Camilla celebrates 75th birthday with intimate family gathering and stunning new portrait

The Duchess of Cornwall has marked her milestone 75th birthday with a sweet snapshot and an intimate family gathering.

The Duchess of Cornwall celebrates her 75th birthday on Sunday, with her close friends and family set to attend a small and lowkey family gathering.

In honour of this milestone birthday, the palace released a stunning portrait of the royal.

The snap shows her sitting in a floral blue dress in her garden, in front of a bowl of Prunus persica “Duke of York” peaches, which are currently in peak season.

In this image provided Clarence House shows Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall in an official portrait to mark her 75th birthday at her home in Wiltshire. Picture: Getty Images

She plans to spend her birthday with a small family dinner at Prince Charles’ Highgrove estate in Tetbury, Gloucestershire.

The future Queen Consort recently gave Brits a look into her and Charles’ life in a speical edition of Country Life magazine.

In the magazine, she described Prince Charles, 73, as a “countryman to his very core”.

She said it was where he “finds true peace”. Camilla also guest edited the issue of the magazine as part of her 75th birthday occasion.

Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall at a reception for the 160th Anniversary of the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home animal welfare charity at Clarence House. Picture: WPA Pool/Getty Images

PRINCE CHARLES HAD ‘EMOTIONAL’ FIRST MEETING WITH LILIBET

It comes as Prince Charles had a “very emotional” meeting with grandchildren Lilibet and Archie when Prince Harry and Meghan Markle returned to Britain for the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

According to a report in The Sun, Prince Charles and the Duchess of Cornwall are said to have been “absolutely thrilled” to spend time with Prince Harry, Meghan and their children, according to a royal source.

The family kept a low profile during the trip but did put on a party at their former home, Frogmore Cottage at Windsor Castle, for Lilibet’s first birthday.

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle with Archie and Lilibet. Picture: Alexi Lubomirski

Prince Harry, who quit as a senior working royal in 2020, has previously had a troubled relationship with his father.

In an explosive interview with Oprah Winfrey last year, he said his father, at one point, had stopped taking his calls and had even cut him off financially.

But a senior royal source, speaking at the briefing of Clarence House’s annual review, said it had been “wonderful” to have the Sussexes back in the UK.

“It was fantastic to see them. It was wonderful to have them back in Britain,” the source told The Sun.

Prince Harry and Prince Charles have had a strained relationship in recent years. Picture: Supplied

“The prince and the duchess were absolutely thrilled to see them.

“The prince, of course, hasn’t seen his grandson Archie for a bit of time and so it was very, very, very special to have some time with him.

“He hadn’t met Lili, his granddaughter, and so to meet her was very emotional, a very, very wonderful thing.”

It’s understood Prince Charles had previously told the family they were welcome to stay with him anytime they returned to the UK.

Lilibet also met her namesake great-grandmother, the Queen, for the first time during the Jubilee.

Prince Charles with the Queen in Scotland on Thursday. The monarchy no longer financially supports Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Picture: AFP

However, it’s understood the monarch refused Prince Harry and Meghan’s request for a photographer to document the meeting – in case the pictures appeared in the media.

The royal source said of the Sussexes’ financial independence: “Great credit to them.

“They said they wanted to transition to financial independence and that has now been achieved.”

The couple appeared publicly at one Jubilee event – the service of thanksgiving for the Queen at St Paul’s Cathedral, London.

During the service, they were seated across the aisle from Prince Charles, Camilla, Prince William and Kate.

They did not join a private reception afterwards, instead making a quick exit and heading back to Windsor Castle.

Prince William has taken on a much larger public role in the royal family after Prince Harry’s departure. Picture: AFP

The royal source spoke as Prince Charles’ financial expenditure for the year was revealed.

The Prince of Wales’ bill covering activities for his sons and their families – as well as other costs – dropped by $2.1 million over two years.

The Sussexes are no longer listed on the accounts.

The amount fell from $9.8 million in 2019-20 – when the Sussexes were still working royals – to $7.7 million in 2021-22.

Prince Charles is no longer funding the couple.

It has not been detailed what proportion of the drop is related to the Sussexes.

Prince Charles had carried on supporting the Sussexes with a “substantial sum” until mid-2020 following their exit from the royal family, despite Prince Harry claiming his family “literally cut me off financially”.

– with The Sun