Prince Charles throws Camilla a 70th birthday party fit for a Duchess attended by 250 of her closest friends and family

The Duchess of Cornwall's closest friends and family were invited to the event at Charles' Highgrove home - including the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge
The Queen and Prince Phillip stayed at home after hosting the Spanish royals
The event is the second birthday celebration in a week, with a star-studded garden party held at Clarence House on Thursday

Published: 10:29 BST, 16 July 2017 | Updated: 02:06 BST, 17 July 2017

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She's been the described as the love of Prince Charles' life and has stuck by his side through thick and thin.

So it was no surprise that the Prince of Wales pulled out all the stops for his beloved wife the Duchess of Cornwall's 70th birthday.

In the second of two celebrations this week, around 250 of Camilla's closest friends and family were welcomed at the Prince's Highgrove home in Gloucestershire on Saturday.

The Duchess of Cornwall at a reception earlier this week to mark her 70th birthday at Clarence House in London

The event was truly fit for a monarch, with guests including the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry.

Member's of the Duchess's own family were also present, including her children Tom Parker Bowles and daughter Laura Lopes, her sister Annabel Elliot and ex-husband Andrew Parker Bowles.

The Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh, who entertained the Spanish royals this week, were reportedly invited but remained at home in Windsor, The Telegraph reported.

Close friend Lucia Santa Cruz, who introduced Camilla to the prince in 1971, was also thought to be among the guests after flying in from Chile, according to The Times.

The Prince of Wales (centre) talks to guests during Thursday's reception. On Saturday, the prince hosted around 250 of Camilla's close friends and family at a second birthday celebration

The Prince of Wales talks to Darcey Bussell (centre) and Esther Rantzen during the Clarence House reception

Joanna Lumley (left) and Kathy Lette attend a reception to mark the Duchess of Cornwall's 70th birthday at Clarence House

The event was the Duchess's second birthday celebration in a week - with a separate garden party held at Clarence House on Thursday. Her real birthday is on Monday.

Attendees included staff and representatives at her charities as well as actors Joanna Lumley, Richard E Grants and Dame Maggie Smith.

TV star Paul O'Grady and Strictly Come Dancing judges Craig Revel Horwood and Darcey Bussell also reportedly attended.

During the event, Mr O'Grady praised his friend for embracing her position as a member of the royal family late in life saying: 'It's taken a lot of guts, you know, it really has.'

He added, laughing: 'She could have sat there watching daytime telly.'

The Blind Date presenter said: 'But it's like she's embraced it, that's it, she's really embraced it and gone for it and all her charity work.'

O'Grady went on to say: 'I'm very fond of her, the first time I met her I was the child catcher in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and the car broke down so they had to stop the show and producer Michael Rose said 'quick get up to the green room and say hello'.

The Duchess of Cornwall speaks to guests at her birthday garden party on Thursday

'And I'm dressed as the child catcher with the nose and the ears and the chin.

'She's so easy to talk to and she's passionate about animals which is something else I really respect.'

Over the years, friends of Camilla have spoken of her dry wit, her love of her family and her devotion to husband Charles who she married in 2005.

An affectionate grandmother with five grandchildren, she is also an avid reader, and loves food, TV, films and listening to the radio - especially The Archers.

She enjoys gardening and walking with Charles, as well as apparently bee-keeping.

Both she and the Prince paint and draw. Horse racing is also a passion, as are animals, and she has two terriers - Jack Russells, adopted from Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, called Beth and Bluebell.

Her love of the countryside is well known and she used to hunt. Pre-royal days, she was once photographed sitting on a horse puffing a cigarette, but no longer smokes.

She endured scathing criticism for being the long-term love of the heir to the throne, but friends said she laughed off unflattering photographs, using her humour as a buffer.

Now as she approaches her seventh decade, she continues to be adept at switching from glamorous high profile royal occasions, like the recent state banquet for the King of Spain, and kicking off her high heels for her much loved wellies.

Profile: Charles's long-time love who gave him the normal life he always wanted

Earthy, horse-loving and with a sense of humour that chimes with her famous husband, the Duchess of Cornwall has been the perfect partner for the future king.

And despite only becoming a member of the royal family well into middle age, Camilla has learnt how to channel her passions - from reading to a love of animals - into a wide range of public patronages and causes.

But her relationship with Charles, that began many decades ago, is the thing that appears to have enriched their lives.

Their relationship has undoubtedly changed over the years - they progressed from young lovers to a middle-aged couple with children from previous marriages, and then became newly-weds in their mid 50s.

Today the prince, aged 68, is probably busier than at any point in his public career, and is at the helm of many charities and projects.

But while he is beavering away on a speech, or catching up with the latest work of one of his organisations, Camilla is from the generation that wants nothing more than the man of the house to be happy, content - and put his feet up.

After bringing up her family she is now the one who is insistent they enjoy their time together, and strives to make sure Charles relaxes.

The duchess told the Sun newspaper in April: "I've tried and tried everything but I can't stop him."

And she admitted, at the end of her recent tour of Canada with Charles, her age may be catching up with her: "As you get older it does get harder.

"I mustn't pretend but my feet are killing me."

When Charles and Camilla Shand first met in the 1970s on a Windsor polo field, they were in their early 20s and the heir to the throne is said to have "lost his heart" to her almost at once and they embarked on a relationship.

But when he joined the Navy the couple spent long periods apart and the royal missed his chance and was heartbroken when Camilla married cavalry officer Andrew Parker Bowles.

Charles went on to marry Lady Diana Spencer in 1981 but within a few years all was not well with the marriage.

The prince was having an affair with Camilla and Diana had turned to cavalry officer James Hewitt.

In the 1990s, Camilla's eventual emergence as Charles's long-term partner was part of a carefully planned PR campaign masterminded by the heir to the throne's spin doctor Mark Bolland.

The duchess was seen by some as the other woman who to some degree had always been in Charles's life.

But behind closed doors she appears to have provided the heir to the throne with the love and a normal life, away from his public role, that he has always wanted.

The culmination of the romance was a marriage between the long-time lovers who wed in a civil ceremony at Windsor Guildhall on April 9 2005.

Over the years, the duchess has grown into her role and gradually taken on more charitable causes.

They range from becoming president of Barnardo's and the Southbank Centre's Women of the World Festival to patron of the Friends of Erlestoke Prison, Booktrust, the Poppy Factory and Children's Hospice South West, among others.

Camilla has also demonstrated her support for survivors of rape and sexual assault, visiting referral centres and meeting people affected by sexual violence.

And she has championed literacy, taking on the patronage of a number of related organisations and has been a passionate supporter of the BBC children's writing competition 500 Words.