After the world mourned the loss of Queen Elizabeth II last fall, the longest-reining English monarch, everyone has been so curious to know what comes next for the royals.
King Charles III, father to Princes William and Harry, has now taken the throne alongside his wife of 17 years, Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, who has taken the title of Queen Consort. Their official coronation ceremony is on May 6, but these two royals have hit the ground running in their new roles.
While Camilla has been on everyone's radar for years (who could forget the infamous tampon voicemail), her two kids, whom she shares with ex-husband Andrew Parker Bowles, have remained (mostly) out of the spotlight.
Her two children, Tom and Laura, rarely attend royal outings, but their appearance at Queen Elizabeth's state funeral has been followed by many questions, including whether they'll be in attendance at their mom's three-day coronation festivities, and what Camilla's new title means for them.
Here's everything you need to know:
What is the Queen Consort?
The queen consort holds the female version of her husband's title (which, in this case, is obviously, King), and she also gets a crown. Camilla will be the 29th Queen Consort in the UK.
The queen consort does not, however, hold the same power as the king or as an *official queen* could. That means no political or military control and no coronation. Just a “similar, but simpler ceremony,” according to the British royal family website.
Another important thing to note: Camilla does not hold power without Charles. So when he ultimately leaves the throne, Prince William will become king, and Princess Kate will likely take her place.
Why won't Camilla be Queen?
Before she died, Queen Elizabeth made it clear in a February 5 statement that she supported Camilla. "When, in the fullness of time, my son Charles becomes King, I know you will give him and his wife Camilla the same support you have given me; and it is my sincere wish that, when the time comes, Camilla will be known as Queen Consort as she continues her own loyal service," the Queen wrote.
This was a big surprise, as many expected Camilla would keep her current title of Her Royal Highness The Princess Consort. (The public finds it difficult to forget that Charles and Camilla had an affair when he was still married to beloved Princess Diana).
Author and royal expert Christopher Andersen tells Us Weekly that the Queen's decision to approve of Camilla's Queen Consort title was “driving a wedge” in the royal family and that when it comes to William and Harry, "The boys were completely blindsided.”
“It’s just whether or not they can get over this bad feeling," Christopher said.
Who are Camilla’s children?
Camilla has two children with her ex-husband, Andrew Parker Bowels: Tom Parker Bowles and Laura Lopes.
BTW, Camilla and Andrew officially divorced in 1994.
Who is Tom Parker Bowles?
Tom, who is Camilla’s oldest child and only son, is a restaurant critic. The 48-year-old has also authored many cookbooks and is a judge on British culinary reality shows. He has two children with his ex-wife, fashion editor Sara Buys. Tom’s daughter Lola was born in 2007, and his son Freddy was born in 2010, according to Town & Country.
Tom found love again after his divorce and dated journalist Alice Procope for two years before she passed away from cancer at age 42.
Charles is both Tom's stepfather and his godfather, according to Town & Country, which is a fun little factoid. Plus, Tom has had only good things to say about his mother's relationship with the King.
"I've always adored my stepfather; he's always been a kind and good and lovely man. He is a man of warmth, intelligence, and humanity, and I think if it ever happens, he will make a fantastic King," said Tom in 2015, per Express.
And just before the coronation, he told News Agents podcast that his mom married Charles for love, not a crown. “I don’t care what anyone says, this wasn’t any sort of endgame," Tom said. "She married the person she loved and this is what happened.”
Who is Laura Lopes?
Laura, 45, is the youngest child of Camilla and Andrew. She lives a more private life than her older brother. She co-founded Eleven, which is a fine art gallery in London, and is married to Harry Lopes, a former Calvin Klein model-turned-accountant.
Harry is also related to the fabulously rich Astor family, and is the grandson of a baron, per Cosmo.
Together, Laura and Harry have three children. Their daughter, Eliza, was born in 2008 and was a bridesmaid in William and Kate's wedding in 2011 at age four, per Page Six. Laura and Harry also have twin boys, Gus and Louis, who were born in 2009, according to T&C.
Laura will hit up a fancy art event in London every once in a while, Cosmo reported, but she mostly keeps to herself.
Will Camilla's kids get royal titles?
No. Since Camilla’s own titles depend on Charles, she will not pass on any royal titles to her children. The only way Tom and Laura's titles can change is if they are nominated for new titles due to "good works," according to Page Six.
Even though Queen Camilla's kids will be in the public eye, it's unlikely that they'll have royal security moving forward, according to Joe Little, managing editor of Majesty magazine, per Page Six.
Her kids have also been open about not identifying as part of the royal family. In 2019, Tom told Good Morning Britain that he and his sister are “not quite part of the royal family, to be honest," he said. "My mother married into it. She’s part of it. We’re the common children. We’re just on the side.”
Will they be at the coronation?
Yes. Tom said he will play a small role in the coronation, but he won't appear on the balcony with the rest of the royal family. "We're just there to support our mother," he said on the podcast, per CNN.
Laura is also expected to be in attendance.
Stay tuned for more updates on Camilla's kids after she officially wears the British crown!
Jacqueline Tempera is an award-winning writer and reporter living in New Jersey with her many pets. She is a business owner and a double Scorpio who loves all things astrology and reality television. She is passionate about body diversity and representation, mental health, and the fight to end sexual assault and harassment. To learn more about Jackie, follow her on Instagram @jacktemp or visit her website at jackietempera.com.
Sabrina is an editorial assistant for Women’s Health. When she’s not writing, you can find her running, training in mixed martial arts, or reading.
