Davina Morley, a former girlfriend of King Charles who was once rumored to be a potential future queen, has died at the age of 75. Morley passed away on September 2 following a brief illness, with her three sons present. A celebration of her life is planned for November in the Cotswolds.
Known then as Davina Sheffield, she was among a group of women nicknamed "Charlie's Angels" by the press during the 1960s and 1970s, when Charles, then Prince of Wales, was courting.
Morley was considered a serious contender for marriage by royal watchers. Her relationship with Charles reportedly began around 1976, at a time when he was also dating other women. She was described as intelligent, witty, and attractive, and reportedly gained the approval of the Queen Mother during a visit to Balmoral. A friend quoted in the Daily Mail described them as "wonderful together," and royal expert Michael Rhodes called her "a great match" for the future king.
Morley was the granddaughter of Lord McGowan, a prominent Scottish industrialist and former chairman of ICI. Her family line traces back to King Charles II. She was also a cousin of Samantha Sheffield, who later married former Prime Minister David Cameron.
Their romance ended abruptly after a former boyfriend, James Beard, revealed to the press that he had previously lived with Morley. According to royal convention at the time, Charles was expected to marry a bride who had not had previous significant relationships. This same convention reportedly impacted his relationship with Queen Camilla.
Morley married Jake Morley in 1981, the same year Charles married Princess Diana. The couple had three sons: Thomas, William, and Henry. Jake Morley died in April 2022.
The celebration of life service is scheduled to be held at Morley's local church in Gloucestershire, near Highgrove, King Charles's country residence.