Camilla and Charles have a party

Camilla on her way to 50th birthday party

Prince Charles and his friend Camilla Parker Bowles held a reception for 25 guests at the Queen's Sandringham estate over the weekend, it has been confirmed by St James Palace.

Mrs Parker Bowles has acted as the prince's hostess at Highgrove, his own country residence in Gloucestershire, for a number of years. But this is thought to have been the first occasion that she co-hosted such a party with the prince.

Mrs Parker Bowles, 50, arrived at Sandringham House on Friday and returned to her Wiltshire home on Sunday.

A spokesman for St James's Palace said: "Mrs Parker Bowles was one of a number of guests at Sandringham for the weekend."

Last year, Prince Charles threw a glittering 50th birthday party for Mrs Parker Bowles and was expected to partner her in public after his divorce.

But the death of Diana, Princess of Wales in a car crash on August 31, 1997, meant that plans for an expected appearance with Mrs Parker Bowles last September at a charity function had to be shelved.

Princess Diana had blamed Mrs Parker Bowles for the break-up of her marriage to Prince Charles.

Among the 25 guests at Sandringham were the Minister without Portfolio, Peter Mandelson, the Queen's lady-in-waiting, Lady Susan Hussey, and billionaire Lord Jacob Rothschild.