It was a wedding 35 years in the making for Prince Charles and Camilla. On April 9, 2005 after a royal scandal, a tragic death, forbidden love, two marriages and four children, Charles and Camilla were finally able to tie the knot.
But like the years leading up the ceremony, the wedding day was no walk in the park. First of all, the day itself had to be rescheduled. Originally meant to take place on April 8, the ceremony needed to be pushed back so Prince Charles could represent The Queen at Pope John Paul II’s funeral at the Vatican.
Camilla was very ill with sinusitis the morning of the wedding. She was so sick, her friends and family were afraid she would not be able to walk down the aisle.
The couple, both being divorced were not able to have a Church of England wedding, instead they had a wedding in two parts. The first part was a civil service at Windsor Guildhall. The Queen and Prince Philip did not attend the civil ceremony.
It has been suggested by The Queen’s biographer, Robert Hardman, that this signalled The Queen’s “disapproval of the arrangements, not of the marriage” itself. Prince William, Prince Harry, Princess Anne, Princess Eugenie, Princess Beatrice, Laura Parker Bowles and Tom Parker Bowles were present for the civil ceremony.
The second part was a blessing at St. George’s Chapel in Windsor. Queen Elizabeth and Prince Philip attended the blessing, along with senior royal family members, Camilla’s children and father, plus 800 guests. This Service of Prayer and Dedication was aired on the BBC.
Afterwards, Prince Charles and the new Duchess of Cornwall enjoyed a reception at Windsor Castle. Charles gave a speech and characterized his new bride as someone “who has stood with me through thick and thin and whose optimism and humour have seen me through.”
In her speech, The Queen compared her son and Camilla’s relationship to The Grand National horse race: “They have overcome Becher’s Brook and The Chair…..they have come through and I’m very proud and wish them well. My son is home and dry with the woman he loves.”
