BILLIONS tuned in to watch the Queen’s state funeral yesterday and watched as royal family members paid their respects.
Among the grieving royals were a few lesser-known relatives, including Prince William and Prince Harry’s “forgotten” stepsister Laura Lopes.
Prince William and Prince Harry’s ‘forgotten’ stepsister Laura Lopes was seen at the Queen’s funeral yesterday
Laura is the daughter of Camilla and her first husband Andrew Parker Bowles
The stepchildren celebrated the marriage of Charles and Camilla in 2005
Laura and her brother Tom Parker Bowles are the children of Camilla, the Queen Consort, and her first husband British Army officer Andrew Parker Bowles.
Before Camilla tied the knot with Charles in 2005, she was married to Andrew from 1973 to 1995 and they had their two children.
While some may recognise Tom as a well-known food writer who has appeared on TV food shows such as MasterChef, Laura leads a more private life.
She first made her public debut with the Royal family at her mother’s wedding to Prince Charles in 2005, where she was seen cosying up to her new step-family, including Prince William and Prince Harry, in the photos.
Laura is an established art curator and after working as a motoring correspondent for high-end magazine Tatler in 2001, she turned her attention to art galleries.
Camilla’s daughter initially managed The Space Gallery, located in Belgravia, London, before going on to co-found and become gallery director of Eleven Fine Art for 11 years.
Now, she heads up her own exhibitions and is partial to the odd red carpet appearance too and has been known to rub shoulders with a celeb or two.
Laura has previously attended major film premieres including the world premiere of James Bond movie Skyfall at the Tate Modern in 2012.
When she’s not taking on the art scene or red carpets, you can find Laura carrying out her parenting duties as she is mum to three kids.
She shares daughter Eliza, 14, and twin boys Gus and Louis, 12, with husband Harry Lopes.
Harry is a chartered accountant, the grandson of a Baron and an ex Calvin Klein model, who she wed in 2006 while wearing an Anne Valentine dress.
Anne Valentine was also the designer of Camilla’s dress when she wed Prince Charles a year before Laura headed down the aisle.
Both William and Harry were guests at her wedding, with Laura making sure to attend both their weddings years later.
In fact, her daughter Eliza was a bridesmaid when William married Kate in 2011 and when Harry tied the knot with Meghan in 2018, Laura was among the guests in attendance.
She looked lovely in a green printed dress and black netted fascinator and was joined by her husband Harry for the ceremony at Windsor Castle.
Her brother Tom worked for Tatler magazine like his sister as the magazine’s food columnist and has penned five of his own cookbooks.
In 2021, his partner, former journalist Alice Procope tragically died from cancer aged just 42 on March 17.
Uniquely, King Charles is both his stepfather and godfather.
When he was younger, Tom attended Eton – the same school as William and Harry – before going on to study at Oxford University.
Camilla’s children did not inherit any royal titles or duties.
Although they are part of the royal family through marriage, as they are not blood they will not be representing the Crown.
The children of Queen Consort Camilla are not in the line of succession.
The Queen has finally been reunited with her beloved Prince Philip after an emotional last journey from London to Windsor Castle.
Her Majesty’s coffin was lowered into the royal vault 16ft beneath St George’s Chapel following a committal service.
Her son, King Charles, stood shoulder to shoulder with his grieving relatives during the hour-long goodbye.
And the world watched as the woman, who was never meant to be sovereign but dedicated her life to her service, was given a historic send-off.
Laura’s daughter Eliza was a bridesmaid for Prince William and Kate’s wedding in 2011
William and Harry also have stepbrother Tom Parker Bowles, who is a food critic who has starred on MasterChef
