Inside Queen Camilla’s regal transformation from frumpy to fabulous

When Queen Camilla took her first steps onto the royal stage, it was as something of a well-heeled rural housewife, the sort who jaunts around the Cotswolds in jeans and baggy sweatshirts.

There was rarely any makeup. She seldom styled her hair. 

The future Queen of England seemed hardly to care about her appearance, choosing to spend time on more important things. Which is to say gardening and horses.

Today, there has been quite a change. Not only has Camilla overhauled her public image, but her style has been transformed.

Perhaps taking  tips from her style-savvy step-daughter, the Princess of Wales, Camilla has developed her look from ‘who cares?’ to elegantly confident – as befits  women who, we learned this week, will in future be known not just as consort, but as Queen.

Just take a look at the newly released Coronation portrait as Camilla, in vibrant royal blue with stylised V-neck poses alongside husband, King Charles III.

Here MailOnline takes a look back at the new Queen’s striking evolution – from relaxed and rural to very picture of regal elegance. 

Earlier this week it was announced that Camilla will be known as Queen Camilla. Over the last few years she has worked to look more stylish and regal. Pictured: At a state dinner in Berlin last week

Camilla has updated her style over the last few decades. She’s ditched the frumpy clothes and bare face, opting for more tailored outfits 

In the newly released Coronation portrait as Camilla, in vibrant royal blue with stylised V-neck poses alongside husband, King Charles III

‘Unkempt’ hair to icy blonde locks  

Camilla’s friendship with Charles is longstanding and the two were first photographed together at polo games in the late 60s and early 1970s.

Then, her hair was filled with blonde highlights and bounced around  in a feathered bob.

According to royal writer Ingrid Seward: ‘Charles has always loved Camilla’s candy floss locks. Her blonde hair is thick but very fine, which makes it difficult to style — something that’s obvious from her early days in the public eye. 

‘When they first met, it was often frizzy, unkempt and windswept from days spent outdoors.’

The  untidy look continued well into Camilla’s fifties, only starting to change as she became more involved in royal events – most notably in the lead up to her 2005 marriage to Charles.

Camilla’s friendship with Charles is longstanding and the two were first photographed together at polo games in the late 60s and early 1970s. Pictured: Camilla and Charles in 1972

Her hair was often ‘frizzy, unkempt and windswept’ according to royal writer Ingrid Seaward. Pictured: Camilla in 1991 

While keeping the soft fringe and feathered bob, she updated the colour to a more icy blonde, blowdrying her hair most days. Pictured: 

While keeping the soft fringe and feathered bob, she updated the colour to a more icy blonde, blowdrying her hair most days.

Celebrity stylist Tom Smith explained to MailOnline: ‘Camilla is a big fan of the 1970’s hair style and she has never swayed from it. 

‘However there have been subtle changes over the years to bring it up to date.’ 

From around that point onwards, the soft, icy blonde look became Camilla’s staple.  And it is a look she has continued to wear for decades since.

It has the advantage of keeping public commentary on her hair to a minimum while making her distinctive and recognisable to the public when in a crowd.

This trick of not regularly changing hairdos is one favoured by her sister-in-law, Princess Anne, too. It keeps the focus on their work rather than their looks.

Speaking about Camilla’s style last year, her long-term hairdresser Jo Hansford said: ‘The Duchess of Cornwall looks glamorous. But she doesn’t try to look glamorous – that’s not her thing at all.’

Updating her wardrobe and taking advice from Kate

Like her hair, Camilla’s wardrobe has had a ‘glow-up’, too. 

When she first came on the scene, her fashion sense was scrutinised – with some comparing – unfavourably – her to Diana.

Today, the slouchy, baggy clothes are gone. 

So are the untailored jackets and pastel jumpers, replaced with a wardrobe of neatly cut dresses and coats that emphasise her slim waist. 

Even if she is often seen in her old rural haunts, she now opts for countryside chic – tailored green coats matched with boots.

Her style evolution was perhaps most evident when comparing her two wedding dresses.

When she first came on the scene, her fashion sense was scrutinised – with some comparing – unfavourably – her to Diana. Pictured: Camilla at her home in 1992 

Camilla attending Charles 50th birthday party in 1992 along with her husband Andrew Parker Bowles 

Camilla’s style evolution was perhaps most evident when comparing her two wedding dresses (pictured left during her wedding to Andrew Parker Bowles in 1973 and at her wedding to Prince Charles in 2005)

For her 1973 wedding to Andrew Parker-Bowles, she wore a long shift dress without much shape.

For Camilla’s 2005 wedding to the future King, she wore an elegant silhouette gown that showed off her figure.

It is partly a matter of changing times – but decisively, too, a commentary on her changing role and outlook. 

The Queen’s fashion sense has steadily improved, in fact. 

Take the knee-length frocks under figure-skimming coats that come almost exclusively in shades of white, cream and dove grey.

At night, Camilla ups the ante with dramatic floor-length gowns, often in shades of ruby or sapphire- and nearly always teamed with the real thing. 

Over the years it also has been noted how she seems to have taken style queues from the Princess of Wales.

Like Kate, Camilla is set on using a small handful of go-to designers who can be relied on to crate flattering pieces for her, emphasising her waist in particular.

