A Look Inside Duchess Camilla’s $4.38 Million Childhood Home That Prince Charles Used To Visit

Jul 07, 2021 by apost team

According to Daily Mail, Camilla Parker Bowles's childhood home has been put on the market, and a look into the building shows how beautiful it truly is. The seven-bedroom East Sussex property is on the market for a whopping $4.38 million and was reportedly the site of the infamous interaction between Camilla's father and Prince Charles when the latter was asked about his "intentions towards my daughter."

The home was once described by Camilla as "perfect in every way" and it remains to be seen by whom it will be purchased. This is the first time in 65 years that it has been put on the market, and was home to Camilla's father Major Bruce Shand for 45 years. The home contains wide lawns, a paddock, a secret garden, a swimming pool and a tennis court.

The building dates way back to the 18th Century and is spread over three floors and even has a gorgeous Gothic style orangery which was added in the 70s. The photographs of the interior show a classy and warm residence where Camilla grew up with her siblings and parents. Camilla's family has noble roots and has been closely linked to the royal family through generations, so it is not surprising that the Shand family had such an amazing dwelling. 

This home was also where Charles frequently met with Camilla when the pair dated. Unfortunately, despite having a deep and meaningful relationship, they did not marry and eventually became involved together in an extramarital affair as each party's marriage deteriorated. 

Camilla's relationship with Charles began in a controversial manner, and it took the British public some time to embrace Camilla as a member of the royal family. There are slight variations on reports about the couple's first meeting, although rumor has it that they first met in the early '70s. As per the BBC's report, Prince Charles first saw Camilla Shand in 1970 in Windsor Great Park at a polo match.

However, as per People's report, "When she met the Prince at a party in 1972, Camilla Shand, then a 25-year-old post-ed living in London, told him sassily, 'My great-grandmother was the mistress of your great-great-grandfather. I feel we have something in common.'"

Whichever version is true between the two, there was certainly a spark. In 1971, Charles returned to duty by joining the Royal Navy, which resulted in the dwindling of the courtship he had started with Camilla. According to People's report, "Although the smitten prince courted her for six months, he failed to propose before returning to sea in February 1973." Charles had allegedly decided that he would not marry before he was 30 years old.

Even though the pair didn't marry, they maintained a close friendship over the years, and according to E! News Charles is even godfather to Camilla's son with her ex-husband Andrew Parker-Bowles. However, as their affair came to light in a very public manner, it caused great humiliation for the royal family. 

Daily Mail reported it was around this time that Charles was brusquely interrogated by Major Shand about his behavior with his daughter, and it was done at the East Sussex home that is currently on sale. 

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While this incident was later proven to be false after the person who created the story came forward, it gave Camilla's childhood home a sense of fame. Moreover, as the story was released at the height of the cheating scandal between Charles and Camilla, it rang true for most people who read it. 

The home is currently owned by James Wilby, who is best known for his aristocratic roles in A Handful Of Dust, Maurice and Gosford Park, as well as his wife Shana. The pair have put the building on the market right now but they had already put it on the market in August 2020. It was priced at almost $4.5 million, but has since been reduced to its current price of $4.38 million. 

Daily Mail reported that the main rooms of the historic house have high ceilings and large windows that offer incredible views. The real estate agent for the house said, "On the first floor there are seven main bedrooms, three bathrooms, and a shower room. The rooms to the south and east enjoy stunning views of the gardens and South Downs. The superb gardens were re-designed by the well-known landscape gardener, Lanning Roper and are a particular feature of the property. They include formal lawns planted with mature trees and shrubs, a magnificent walled kitchen garden, secluded swimming pool area, a rose garden and an orchard." 

The home truly sounds like a dream, and we are sure that whoever ends up owning the property will fall in love with it. Camilla will most certainly cherish the memories that she had been able to create there with her family. 

What do you think of the beautiful childhood home of Camilla Parker-Bowles? Tell us your thoughts, and be sure to pass this news onto others as well.