The
Duchess of Cornwall may have a few butterflies in her stomach this morning, for
today heralds one of the most significant engagements of her still relatively new role at the heart of the Royal Family.
In a further, fascinating twist to the Charles and Camilla story, Queen Victoria was of course the disapproving mother of the lascivious King Edward VII.
Despite being married to the tall, beautiful and hugely popular Queen Alexandra, King Edward enjoyed a long, extra-marital affair
with, amongst others, Mrs Alice Keppel - the great-grandmother of one Camilla Shand.
Upon meeting the bachelor Prince of Wales at a polo
match in 1973, the singleton Camilla famously reminded the instantly
smitten Charles of the family connection, saying: "My great-grandmother was the mistress of your great-great-grandfather, so how about it?"
Within Camilla's family, legend has it that her
grandmother, Sonia Keppel, was the product of the 12-year affair between 'Dirty Bertie' and Mrs Keppel.
The King first met Alice on February 27th 1898, when he was invited to dine at the Belgravia home of the actress and her husband, George Keppel.
Recalling the way in which the affair took hold, a member of the royal inner circle, Sir Philip Magnus, revealed that "an understanding arose overnight" between the King, Alice and George.
Alice is reputed to have been something of an icon to Camilla during
the years before she superceded her famous ancestor by taking the
unique step from 'mistress' to royal wife and Princess of Wales in
all-but-name.
However, it's unlikely that Alice herself would have been amused by the
nature of her great-granddaughter's exposure as the great love of a
modern day royal heir.
