Queen Camilla has been stepping up to the plate over the past few weeks as she does her best to support her husband, King Charles, following his cancer diagnosis, while also making sure that royal duties are also undertaken.
Back at home, Camilla is likely to be supported by her younger sister, Annabel Elliot. The duo have quite a close relationship, with the pair still keeping their sibling bond strong since Camilla became Queen, with the pair even being spotted together at Wimbledon. But what do you know of Annabel? Join HELLO! as share all you need to know...
Who is Camilla's sister?
Annabel is the second child of Major Bruce Shand and the 3rd Baron Ashcombe's daughter Rosalind Cubitt. Annabel was born on 2 February 1949 and is the family's youngest daughter. She and her sister Camilla also had a younger brother, Mark, who died suddenly after a fall in 2014.
© Max Mumby/IndigoIn 1972, Annabel married Simon Elliot, whom she remained married to until his death in 2023. The couple had three children: two daughters, Alice and Catherine, and a son, Sir Ben Elliot, who is a prominent British businessman and Conservative Party fundraiser.
Childhood and growing up
Despite their similar looks, as they grew up, Camilla and Annabel had different outlooks on life. Although both were involved with the debutante circuit, it appealed much more to Camilla than it did to the quiet Annabel. Reflecting on their time on the scene, Annabel shared: "[Camilla] was a great success, but I certainly wasn't. I probably wasn't quite as confident as her."
© William VandersonHowever, the duo still had a normal childhood, with the pair rolling down hills and catching butterflies while growing up at their country home: The Laines in East Sussex.
Annabel's job
Annabel works as both an interior designer and antiques dealer. After studying fine art in Florence, Italy, the creatively minded young woman set up her own antiques and interiors business, Annabel Elliot Limited, in Dorset – where her husband Simon owned land.
© Patrick SmithAlthough Annabel is a private person, it is believed that she shares a very close bond with both her sister and her sister's husband, Charles III. Through her work as an interior designer, Annabel and Charles have built a close working relationship, as the 74-year-old was employed several times over the years to work as the chief interior designer on his estates.
© Max Mumby/IndigoAnnabel was responsible for work undertaken at royal properties on the Isles of Scilly, Devon, and in Llwynywermod in Wales. During an article in The Daily Telegraph in 2014, Annabel wrote of her approach to interior design: "There’s no such thing as good or bad taste. I always use something a client already has and loves – it may be a painting or a rug – and tap into that. I had no formal training, but my background as an antiques dealer gives me an appreciation of combining old and new. I believe in adapting, recycling, and taking yourself with you when you move."
Where does Annabel live?
While Annabel's exact place of residence is unknown, it can be assumed that the 74-year-old sister of the Queen Consort continues to live in the country house which she and her husband Simon shared in Stourpaine, Dorset, until his death in 2023.
© Max Mumby/Indigo
