Queen Camilla has an interesting link to Princess Anne, and it's through her ex-husband

If you’re familiar with Netflix’s The Crown season three, you would know what this is all about. Apparently, Princess Anne was in a relationship with Queen Camilla's ex-husband – Andrew Parker Bowles before she married Captain Mark Phillips. While we know The Crown’s storyline is heavily dramatised, it is still believed that Princess Anne and Andrew Parker Bowles once dated.

Princess Anne and Andrew Parker Bowles

Before his marriage to Camilla in 1973, Princess Anne and Andrew shared an incredibly close bond and shared an interest in horses. As Hello magazine reports, the two are rumoured to have dated for some time, beginning in June 1970.

However, Andrew was never a match for the Royal Family as he was a catholic. So, the Princess Royal and Andrew apparently knew that nothing long-term could come out of their union. Since he had been a page at the Queen's 1953 coronation, Andrew was already well acquainted with the Royal Family.

Regardless of how their alleged romantic relationship ended, Princess Anne and Andrew are still close friends and are often spotted together at horse racing events. Not only this, the two share such excellent terms that when Princess Anne’s daughter Zara was born, Andrew was made one of her godfathers by Princess Anne.

Read more ⋙ King Charles' coronation: Princess Anne appointed new role that gives her vital part in the ceremony

Is there any truth to the rumours?

Camilla may have married King Charles in 2005, but she had moved in the same circles as the Royal Family for several years before her marriage. A popular topic of gossip is how Princess Anne, Andrew, Camilla and King Charles’ relationships allegedly overlapped.

Read more:

⋙ Princess Anne reveals her surprising opinion on King Charles' plans for monarchy in rare interview

⋙ Royal Family: This forgotten feud once troubled King Charles, Princess Anne, and Princess Margaret

However, Mirror reveals that this isn’t the truth. Reportedly, Charles and Camilla didn’t meet until the summer of 1972 – which was long after the alleged romance between Princess Anne and Andrew ended.

Princess Anne married Captain Mark Phillips on November 14, 1973, in Westminster Abbey. And after her divorce, she married Sir Timothy Laurence on December 12, 1992.

Sources Used

Hello Magazine: Princess Anne's past romance with Queen Camilla's ex-husband: Details

Mirror: Princess Anne’s forgotten relationship with Camilla’s ex-husband revealed