Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, has kept many secrets in her time: from her scandalous affair with Prince Charles, to the numerous petty dramas that have engulfed the palace since – see video below – but behind the public person, has been a history of deep personal pain.
Camilla has today shared a heartbreaking anecdote about her late mother Rosalind Shand that reveals the depth of trauma she has experienced behind closed doors.
The 71-year-old – whose mother died from osteoporosis in 1994 – marked the launch of the Royal Osteoporosis Society, formerly known as the National Osteoporosis Society, in London where she revealed she wished her mother were alive to see the progress that had been made to tackle the fragile bone disease.
“It was 25 years ago that my mother died as a result of osteoporosis. In fact, she was exactly the same age as I am now. Then, it was never discussed, rarely diagnosed, and always attributed to old people.”
Camilla added: “My family and I were completely devastated, but also, we didn’t understand how somebody could be in so much pain, and we were unable, and the doctors seemed unable, to do anything about it.”
“It’s just incredible what’s happening and I just wish my mother was here today to see what could have been done.”
The Duchess also revealed that she is educating her grandchildren about the disease.
“I also think it’s very important to tell my children and my grandchildren that this disease can be prevented. When you are young… you’re immortal. You don’t think about dying, getting old and breaking bones. But I think if we can just tell them how important it is to eat the right things, to take exercise, these will go a long way to keeping their bones healthy.”
Camilla has supported the organisation for more than 20 years become its patron in 1997 and then its president in 2001, before she married into the royal family.
