Duchess of Cambridge teams up with Camilla for milestone moment
Watch: Camilla’s Country Life comes to ITV in July
Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall appears on a magazine cover this week, in a photograph taken by the Duchess of Cambridge for the latest issue.
The 74-year-old royal commissioned Kate, 40, to photograph her for the cover of Country Life magazine’s 125th anniversary edition.
Already a keen photographer, the Duchess of Cambridge frequently releases images of her husband Prince William, 40, and their three children Prince George, eight, Princess Charlotte, seven, and Prince George, four.
However this new photograph marks the first time Kate has taken a formal portrait of Camilla for a magazine, says Mark Hedges, the publication’s editor-in-chief.
As well as being the cover star for the anniversary issue, Camilla is the guest editor for the publication’s special edition, which coincides with her 75th birthday later this month.
The cover image – taken by Kate at Camilla’s retreat in Lacock, Wiltshire – shows the duchess looking relaxed and smiling on an outdoor bench with a trug filled with pelargoniums.
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The Duchess of Cornwall is seen wearing a blue and white floral dress with a matching pale blue cardigan.
Camilla’s country retreat, Ray Mill House, has six bedrooms and is located 17 miles from the Prince of Wales’ Highgrove home.
She reportedly bought the house after her divorce from Andrew Parker-Bowles in 1995.
Another image taken by Kate shows the Duchess of Cornwall walking through the garden of her country home, surrounded by forget-me-nots.
Read more: Duchess of Cambridge leads royals in forget-me-not blue for Order of the Garter
“We are thrilled to have our guest editor captured so magnificently by royal photographer the Duchess of Cambridge,” said Hedges.
“The Duchess of Cambridge took her commission very seriously and was incredibly professional about the task at hand,” said Paula Lester, Country Life’s Managing and Features Editor.
Lester worked closely with a small team from Clarence House for six months to pull together the souvenir 244-page issue, which marks The Duchess of Cornwall’s 75th birthday and celebrates her passion for the countryside.
“[The Duchess of Cambridge] phoned me to discuss our requirements for the cover and subsequently composed a range of beautifully shot images,” added Lester.
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The Duchess of Cornwall is the fourth royal guest editor of Country Life, following in husband Prince Charles’ footsteps.
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The Prince of Wales previously guest edited two editions of the magazine: one, to mark his 65th birthday in November 2013, and another marking his 70th in 2018.
Princess Royal also followed in her brother’s footsteps as she led the magazine a July issue in 2020 to mark her 70th birthday.
A one-off documentary following the duchess as she guest edits the publication is also set to air on ITV next week. The hour-long Camilla’s Country Life will air on Wednesday 13 July.
The latest edition of Country Life, guest edited by Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall will be published on Wednesday (6 July).
