Monday 17 July 2017

Camilla on camera at 70, new portrait inside


The Duchess of Cornwall is 70 today and while the day itself might be low key, it's not going totally unmarked. To celebrate her 70th, Camilla has been caught on camera with Charles. And the man behind the lens for this new portrait is none other than Mario Testino.





It's a simple but striking image of the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall taken by the world famous photographer at their London home, Clarence House. Testino has photographed them before, for a wedding anniversary picture. He also took Princess Charlotte's christening photos. But he is perhaps best known for capturing Diana, Princess of Wales on camera (an exhibition of his snaps of her is on display at her childhood home, Althorp House, to mark the 20th anniversary of her death this year).  Which means the choice of photographer has caused plenty of chatter before the image has even been absorbed.  A second image by Testino, of Camilla by herself, was released in the afternoon. This image exudes so much confidence it's easy to see why this is a landmark birthday in more ways than one for the duchess.


Camilla Rosemary Shand was born on July 17th 1947 at King's Hospital, London, the eldest child of Major Bruce Shand and his wife, Rosalind. She married the Prince of Wales in 2005 after a controversial relationship that had started in the early 1970s and recommenced during both of their marriages. Now, as she turns 70, Camilla has found a level of popularity unimagineable at some points in her life and is seen as an integral part of the Royal Family. Even the debates about whether she should be queen have dimmed in recent times. It looks like this will be a very Happy Birthday for Camilla.

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