The 'rock' who's quietly been at Queen Camilla's side through her royal life
Queen Camilla has long stood in the public eye, but as she's taken her place at the heart of the British monarchy one woman has remained her steadfast supporter.
She may not be a household name, but Annabel Elliot plays a pivotal role in the life of her older sister.
As the royal took her seat in the spotlight, Elliot has remained a source of strength and support, acting as a cornerstone in Camilla's whirlwind life.
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Annabel Elliot (nee Shand) has been a source of strength and support in sister Queen Camilla's whirlwind life. Indigo/Getty Images
Sonia Annabel Shand was born on February 2, 1949, to Major Bruce Shand and The Honourable Rosalind Cubitt, the daughter of the 3rd Baron Ashcombe and Sonia Rosemary Keppel.
The interior designer and antiques dealer was raised alongside her sister in the picturesque Sussex countryside.
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Annabel and Camilla enjoyed a quintessentially aristocratic English upbringing, living on a sprawling country estate, becoming keen horsewomen and developing a love for the outdoors.
On April 27, 1972, at the age of 23, she married the late Simon Elliot. The pair built themselves a life in Dorset and welcomed three children, Ben, Alice, and Katie.
Both Shand sisters enjoyed a quintessentially aristocratic English upbringing. WireImage
While Camilla found her footing in the royal fold, journeying to Buckingham Palace, Elliot began her career as the co-founder of the antiques and interiors emporium Talisman.
Years later, in 2014, the mother of three was ranked the fifth most influential female interior designer by the Daily Telegraph.
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Unlike her sister, Elliot chose to live outside the public eye, keeping details of her life notoriously private.
Her private lifestyle was also said to be a place of solace for Camilla as she faced public scrutiny in the early years of her relationship with the then-Prince Charles.
Elliot was a great source of support while Camilla was navigating the early years of her royal relationship. Tim Graham Photo Library via Get
The designer offered Dorset as a safe haven for her sister, offering a rare and enduring position as a trusted confidant and advisor.
When Camilla's marriage to first husband Brigadier Andrew Parker Bowles, 85, broke down in 1994, the pair jetted off to Venice, Italy, together for some reprieve from the swarming press.
Elliot, who is 18 months Camilla's junior, has been described as the Queen's "rock," with The Sun referencing behind-the-scenes footage from the King's Coronation in the BBC1 documentary, Charles III: The Coronation Year.
The program named Elliot the "Queen's Companion", and she is seen getting emotional as she watches her sister at the coronation.
Elliot stood next to her sister for various coronation photos. Getty
"I can't explain the feeling because it's so surreal. This cannot be happening. It was quite a moment," she says in the documentary.
"Going into the Abbey, I think I had that nervousness all the time.
"She's quite a bit smaller than I am. I'm feeling, 'Is she going to be all right?"
"When I thought back to being two years old and watching the Queen's Coronation on a tiny black and white television, and there goes this golden coach with my sister in it."
Elliot was appointed the chief interior designer for King Charles's estates following his ascension to the throne.
She designed the interiors of cottages on the Isles of Scilly, Restormel Castle cottages and their estate in Llwynywermod, Wales.
Sadly, Elliot's husband died in March last year after a long illness, aged 82, meaning she was organising his funeral while preparing for the coronation.
Camilla said of her sister at the time, "She's somebody who is completely loyal," and "isn't somebody who has huge highs and lows."
Elliot has won accolades for her interior design work. Dave Benett/Getty Images
The pair's relationship is a heartwarming testament to the power of sisterhood.
As Camilla continues to navigate the throes of royal life, it's clear Elliot's influence remains a guiding force for the woman behind the crown.
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