Long before she became Queen Consort, Camilla Parker Bowles lived a life far from the royal spotlight—one that included late nights, glittering parties, and youthful missteps.
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Born on July 17, 1947, Queen Camilla celebrated her 78th birthday this week, but stories from her early years continue to surface, shedding light on the spirited woman behind the crown. One such story revolves around how she once lost a coveted job due to a wild night out. Here’s everything we know about it!
Queen Camilla lost her first job because of partying
In the early 1960s, before Camilla became a fixture in royal circles, she landed a receptionist job at the prestigious interior design firm Colefax & Fowler.
Known for its high-society clientele and upper-class aesthetic, the firm was a sought-after workplace for women of Camilla's background. However, as BUNTE reports, her time there was short-lived.
Camilla, then in her early twenties, had reportedly attended a lively social gathering the night before and turned up late for work the next morning. That delay, though seemingly minor, was enough to cost her the job.
At that time in her life, Camilla was commonly known as Milla and was a regular at parties in 'Swinging London' during the early 60s. What’s more? She was often described as the life and soul.
The incident is detailed in a book called On The Fringe - A Life In Decorating by designer Imogen Taylor, who also worked in the same firm. Taylor told the Sunday Times in 2016:
There were lots of debutantes working for us, even Camilla. She worked for us for a moment but got the sack
He would shout and bellow so the whole building heard every word. The Duchess of Cornwall was one assistant who fell victim to one of the tantrums. I think she came in late having been to a dance.
The firm's upper-crust standards likely didn’t take kindly to such a lapse in punctuality, no matter how charming the employee, reports the CheatSheet. The incident has often been brushed off as a youthful indiscretion, but it does mark one of the rare instances when Camilla’s carefree lifestyle clashed with professional expectations.
A look into Camilla’s early life
Camilla was never a stranger to the upper echelons of British society. Educated first at Queen’s Gate School in South Kensington, then at finishing schools in Switzerland and France, she was always part of Britain’s social elite. Her upbringing was defined by fox hunts, debutante balls, and weekends in the countryside—all typical of aristocratic families of that era.
As detailed by The Mirror, Camilla’s early twenties were filled with champagne-soaked evenings and London soirées. Friends from the time recall her as confident, sociable, and very much the life of the party. Unlike the more reserved members of the royal family, Camilla was known for her hearty laugh and down-to-earth wit, all the qualities that she has endured even as she stepped into royal duties.
This high-society life wasn’t just about fun and frivolity—it also introduced her to the people who would shape her future. It was during this time that she met Andrew Parker Bowles and eventually Prince Charles.
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Sources used:
The Mirror: Queen Camilla’s Wild Party Years Before Falling for King Charles
BUNTE: Eine Jugendsünde kostete Königin Camilla ihren ersten Job
CheatSheet: Camilla Parker Bowles Was Fired From Her Posh Job Before She Married Prince Charles
