When it comes to the name recognition of celebrities, the British Royal family is definitely at the top. Still, there is plenty of personal information kept out of the papers. For example, who really knows that William and Harry have a stepsister? A survey of most rooms would reply — no idea!
And what's more, the princes have a stepbrother! The story of this complicated family really started in 1981, when Prince Charles married Diana. Everything seemed picture perfect!
What happened along the way, and who are these secret step-siblings? Read on to find out all the royal details!
Wandering Eyes, PR Lies
To the world, Charles looked like a real-life Prince Charming. But was he really the doting husband everyone assumed? Some say Charles was not focused on Diana alone during these public wonder years. He may have had someone else in his heart. An old love, in fact!
Few would envy the young prince if they understood his royal duties and his family's wishes dictated his love life. Movie style romances are for the free citizens! With Diana, people thought it looked like a fairy tale. But what was really on the mind of the Prince of Wales, back then?
Young Love Fails
Many say it was another young lady, one whom Charles had met at a polo match in Windsor. Camilla Shand was her name. And the pair was immediately attracted to one another! Love at first sight, now provably real.
They began to date, but this ended abruptly when Charles joined the Royal Navy in 1971. Soon, the news arrived that Camilla had married another man. And who could blame her? Life went on, but Charles never stopped thinking about her. Would Diana sense this, later on after their honeymoon?
Vintage Clap Back
The late Lady Di was interviewed about her very private marriage by the BBC. After the eventual divorce, she had some shade to throw around. And throw she did!
The public was devastated by the dissolution of this national fairy tale, and they wanted answers. Diana revealed: "There were three of us in this marriage, so it was a bit crowded." Ouch! Who could she have been talking about?
Princess of the People
During the marriage, Diana really tried to make the most of her role as a Princess. With ease and poise, she loved to acknowledge the average citizen and make the Royal family more relatable in the age of universal television.
Committing herself to charities, the issues dear to her received unprecedented publicity. Diana became a pop culture icon, though no one knew the truth about her picture-perfect home life at the time. What was going on behind the scenes, when she wasn't advocating for women and children?
Supermom Knows Best
Why, mothering her own children of course! The truth was, nothing could be more important to Diana than her role as mother to little William and Harry. A modern woman who redefined royal maternity, she was pretty hands-on when she could have outsourced it all. This royal even dropped the boys off at school every day!
Always ensuring that her schedule worked around family life, it seemed that she did everything she could to make things work. But a perfect life is just a fantasy. Even royal life is unfair, sometimes. How did her marriage finally end, and why?
The Big Quit
Diana never wanted this for her boys, but her marriage to Charles was not going to last. Things were falling apart by the mid-1990s, and the couple made a decision to separate. And it wouldn't be temporary, in the end.
The divorce was made official. But as historical observers know very well at this point, the worst was yet to come. Tragic circumstances would further change the structure of this family forever, and no one saw it coming. What happened, and why?
Tragedy Strikes
The world was devastated to learn that Diana had been in a fatal accident. What's more, it was alleged that the paparazzi were to blame for chasing her car into a tunnel at high speed! Mourners from around the world came to the palace to pay their respects, and thousands of flowers and pictures decorated the gates.
All the tributes remained on display for weeks outside as the public struggled to accept the new royal reality. Was the funeral fitting for such a beloved British figure?
Life Goes on Slowly
The funeral was definitely difficult for Diana's admirers. But for her family, it was an indescribable tragedy beyond imagination. Harry and William had lost their mother in front of the world, and at such a young age!
At the funeral, "Candle in the Wind" was performed by personal friend Elton John. Her grave was placed on an island at the Spencer family home, a site she was carried to by the 2nd Battalion The Princess of Wales's Royal Regiment. And now, the family was given the awful task of moving on! How did Charles try to normalize things, in his own way?
Royal and Romantic Again
Years later in 2005, it was announced that Prince Charles had moved on romantically. He was seeing old flame Camilla yet again!
What's more, the pair planned to marry! This meant, of course, that William and Harry were going to get a stepmother. The public did not approve, remembering Diana's allegations about the wandering eye of her husband for this very woman. But still, nothing can stop true love. Camilla became the Duchess of Cornwall, after a splendid public ceremony. The public seemed uneasy with this development as they still grieved Lady Di, but did the family approve?