The Queen’s fashion sense has steadily improved, in fact. Take the knee-length frocks under figure-skimming coats that come almost exclusively in shades of white, cream and dove grey

Camilla attending the No Time to Die Premier at the Royal Albert Hall in 2021 

Camilla during a visit to the Sandringham Flower Show in 2022 

Her favourite designer is Anna Valentine – the courtier behind her delicate dove-grey wedding dress. 

Kate and Camilla have both kept up with fashion trends in recent times – pussy bow blouses and polka dots, for example – and have been applauded for re-wearing outfits.

Fiona Clare, a trusted couturier of the new Queen, has said that she and Camilla have ‘found their rhythm’ over the years. 

 ‘She [Camilla] has really found her style and I think she’s looking amazing’ said Ms Clare. ‘She suddenly looks so confident – it just happened from one day to the next.’ 

Former British Vogue editor Alexandra Shulman wrote in MailPlus that Camilla has a ‘good eye for colour’.

She explained: ‘She knows a deep blue – like the Vivienne Westwood dress she wore to the London Palladium in 2013 (above left) – will bring out the colour of her eyes.

‘She also tends towards icy colours – pale blues, pale pinks, blush tones and cream that work with her hair and complexion.

‘She always gamely dresses the part, but I suspect she’s happiest in informal country clothes. The Barbour jacket, the Dubarry boots and a pair of corduroy trousers are far more Camilla’s style than the glittering frocks.

‘One of her greatest strengths is she’s happy in her own skin. It’s one of the things I suspect her husband admires most in her.’

There is one item, however, that is non-negotiable in the Camilla wardrobe and that is her choice of shoe.

To stop bunions and provide comfort, the Queen opts for  Sole Bliss, a brand that contours around bunions (the bony bumps that form at the base of the big toe and can be acutely painful.)

Camilla is said to have 11 pairs. 

Wearing a range of dazzling jewels

Since she married Charles, Camilla amassed an impressive collection of jewellery, which is said to be worth more than a £1 million.

Tiaras, broaches, necklaces, earrings are all at her disposal to match with her outfits, whether that’s at a royal state visit or lounging at home.  

The treasures include a collection of pearl chockers – the clasps of which are made using precious and semi-precious stones belonging to her great-grandmother, Alice Keppel — King Edward VII’s last, most celebrated mistress. 

Camilla loved wearing them so much that Charles bought her a pink topaz from Sotheby’s to make into a clasp for a three-strand string of pearls. 

On a separate occasion the King reportedly paid £100,000 for a tiara that once belonged to Camilla’s great-grandmother. He then used those diamonds to remake them into a necklace and earrings. 

The treasures include a collection of pearl chockers – the clasps of which are made using precious and semi-precious stones belonging to her great-grandmother, Alice Keppel — King Edward VII’s last, most celebrated mistress

Camilla’s £212,000 engagement ring was made out of the Queen Mother’s jewellery collection

The Queen is often seen wearing jewellery that previously belonged to Queen Elizabeth, the Queen Mother.

Charles’s beloved grandmother’s collection was moved into the royal collection after her death in 2002.   

One of Camilla’s favourites from this collection appears to be the Greville tiara, that has a matching five-strand diamond piece necklace to match. 

Even part of her engagement ring was made from the Queen Mother’s collection.

Little is known about the impressive £212,000 engagement ring ahead of their wedding day but is was given the five-carat, emerald-cut diamond with baguette cut-diamonds on each side by the King, 74, after the couple announced they were to be married.

Skin care to give her a youthful glow 

Over the years, Camilla has started to invest more in her skin care. And she has helpfully ditched her habit of smoking ten cigarettes a day.

While her olive complexion has always given her a natural glow, her skin at 75-years-old her skin looks more hydrated than it did two decades ago.  

According to Ingrid Seward: ‘Years of smoking and an outdoorsy, hands-on life have taken their toll on Camilla’s skin. I

‘It’s doubtful she ever put a pot of cream other than Nivea on her face until she was 50, let alone indulged in a facial.’

Over the years, Camilla has started to invest more in her skin care. And she has helpfully ditched her habit of smoking ten cigarettes a day

While her olive complexion has always given her a natural glow, her skin at 75-years-old her skin looks more hydrated than it did two decades ago

A few years ago, facialist Deborah Mitchell, who had worked with Camilla for 12 years, said her complexion is down to having good genes – and treatment made up of bee venom and hyaluronic acid!

The facialist previously said: ‘Her Royal Highness has a very wonderful personality and this shines through and provides a natural glow. 

‘In terms of her products, she is known to use an organic moisturiser which includes bee venom, which works to control the facial muscles for tightening, firming and lifting as well as hydrating the skin.

‘Bee venom is also good for providing an instant anti-ageing ageing effect, leaving her skin naturally younger looking.’

Keeping her figure trim

Camilla is also also in excellent shape, going on frequent ride and country walks.

She is said to avoid sweet treats, but still likes a drink every now and again.

She has managed to maintain her size 10 figure – and the cinched waist – over the years, which she shows off with bespoke tailored clothing. 

Camilla has managed to maintain her size 10 figure – and the cinched waist – over the years, which she shows off with bespoke tailored clothing

In a bid to make her shoulders appear less broad, she often wears a hat. Again, there is an impressive collection.

Camilla initially opted for larger hats, with dramatic sprays of feathers. These days she opts for something smaller in shades of pastel and cream.

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Read more at DailyMail.co.uk