The scandalous royal love affair Camilla used to 'captivate' Prince Charles revealed

CAMILLA PARKER BOWLES, now the Duchess of Cornwall, bonded with Prince Charles after she “captivated” him with a story of a scandalous royal affair, according to a documentary.

Camilla and Charles would later have their own affair spanning 21 years, which took place while both were married to other people – Charles to Princess Diana and Camilla to Andrew Parker Bowles. Both their marriages ended in divorce in the mid-1990s and only a year after the settlement Diana tragically died in a car crash. Camilla and Charles began to openly pursue their relationship and the pair finally married in 2005. 

In the 2017 documentary ‘Royal Stories: Episode 5 – Camilla Parker-Bowles’, it is revealed how Camilla told a fascinated Charles salacious stories about previous royal affairs, including one that involved her own great-grandmother.

The narrator said: “Camilla apparently captivated Charles by talking about royal mistresses.

“Her great-grandmother Alice Keppel had had an affair with Charles’ great-great-grandfather Edward VII, 73 years earlier.

“Edward was a serial womaniser with 11 mistresses. 

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Camilla and Charles in the seventies (Image: GETTY)

“Alice, his favourite, was described as having the sexual morals of an alleycat.”

Mrs Keppel had married George Keppel, son of 7th Earl of Albemarle, in 1891 aged 23.

She was a well-liked social hostess and engaged in multiple affairs with richer men, including Earnest Becket, 2nd Baron Grimthorpe and Humphrey Sturt, 2nd Baron Alington.

In 1898, she met the future King Edward VII, who at the time was the heir apparent to the British monarchy.

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King Edward VII and Alice Keppel (Image: GETTY)

The future king, nicknamed Bertie, had many mistresses throughout his life but Mrs Keppel is believed to be his favourite.

Twenty-six years her senior, the prince found Mrs Keppel could smooth his mood swings later in life.

It is believed that Edward’s wife, Alexandra of Denmark, was fond of Mrs Keppel and tolerant of the relationship.

She apparently preferred Mrs Keppel to her husband's previous mistress, Daisy Greville, Countess of Warwick, who was often indiscreet.

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George and Alice Keppel with their daughter Violet (Image: GETTY)

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Charles and Camilla tied the knot in 2005 (Image: GETTY)

Their affair continued when Bertie became King Edward VII in 1901 and lasted until he died in 1910.

More than 60 years later, Charles and Camilla met and started their on-and-off affair.

Camilla and Charles’ relationship mirrored that of their ancestors somewhat in that they were not the only ones who were unfaithful in their marriages.

Mrs Keppel’s husband was known to be with other women, as was Mr Parker Bowles and even the late Princess of Wales had two affairs.

According to royal author Leslie Carroll, Mrs Keppel’s husband once said: “I do not mind what she does as long as she comes back to me in the end.”

Historian Hibbert described the army officer as “very fond of women himself” and claimed he “raised no objection to the prince’s relationship with his wife”.

Charles and Camilla first met at a polo match near Windsor Castle in 1971.

Their relationship broke off when Charles joined the navy and Camilla married Mr Parker Bowles in 1973.

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Princess Diana blamed Charles' affair for the breakdown of their marriage (Image: GETTY)

A heartbroken Charles dated a string of women before marrying Diana in 1981.

At first, Charles remained faithful to his wife but it is believed that in 1986 he started seeing Camilla again.

In 1992, a biography of Diana exposed the affair, confirmed the next year when a transcript of a phone call between Charles and Camilla was leaked.

In 1994, Charles admitted to his infidelity in a TV interview and in 1995 he and Diana announced their plan to divorce.

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Charles and Camilla have now been married for 14 years (Image: GETTY)

The divorce was finalised in 1996, but in 1997 Diana’s life was cut short after a car accident in Paris.

The next year, Charles and Camilla embarked on a long-term PR plan of gradually introducing the public to their relationship.

Finally, in 2005, they married and recent polls indicate the public have even warmed to the idea of Camilla being Queen.