All in the Family
The British people did not like the idea of Camilla taking Diana's place if that was even possible. Charles also faced criticism from his family, at first. But life goes on, and they began to see that this chosen relationship cheered the prince up like they hadn't seen in years.
William and Harry were happy to see their father happy, and they remained loving sons. Mixed families can be complicated sometimes, though. Did they get along with Camilla, behind the scenes?
Harry Speaks Out
Actually, everything was fine and dandy! Speculation was starting to annoy the boys, and it was time to speak to the press directly. Harry explained: "She's not the wicked stepmother. William and I love her to bits."
The British public started to embrace Camilla after they realized she wasn't causing pain in the young princes' lives. Everyone had been feeling quite protective, and now they could relax. Perhaps it was time to get to know the Duchess of Cornwall, on her own terms. What did they really know about her past life, though?
Hidden Behind Harry
While the public may joke that Ed Sheeran is a secret cousin, that's totally untrue! Perhaps they would like to imagine the boys have a bigger extended family since mom was taken away so soon. Distracted by all the wedding drama, very few realized that Camilla had two children already! Yes, her first marriage yielded a son and a daughter.
Strangely, no one ever talks about them! Who are they, and why are they so independent despite their royal connections?
Cooking Up a Storm
First, Camilla's son. Tom Parker-Bowles is actually well hidden in plain sight, as it turns out. Readers may already know him from his success in the culinary field, as a respected food critic and published author. He has been all over British TV, but viewers may not have realized who he really was!
While the last name should be a dead giveaway, the public could be forgiven for assuming he was just a distant cousin. But no, he is the fascinating stepbrother to two modern princes. What kind of expertise does he bring to the family at holiday meals?
Camilla's Favorite Chef
Tom is no rich son dabbling in a hobby. Professional highlights in media include an appearance on Masterchef and work on The F-Word with national treasure Chef Gordon Ramsay. He critiques local restaurants in The Mail on Sunday and added another cool line to his resume as the food editor of Esquire magazine.
Before that, he worked in public relations and also founded a high-end concierge service. And frankly, that's just a taste! Tom's impressive work history is far more extensive. What delicious British books has he authored?
Book by Cook
Tom has written more than a few yummy guides. In fact, he has released five, so far! His 2007 book was an especially big hit: The Year of Eating Dangerously: A Global Adventure in Search of Culinary Extremes. This one was hailed as "as one of The 50 Best Food Memoirs" to critical acclaim! Most recently, he wrote Let's Eat Meat: Recipes for Prime Cuts, Cheap Bits and Glorious Scraps of Meat. Vegetarians beware?
Tom has been pretty busy making a name for himself for years now, but he is not an only child. Why doesn't anyone hear anything about his beloved sister?
Super Secret Child
Camilla's daughter goes by Laura Lopes these days. With a name like that, people might miss any association with her famous mother at all. Consistently hiding from the British spotlight, she has been pretty successful seeking privacy!
The fact is, this is Harry and William's real stepsister! Although she has popped up at a few royal weddings, she never walks directly with the family. What in the world is going on here?
Hogwarts IRL
Laura's life was charmed from the very beginning. For example, she was educated at St Mary's Shaftesbury girls boarding school. So classically British!
Later, she went to Heywood Preparatory School and Oxford. What did she study, with all the options in the world? Why, the History of Art and Marketing — and this was no posh attempt to pass the time. Like her brother, she had a passion. Where did she take her career after graduation?
A Beautiful Boy
Well first, she found a personal passion. That would be accountant Harry Lopes, whom she married in 2006.
Yes, he was from a noble family and stood to inherit a 3,000-acre estate in the Scottish highlands — but that wasn't his main strength at the time. Harry was a former Calvin Klein underwear model! Very nice, everyone agreed. How did the wedding go down, for these two classy youngsters in love?
Ancient and Anglican
The wedding was fancy and prim, a ceremony at St Cyriac's Church. The 11th-century Anglican church in Wiltshire was no big deal for these two! Laura wore a designer wedding dress from Anna Valentine, who also created Camilla's look for her big day with the Prince of Wales the year before.
Around 500 guests attended, and thousands of well-wishers from the British public waved and smiled in the streets after the event. Magical indeed, but how was family life for this beautiful bride behind the scenes?
