Heartbreak for Queen Camilla as her 'first love' Kevin Burke dies

Long before her marriage to King Charles III, Queen Camilla found happiness with Kevin Burke.

Now, the man widely known as Camilla's first love has passed away aged 77.

The pair are said to have met in Knightsbridge, in London, in 1965.

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UK media reports that at the time Camilla – now 76 – was a fun-loving debutante in high society during the swinging sixties.

She was around 17 when they first met, likely at a party, when Camilla was known by friends simply as 'Milla'.

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He spoke about their relationship to author Jessica Jayne in the biography, The Duchess of Cornwall: Her story and secrets in 2012.

"Every night we had two or three cocktail parties to go to and a dance and a couple of dances to choose from at weekends in the country," Burke said.

"It was the best fun, and I had the best and most fun partner you could possibly wish for.

"Camilla was immensely popular.

"I remained with Camilla all that year. I suppose we were in love and then she ditched me. Why?

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"Well, the short answer is that she was having a ball in London."

Camilla went on to marry Andrew Parker Bowles in July, 1973, and they had two children: Tom and Laura.

They divorced in 1995.

As for Burke, the chartered accountant married a little later in life.

His first marriage was to advertising executive Peta Baker when he was aged 42, a union that lasted 14 years and ended in 2001.

Then he married former head-hunter Luisa Fairey, with whom he became a father for the first time at 58.

Burke is survived by his "much loved" son Max.

It is believed Burke died earlier this month and his family have asked for donations to be made to the British Heart Foundation.

His funeral will be held in September.