What kept Anne and Andrew close over the decades? Horses. Obviously. Both of them are fanatical equestrians—Anne competed in the Olympics, Andrew was a champion jockey and racehorse owner. They spent weekends at the same events, cheering on the same four-legged friends. It’s the kind of bond that’s stronger than any romantic fling, honestly. You can break up with a boyfriend, but you can’t break up with your horse-riding buddy.
Princess anne and andrew parker bowles -Fotos und -Bildmaterial in
And they stayed chummy even after Andrew and Camilla divorced in 1995—yes, that divorce, right before Charles and Camilla went public. Anne didn’t take sides. She’s famously no-nonsense. “Get on with it,” you can almost hear her say, handing Andrew a stiff drink. In fact, she was one of the few royals who remained on good terms with both Camilla and Andrew after the split. That takes a certain kind of grace—or maybe just a deep love of equestrian gossip.
The Irony of It All
Let’s pause and laugh at the role reversals here. Andrew Parker Bowles could have been Princess Anne’s husband, a royal consort with a title. Instead, he ended up as the ex-husband of the woman who became queen consort. Meanwhile, Anne—who never wanted the media circus—ended up with a quiet life on a farm with her second husband, Sir Timothy Laurence. Who dodged a bullet? Possibly both of them. Royal life isn’t all tiaras and corgis; it’s a fishbowl. Andrew got to keep his freedom and his horses, while Anne got to avoid the tabloid nightmare that followed Charles and Camilla.
But there’s a sweet irony in the way Andrew and Camilla’s marriage produced two children who are now part of the extended royal family. Tom and Laura Parker Bowles—yep, those are Andrew’s kids—are close to Charles and Camilla’s stepchildren. So Andrew is basically the ex-husband who still shows up for Christmas lunch. And Anne? She’s the one sitting across the table, probably rolling her eyes at the whole spectacle.
1,085 Andrew Parker Bowles Photos & High Res Pictures - Getty Images
