Andrew Parker Bowles

Andrew Henry Parker Bowles was born on 27 December 1939. He is a retired officer of the British Army and was formerly married to Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, the wife of King Charles III.

Early Life and Family

Andrew Parker Bowles is the eldest of four children of Derek Henry Parker Bowles and his wife Ann (née de Trafford). His father resided at Donnington Castle House in Berkshire. Derek Henry Parker Bowles was a great-grandson of Thomas Parker, 6th Earl of Macclesfield, and his mother, Ann de Trafford, was the daughter of Sir Humphrey de Trafford, 4th Baronet, a multimillionaire racehorse owner. His christening was announced in The Times, listing Sir Humphrey de Trafford and William Cavendish, Marquess of Hartington, among his godparents. His parents were acquaintances of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother, who is sometimes cited as one of Andrew’s godmothers.

Educational and Early Public Role

Parker Bowles served as a page at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II, serving Lord Chancellor Lord Simons. He is known to have participated in amateur horse racing, riding in the 1969 Grand National on his horse, The Fossa, finishing in 11th place. He also played polo with Prince Charles during their youth.

Military Career

Andrew Parker Bowles attended Ampleforth College, a Benedictine school, and then trained at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. He received his commission into the Royal Horse Guards (The Blues) in 1960. Around 1965, he served as aide-de-camp to Sir Bernard Fergusson, the Governor-General of New Zealand. He was an Adjutant of the Royal Horse Guards from 1967 to 1969, and continued in the regiment, which was renamed The Blues and Royals in 1969. He was promoted to major on 31 December 1971.

His military service included participation in Operation Motorman in Northern Ireland in 1972 as a squadron leader. From 1979 to 1980, he served as Senior Military Liaison Officer to Lord Soames during the transition of Southern Rhodesia to Zimbabwe. He was promoted to lieutenant colonel on 30 June 1980 and awarded the Queen's Commendation for Bravery for service in Zimbabwe.

He commanded the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment from 1981 to 1983, during which the regiment was targeted in terrorist bombings in Hyde Park and Regent's Park. He was among the first responders to the attack, and his commands contributed to saving the horse Sefton. Between 1987 and 1990, he served as colonel commanding the Household Cavalry and held the ceremonial position of Silver Stick in Waiting to the Queen. He was promoted to brigadier on 30 June 1990 and served as director of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps from 1991 until his retirement in 1994.

His military ranks evolved as follows: lieutenant (1962), captain (1966), major (1971), lieutenant colonel (1980), colonel (1987), brigadier (1990), and he formally retired in 1994.

Relationships and Family

Andrew Parker Bowles's godchildren include Lady Emma Herbert, a circus trapeze artist and bridesmaid at his first wedding, and Zara Tindall, daughter of Princess Anne. He was known to have dated Princess Anne from June 1970 for several years; however, their relationship was considered unlikely to have been very serious due to religious considerations, as Parker Bowles was Catholic. The relationship ended before his engagement to Camilla Shand.

In 1973, Parker Bowles married Camilla Shand in a Catholic ceremony. Camilla was previously involved with Prince Charles. They resided at Bolehyde Manor and later Middlewick House near Corsham in Wiltshire. They had two children together: Tom and Laura. Their daughter Laura attended St Mary’s School in Shaftesbury, and their son Tom attended Eton College. The marriage ended in divorce in 1995 amid reports of extramarital affairs.

Following his divorce, Parker Bowles married Rosemary Alice Pitman in 1996. Rosemary was previously married to Lt Col John Hugh Pitman and had three sons. She passed away from complications related to cancer in 2010. Parker Bowles and Rosemary attended the wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla in 2005. Princess Anne and Camilla Williams were present at Rosemary Pitman's funeral.

In December 2023, reports emerged that Parker Bowles was in a relationship with television presenter Anne Robinson.

In Media

Andrew Parker Bowles is among the inspirations for the character Rupert Campbell-Black in Jilly Cooper’s novels. He posed for the painting "The Brigadier" by Lucian Freud in 2003, which sold for nearly $35 million in 2015. He has been portrayed in media, including in the series "The Crown."

Honours and Recognitions

He received an Honorary Fellowship from the Royal Veterinary College in 2003.