Andrew Parker Bowles
Brigadier Andrew Henry Parker Bowles OBE was born on December 27, 1939, the eldest of four children of Derek Henry Parker Bowles, a great-grandson of the 6th Earl of Macclesfield, and Dame Ann Parker Bowles, daughter of multimillionaire racehorse owner Sir Humphrey de Trafford. His parents were close friends of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and Andrew was a page at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.
Brigadier Andrew Henry Parker Bowles OBE was born on December 27, 1939, the eldest of four children of Derek Henry Parker Bowles, a great-grandson of the 6th Earl of Macclesfield, and Dame Ann Parker Bowles, daughter of multimillionaire racehorse owner Sir Humphrey de Trafford. His parents were close friends of Queen Elizabeth The Queen Mother and Andrew was a page at the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II.
He was educated at the Benedictine Ampleforth College and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and was commissioned into the Royal Horse Guards (The Blues) in 1960.
He was educated at the Benedictine Ampleforth College and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and was commissioned into the Royal Horse Guards (The Blues) in 1960.
He began his race-riding career in the 1964/65 season on a one-eyed hurdler named Gorse Bird, trained by Fulke Walwyn, who would go on to train all Andrew’s horses. He rode Gorse Bird several times during that season and managed a third-place finish at Windsor, but they also ended on the deck three times, including in an ITV-televised race at Towcester on the Saturday of Easter.
He began his race-riding career in the 1964/65 season on a one-eyed hurdler named Gorse Bird, trained by Fulke Walwyn, who would go on to train all Andrew’s horses. He rode Gorse Bird several times during that season and managed a third-place finish at Windsor, but they also ended on the deck three times, including in an ITV-televised race at Towcester on the Saturday of Easter.
Andrew was promoted to the rank of captain in July 1966. That same year saw him ride his first winner under National Hunt rules, on Brown Diamond in a three-mile handicap chase at Warwick on November 29, 1966. It was the first time he’d ridden him in a race, having recently purchased him from Ireland, where he had won the Munster National at Limerick the previous month under Francis Shortt.
Andrew was promoted to the rank of captain in July 1966. That same year saw him ride his first winner under National Hunt rules, on Brown Diamond in a three-mile handicap chase at Warwick on November 29, 1966. It was the first time he’d ridden him in a race, having recently purchased him from Ireland, where he had won the Munster National at Limerick the previous month under Francis Shortt.
His next acquisition was Aintree veteran The Fossa, who gave his new owner his second success under NH rules when winning at Worcester on September 25, 1968. They also finished placed in chases as Worcester, Hereford and Kempton that season and took part in the 1969 Grand National, completing the course in a highly creditable eleventh place.
His next acquisition was Aintree veteran The Fossa, who gave his new owner his second success under NH rules when winning at Worcester on September 25, 1968. They also finished placed in chases as Worcester, Hereford and Kempton that season and took part in the 1969 Grand National, completing the course in a highly creditable eleventh place.
The Fossa was as safe as houses conveyance. Andrew rode him for two more seasons, campaigning him in hunter chases in 1971, when the then 14-year-old veteran gave his owner-rider his third success under NH rules when winning the Grand Military Hunters’ Chase at Sandown Park’s Grand Military meeting in March. They also finished runner-up to the useful Green Plover in a hunter chase at Cheltenham in April.
The Fossa was as safe as houses conveyance. Andrew rode him for two more seasons, campaigning him in hunter chases in 1971, when the then 14-year-old veteran gave his owner-rider his third success under NH rules when winning the Grand Military Hunters’ Chase at Sandown Park’s Grand Military meeting in March. They also finished runner-up to the useful Green Plover in a hunter chase at Cheltenham in April.
The Blues regiment had become The Blues and Royals (Royal Horse Guards and 1st Dragoons) in 1969. Andrew was promoted to major on December 31, 1971. He was squadron leader of “B” squadron in 1972 on Exercise “Motorman” in Northern Ireland.
