become his Queen consort upon their coronation on 6 May.
However, King Charles's love life has been more eventful than it may seem, with many other women crossing his path during his quest for love. Here are just five who might have become his queen consort:
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Lucia Santa Cruz
Lucia, the daughter of Chilean ambassador to London Victor Santa Cruz, met Prince Charles all the way back in 1969. Lady Elizabeth Anson, Charles's cousin, considered her Charles's first serious love. It remains unknown how long Charles and Lucia were together, but as a Catholic, she didn't meet the requirements.
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Davina Sheffield
The daughter of a nouveau riche industrialist, Davina reportedly dated Charles in 1976. Rumours suggested he was considering a proposal, but their relationship abruptly ended after Davina's ex-boyfriend exposed their 'sinful' liaison to the media, and she, thus, failed the chastity requirement.
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Lady Sarah Spencer
Diana's older sister was Prince Charles's first choice. The couple dated in 1977 until Sarah told tabloid reporters that she would never marry without love. Not a fan of such public disclosures, Charles ended their relationship.
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Anna Wallace
Prince Charles met Anna, the daughter of a Scottish landowner, in 1980 while hunting. They quickly bonded over their shared interests. Charles reportedly proposed to her twice, but she rejected him each time.
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Lady Dale Tryon
The famous Australian socialite and fashion designer Lady Dale Tryon, met Prince Charles in 1966 while he was studying in Victoria, Australia. Although she married Baron Anthony Tryon in 1973, there were rumours about her affair with Charles. The gossip was eventually dismissed, and Charles was even chosen to be the godfather of the Tryons' son in 1976.
Despite these various romantic entanglements, King Charles's love for Camilla has prevailed in the long term.