Queen Camilla’s first love Kevin Burke, whom she met as a fun newbie, dies aged 77
She is happily married to King Charles, but before Queen’s Camilla’s love affair began with Her Majesty, another man had captured her heart.
I hear the Queen, 76, may be plagued by nostalgia sickness as I can reveal her first love Kevin Burke has died aged 77.
The pair met during the Queen’s heyday as a fun debutante, where she was adored by a host of male admirers at the high society parties she frequented.
Mr Burke died earlier this month, with the family asking for donations to be made to the British Heart Foundation.
His funeral will take place in September.
Heartache: Queen Camilla’s first love, Kevin Burke, has died aged 77. The pair met during the Queen’s heyday as fun newbies
Young Milla Shand, as she was known, is believed to have met Kevin, the then 19-year-old son of Sir Aubrey Burke, vice-chairman of aircraft manufacturer Hawker Siddeley, shortly after her night out in Knightsbridge in 1965.
What followed was a whirlwind of glitzy sixties swing parties where, at seventeen, Mrs. Milla Shand was the life and soul of the party.
Although their affair was short-lived, Mr Burke spoke fondly of his former flame, reminiscing about their time together in Jessica Jayne’s biography: The Duchess of Cornwall, Her Story and Her Secrets.
“Each night we had two or three cocktail parties to attend and a dance and a few country weekend dances to choose from,” he revealed.
“It was the best fun, and I had the best, funniest partner you could want.” Camilla was immensely popular and although she wasn’t a beauty, she was attractive and sexy.
Indeed, Milla was so popular that she was quick to leave Mr. Burke and leave him heartbroken.
Early life: Young Milla Shand (Camilla, right) is believed to have met Kevin shortly after his night out in Knightsbridge in 1965. Pictured: Camilla with her mother Rosalind Shand in 1965
Fun: Kevin detailed his relationship with Camilla before his romance with King Charles (pictured) began, saying: ‘It was the best fun, and I had the best, funniest partner I’ve ever had you could wish”
“I stayed with Camilla all this year. I guess we were in love and then she dumped me. For what? Well the short answer is she had a ball in London,’ he revealed.
She then married her first husband former army officer Andrew Parker Bowles in 1973 with whom she had two children, Tom and Laura. They divorced in 1995.
Having become a chartered accountant, Kevin Burke finally settled down at the age of 42.
His first marriage to advertising executive Peta Baker lasted 14 years and ended in 2001.
Then he married former headhunter Luisa Fairey, with whom he first became a father at age 58.
Speaking at the time, he said: “It was unexpected, but I’m a lucky man.”
Kevin is survived by his “much loved” son, Max.
