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Andrew Parker BowlesRetired British Army officer
Date of Birth: 27.12.1939
Country:  Great Britain |
Content:
- Andrew Parker Bowles: A Life of Service and Royal Connection
- Lineage and Early Life
- Military Career
- Personal Life
- Godchildren and Health
- Children
Andrew Parker Bowles: A Life of Service and Royal Connection
Andrew Parker Bowles, the former husband of Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, and a retired British Army officer, was born on December 27, 1939, into a family with deep ties to the British aristocracy.
Lineage and Early Life
Andrew Parker Bowles' father, Derek Henry Parker Bowles, was the grandson of Reverend Algernon Robert Parker, himself the third son of the 6th Earl of Macclesfield. His mother, Lady Anne Parker Bowles (née Trafford), hailed from a wealthy family of racehorse owners. His sister, Mary Anne, is the mother of Derek Paravicini, a blind autistic scientist and musical prodigy.
Military Career
Parker Bowles received his education at Ampleforth College and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. In 1960, he joined the Royal Horse Guards and served as an aide-de-camp to the Governor-General of New Zealand. After his regiment became the Blues and Royals in 1969, he served as its adjutant.
Promoted to major in 1971, Parker Bowles commanded Squadron B during Operation Motorman in Northern Ireland. He later became the senior military liaison officer to Lord Soames, the Governor of Rhodesia during its transition to majority rule as Zimbabwe. He was awarded the Queen's Commendation for Brave Conduct in Zimbabwe.
From 1981 to 1983, Parker Bowles commanded the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment and responded to the Hyde Park and Regent's Park bombings, where he played a crucial role in saving the iconic horse Sefton. He retired from the army as a brigadier in 1994.
Personal Life
An avid amateur jockey, Parker Bowles competed in the 1969 Grand National on his horse Fossa, finishing 11th. He also played polo with Prince Charles.
He had a brief relationship with Princess Anne in the early 1970s before marrying Camilla Shand in 1973. They lived in Bolehyde Manor and later in Middlewick House, where they raised their two children, Tom and Laura. The marriage ended in divorce in 1995.
A year later, Parker Bowles married Rosemary Pitman (née Dickinson). They were present at the wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles in 2005. Rosemary passed away from cancer in 2010.
Godchildren and Health
Among his godchildren are Lady Emma Herbert, a circus trapeze artist who was a bridesmaid at his first wedding, and Zara Phillips, daughter of Princess Anne. In 2020, Parker Bowles tested positive for COVID-19.
Children
Andrew and Camilla Parker Bowles had two children:Tom Parker Bowles (born December 18, 1974)
Laura Rose Parker Bowles (born January 1, 1978)
