Queen Camilla has opened up about the tragedy of her mother's death in a powerful speech.
King Charles's wife, 78, made the comments as she marked the 40th anniversary of the Royal Osteoporosis Society at Clarence House on Wednesday.
Camilla lost both her mother, Rosalind Shand, and her grandmother, Sonia, to the crippling bone disease, and her experience prompted her to become patron of the then-National Osteoporosis Society in 1997, and then its president in 2001.
"My dear mother had died as a result of osteoporosis," Camilla told listeners, adding: "My family and I had little, or no, understanding of this devastating disease and were determined to discover more about it.
© POOL/AFP via Getty Images"We failed to comprehend how our mother could suffer so much pain, lose inches in height and yet find no available treatment from the doctors. The terrible problem being that osteoporosis is a silent thief hiding in plain sight."
She continued: "It wreaks its havoc deep inside our bodies until, too late, we realise that the damage has been done. Without being aware of it, our bones have lost their density and strength until suddenly, a simple, everyday act – picking up a grandchild, slipping over, or even sneezing – turns into a life-altering event as our bones shatter."
In 2002, in her first-ever public speech, Camilla recounted the agonising ordeal suffered by her mother, who died in 1994 aged 72.
Camilla also has a sister, Annabel Elliot, while her brother, Mark Shand, sadly passed away in 2014 following a fall in New York City.
What is Osteoporosis?
Osteoporosis is a health condition that weakens bones, meaning they are more fragile and likely to break.
Common injuries of those with osteoporosis include broken wrists, hip fractures, or broken spinal bones. Often, it is only diagnosed after a fall or sudden impact, as it develops slowly over several years.
© KeystoneWomen are more at risk of osteoporosis than men and lose bone rapidly in the first few years after the menopause, according to the NHS website.
It can be treated by taking medicine to strengthen bones and prevent them from breaking.
Factors that can increase the risk of developing the disease include having a family history of osteoporosis, not exercising regularly, having a low BMI, or taking certain medications or steroid tablets.
Camilla's work to raise awareness of osteoporosis
Camilla gathered ROS staff, celebrity supporters, and donors in the gardens of Clarence House to celebrate the milestone and said a cure had not been found yet, "but we are well on the way".
Among the guests were Felicity Kendall, Susan Hampshire, Miriam Margolyes, Julien Macdonald and Gloria Hunniford – all ROS ambassadors – alongside other famous faces like Jools Holland and Ross Kemp. Camilla was also joined by her sister, Annabel.
© Getty ImagesCamilla has championed the work of the ROS since 1994, and it was the first charity she became patron of.
The charity has gone from strength to strength ever since, with nurses providing free support via a helpline for 34 years. Camilla's work has included the creation of the Duchess of Cornwall's Award - now the Queen's Award for Osteoporosis - in 2009.
Later, as she cut a 40th anniversary cake, she quipped: "Here's to another 40 years. I shan't be here, but somebody else will be."
