How Camilla won over the late Queen Elizabeth: 'Really respected that and became very, very fond of her'

Regardless of whichever name she's gone by over the years - be it Camilla Parker Bowles, the Duchess of Cornwall or Queen Camilla - it's hard to deny that Camilla has been by Charles' side consistently for well over 50 years.

But this wasn't what won over the late Queen Elizabeth, royal biographer Ingrid Seward tells 9honey.

The My Mother and I author says after the "Diana years" when Queen Elizabeth "just really didn't see Charles" it was Camilla that helped bring them back together as mother and son and build the close bond we all saw towards the end of the 96-year-old's life.

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But there was also another key moment, Seward points out – to do with the then-Duchess of Cornwall's treatment of the late Duke of Edinburgh.

"Much later when Philip became unwell and elderly and very crotchety, Camilla was completely brilliant with him," she tells 9honey.

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"And I think the Queen really respected that and became very, very fond of her, but I think it was a later thing."

The author and editor of Majesty Magazine notes it's not that the Queen didn't like her daughter-in-law earlier in the piece, but status quo played a part in things earlier on.

"When Camilla came on the scene, although the Queen couldn't actually entertain – and I don't mean entertain the likes of tea or something – but entertain to be friends with Camilla," Seward says.

"She had known Camilla most of Camilla's life and she was aware of what a good influence Camilla was.

"But I think later, when Philip became old and unwell, Camilla was completely brilliant."

The royal biographer says both women's strong work ethics bonded them, perhaps more than their mutual love of horses.

"She also then saw how hard Camilla worked," Seward tells 9honey.

"Remember, Camilla had never been to an office because she'd never worked in the traditional way.

"She'd had the life of an army wife, which is really looking after the home and the children.

"So to suddenly be thrown into the royal world, although she wasn't suddenly thrown in, I think the Queen suddenly had a growing respect for her."

After she had stepped up repeatedly over 16 years of marriage to then-Prince Charles, Queen Elizabeth gave Camilla the ultimate seal of approval in February 2022.

"When, in the fullness of time, my son Charles becomes King, I know you will give him and his wife Camilla that same support that you have given me," Queen Elizabeth said in a statement marking her Platinum Jubilee, months before her death in September.

"And it is my sincere wish that, when that time comes, Camilla will be known as Queen Consort as she continues her own loyal service."