Gossip Girl
No one really knew that Camilla's family had to deal with paparazzi outside their house for years before she ever got back together with the prince. Laura and Tom were already being teased at school back then with rumors about their mom's royal love life. Yikes!
People chased them in cars to get a photo for the tabloids, and Laura and her husband try to avoid cameras to this day. Who did she blame for this intrusion, back in the day?
Feuds Not Friends
Well, it seems that Laura was not excited at the prospect of having a stepfather. After all, she already had a father!
According to a friend: "When Charles telephoned Camilla at the family home in Wiltshire, Laura would pick up an extension and shout down the receiver 'why don’t you stop calling mummy and leave our family alone.' She couldn’t care less that it was the Prince of Wales, she blamed him for breaking up her parents’ marriage and was not afraid to tell William so." Did William agree that Charles broke up her family, though?
Playing that Blame Game
Surprise surprise — William had his own view on the matter! According to a family friend: "William would blame Camilla for all the hurt she had caused his mother, which would send Laura into a rage. Laura was not having any of it. She would take a hard line and fire back at William 'your father has ruined my life."
These days, it seems like William gets along with everybody! But yes, there was a rocky history between all these famous kids back then. Have things mended now, just a bit?
Papa-paparazzi
Laura and Tom Parker Bowles were just children when Diana and Charles were publicly wed. Camilla was always lurking in the background of stories, and it just never resolved with time. It seems that Tom actually handled all the press attention better, though. With a very public career today, maybe it all prepared him well!
Laura must have decided early on she wanted to remain behind the curtain. Today, everyone gets along much better! But this daughter still prefers to live her own life, on her own terms. What did she end up doing, professionally?
Pretty Pretty Paint
As it turns out, Laura runs a prestigious fine art showroom. Using her degree, it seems!
Although she initially managed The Space Gallery in London, she had bigger dreams in the art world. In 2005, she co-founded Eleven Fine Art to show the best of international contemporary art in London. According to the gallery, established and emerging names alike are shown in this appointment-only space in Twickenham. And Laura became the director! Where did she take this venture, in the early years?
Life Imitates Art
Eleven specialized in pop-up galleries starting in 2009. A series of big brand collaborations followed this move, including Anthropologie, Matches Fashion, and Boisdale Canary Wharf. Not bad, Laura!
Eleven loved to exhibit artists in new, unique locations. With more than 80 showings, Gerry Fox, Natasha Law, and Marius Bercea added their names to its prestige. Everything was going well professionally, and Laura enjoyed her freedom! Married life was a blast out of the spotlight, too. What was going on with her husband's post-underwear career, by the way?
Back to the Future
Why, it turns out Harry was not just a pretty boy! A graduate of Eton, the modeling was always just a side gig. It was time to pursue a very different project: Energy had really captured his attention, and he began to work in the field.
After years of development in rooftop and ground-mount solar devices, Harry was part of a group that set up Solstice Renewables. This award-winning British business team later founded Eden Renewables in 2017. Some may still wonder: Had this couple really made the right decision to stay out of the spotlight, for art and energy?
Megxit Strikes Hard
Perhaps another modern couple in the family answers that question. The world was stunned when Prince Harry and Meghan Markle announced they were leaving royal duties for a life in Canada. And on Instagram, no less!
Allegedly, they didn't tell anyone ahead of time! In modern life, some young people really might choose to say no to royal titles. Unprecedented in history, really — but the world has so many amazing opportunities for everyone these days! Was Camilla enjoying the public role she chose, at least?
Wanderlust Lovers
It seems so, indeed. Charles and Camilla love to spend their time seeing every inch of the planet, and they represent England all the while. A life of travel and luxury, for these two lovebirds!
These days, their four children seem to have much better relationships with each other. And the grandkids are now rolling in! So far, Laura has three. Tom has two. And the princes have been busy, as well! William and Harry publicly talked about their admiration for their stepmom, despite any rumors to the contrary. Everything seemed to be going better than ever. Or was it?
Goodbye, Buckingham
William and Harry had allegedly been feuding for years, and the press engaged in plenty of speculation without a clear answer from the princes themselves. With #Megxit trending online, the brothers had to have some honest conversations. It was now or never!
Some say that things are better with William these days, but what about Charles? Sources have all said the elder prince is extremely sad about this life change, but what can he do? For now, he may have some time to bond more with Tom and Laura, the hidden kids in London. Cheers Charles, to a new chapter!