The Blues regiment had become The Blues and Royals (Royal Horse Guards and 1st Dragoons) in 1969. Andrew was promoted to major on December 31, 1971. He was squadron leader of “B” squadron in 1972 on Exercise “Motorman” in Northern Ireland.
In 1973 he married Camilla Shand, a former girlfriend of the Prince of Wales – Andrew was a player on the Prince of Wales’s polo team in the 1970s and 1980s. Andrew and Camilla lived in Bolehyde Manor and later Middlewick House in Wiltshire and had two children, Tom and Laura.
In 1973 he married Camilla Shand, a former girlfriend of the Prince of Wales – Andrew was a player on the Prince of Wales’s polo team in the 1970s and 1980s. Andrew and Camilla lived in Bolehyde Manor and later Middlewick House in Wiltshire and had two children, Tom and Laura.
He rode his own horse Pakie to score a 33-1 shock victory in the Emblem Chase at Kempton on February 22, 1974. The following month he achieved the ultimate aim of every soldier-rider by winning the Grand Military Gold Cup on Pakie. It was an uncompetitive race that year, only five runners, and Pakie started the 3-1 on favourite. He won comfortably enough by three lengths.
He rode his own horse Pakie to score a 33-1 shock victory in the Emblem Chase at Kempton on February 22, 1974. The following month he achieved the ultimate aim of every soldier-rider by winning the Grand Military Gold Cup on Pakie. It was an uncompetitive race that year, only five runners, and Pakie started the 3-1 on favourite. He won comfortably enough by three lengths.
Later, Andrew was Senior Military Liaison Officer to Lord Soames when he was Governor of Rhodesia during its transition to the majority rule state of Zimbabwe in 1979-80. He became a Lieutenant-Colonel in June 1980 and was awarded the Queen’s Commendation for Bravery in Zimbabwe.
Later, Andrew was Senior Military Liaison Officer to Lord Soames when he was Governor of Rhodesia during its transition to the majority rule state of Zimbabwe in 1979-80. He became a Lieutenant-Colonel in June 1980 and was awarded the Queen’s Commendation for Bravery in Zimbabwe.
From 1981 to 1983 he was Commanding Officer of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, and was commanding during the Hyde Park and Regent’s Park bombings when men and horses from his regiment were killed and injured by a terrorist bomb. He was one of the first to the scene and his orders led to the saving of the later famous horse Sefton.
From 1981 to 1983 he was Commanding Officer of the Household Cavalry Mounted Regiment, and was commanding during the Hyde Park and Regent’s Park bombings when men and horses from his regiment were killed and injured by a terrorist bomb. He was one of the first to the scene and his orders led to the saving of the later famous horse Sefton.
He was promoted to colonel in 1987 and from then until 1990 he commanded the Household Cavalry and was Silver Stick in Waiting to the Queen. In June 1990 he was promoted to the rank of brigadier and became a director of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps until his retirement in 1994.
He was promoted to colonel in 1987 and from then until 1990 he commanded the Household Cavalry and was Silver Stick in Waiting to the Queen. In June 1990 he was promoted to the rank of brigadier and became a director of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps until his retirement in 1994.
Andrew had numerous extramarital affairs throughout his marriage to Camilla. They were divorced in 1995. A year later he married Rosemary Pitman (née Dickinson), his long-time mistress. They attended the wedding of the Prince of Wales and Camilla, who is now the Duchess of Cornwall, which took place on April 9, 2005,
Andrew had numerous extramarital affairs throughout his marriage to Camilla. They were divorced in 1995. A year later he married Rosemary Pitman (née Dickinson), his long-time mistress. They attended the wedding of the Prince of Wales and Camilla, who is now the Duchess of Cornwall, which took place on April 9, 2005,
Sadly, Rosemary died from cancer on 10 January 2010, aged 69.
Sadly, Rosemary died from cancer on 10 January 2010, aged 69.