Queen Camilla‘s transformation from being perceived as fashionably conservative to becoming a style icon involves a combination of strategic fashion choices, professional guidance, and evolving public perception.
In her early appearances, the Queen often dressed in jeans and baggy sweatshirts, embodying the typical attire of someone who enjoys the rural lifestyle of the Cotswolds.
However, with time, over time she has completely transformed her look – and is now known as a fashion icon in royal circles, up there with the likes of Princess Kate and Duchess Sophie, who both also know how to dress for the occasion.
Royal writer Tina Brown revealed in her book The Palace Papers that the Queen has always resisted cosmetic treatments such as botox and tucks.
In The Palace Papers, which was published in 2022, Ms Brown described Camilla‘s appearance at the time King Charles was trying to rehabilitate her reputation following Princess Diana’s death.
She wrote: “Camilla resisted all improving tucks and Botox. There was honesty in her countryside complexion and crinkly, smiling eyes. Her hair never presented any upsetting surprises.
“It remained the same told blonde seventies blow-dry, with the feathery, Carmen-rollered side wings.”
Camilla’s friendship with Charles goes back many years, with the two first being photographed together at polo games in the late 1960s and early 1970s. At that time, her hair was styled in a feathered bob with blonde highlights that added a lively bounce.
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.”
Her untidy look persisted into her fifties, only beginning to evolve as she became more involved in royal events, particularly in the lead-up to her 2005 marriage to then-Prince Charles.
The royal, 76, has maintained a longstanding collaboration with nail and make-up artist, Marina Sandoval, whom she hired 15 years ago, reports Mail Online.
While the Queen collaborates with Marina for official events, she often does her makeup. This was evident during this year’s Wimbledon Championships, where she was seen applying Tom Ford Lip Colour herself in the Royal Box on Centre Court.
The Indian Rose shade, a medium-dark mauve, perfectly complemented her radiant complexion, and it seems to be a favourite in her recent beauty looks.
When it comes to makeup, Camilla favours a “less is more” approach that complements her designer outfits. When Marina collaborates with the royal, she chooses a lightweight foundation, often mixed with tinted moisturiser, to create a “very elegant and natural” look.
Marina’s top tip is to “keep skin very clean and use a facemask when necessary”. Queen Camilla, a strong advocate for skincare treatments, is a devoted fan of Deborah Mitchell’s renowned bee venom facials.
She even recommended this treatment to Princess Kate before her 2011 wedding to Prince William.
Priced at over £300, the facial uses venom from Kenyan bees to reduce signs of aging and enhance a youthful appearance, delivering visible results after just one session.
