Charles and Camilla’s wedding woes
The King and Queen faced a series of setbacks on their big day, 20 years ago
Against all the odds, indeed – the King and Queen really did face adversity on their road to a happy marriage, as even their wedding ceremony was beset by issues.
Celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary this week, Charles and Camilla had already overcome many obstacles to be together, but fate hadn’t finished with them, as even their big day, on April 9, 2005, had multiple setbacks.
The pair famously had an unconventional path to romance – many say they should have married after they first met in 1971, but, as royal history fans know, Charles did not pop the question and Camilla married Andrew Parker Bowles and The Prince of Wales wed Lady Diana Spencer.
But they could never really be apart and when Charles and Diana split in 1992, Camilla was painted the villain and blamed for ruining the ‘fairy-tale’. Years later, Camilla said, “I couldn’t really go anywhere… It was horrid. It was a deeply unpleasant time, and I wouldn’t want to put my worst enemy through it.”
In July 1997, Charles threw a 50th birthday party for Camilla at Highgrove, hopeful it would be the first step to her public acceptance, but a month later, Diana tragically died, and Camilla had to retreat to the shadows, once more. “I was scrutinized for such a long time that you just have to find a way to live with it,” she told British Vogue in 2022. “Nobody likes to be looked at all the time and, you know, criticized and… But I think in the end, I sort of rise above it and get on with it. You’ve got to get on with life.”
Finally, with the Queen’s approval, the pair were able to marry in 2005 – but, true to form, it didn’t go smoothly. First, the wedding had to be delayed by 24 hours at the last minute, as the Queen asked Charles to attend the funeral of Pope John Paul II, then, Camilla was feeling unwell with a heavy cold. Harry – as he later revealed in Spare – was not supportive of his new stepmother, and the Queen and Prince Philip didn’t attend the ceremony in Windsor Guildhall, although they did come to the blessing in St. George’s Chapel.
The new date meant the wedding clashed with The Grand National horse race, so the Queen gave a rousing speech at the reception. “They have overcome Becher’s Brook and The Chair and all kinds of other terrible obstacles. They have come through and I’m very proud and wish them well. My son is home and dry, with the woman he loves,” she said.
But there would be a final twist – April 9 was also the date Prince Philip died in 2021, aged 99 and so their anniversary will always be tinged with sadness.
William announces Earthshot in Brazil
With a brilliant video featuring David Beckham, Hannah Waddingham, Cate Blanchett and many more, the Prince of Wales announced that the next Earthshot prize awards will be held in Rio de Janerio this November.
In the video, William says: “I think Brazil really epitomises where the prize needs to land; the culture of Brazil, the fact that we’ve got Cop30 there. We need urgent optimism now more than ever and I think Brazil epitomises that, and I can’t believe that we’re at the halfway point of ten years.”
With the United Nations climate change conference, Cop30, in Belem in northeastern Brazil in November, it’s believed the prince is keen to “play a role”. Since its launch in 2020, the annual Earthshot awards ceremony has been held in London, Boston, Singapore and Cape Town, and is now five years into its ten-year mission.
Harry reveals his ‘heartbreak’ over charity
As Meghan’s first batch of As Ever wares sells out in 30 minutes (£10.82 for a jar of raspberry spread, anyone? Read a review here) and her Instagram posts cranking up the domestic bliss, you’d never guess there was any turmoil in the Sussex Montecito homestead. However, this week, Harry broke his silence on the “blatant lies” that he claims led to him resigning from Sentebale, as the Charity Commission announced “a regulatory compliance case” to examine concerns.
Last week Harry quit, alongside the trustees, because of a dispute with Dr Sophie Chandauka, the board’s chair. She hit back accusing the duke and the organisation of “bullying and harassment”.
After the Commission’s announcement, Harry said: “From the inception of Sentebale nearly 20 years ago, Prince Seeiso and I have had a clear goal: to support the children and young people in Southern Africa in memory of our mothers. What has transpired over the last week has been heartbreaking to witness, especially when such blatant lies hurt those who have invested decades in this shared goal. No one suffers more than the beneficiaries of Sentebale itself.
“On behalf of the former trustees and patrons, we share in the relief that the Charity Commission confirmed they will be conducting a robust inquiry. We fully expect it will unveil the truth that collectively forced us to resign. We remain hopeful this will allow for the charity to be put in the right hands immediately, for the sake of the communities we serve.”
Camilla launches The Big Egg Hunt
The Queen was back to work for the first time since the King’s hospitalisation, admiring a 2ft decorated egg placed outside Buckingham Palace, that forms part of 123 egg sculptures dotted across London until 27 April.
The ornate big blue and gold egg called ‘Green Man Humpty Dumpty’ was commissioned by Camilla and Charles and is designed and painted by Alice Shirley for the Elephant Family charity’s ‘The Big Egg Hunt’.
Elephant Family is very special to the Queen as it was founded by her late brother, Mark Shand, and is dedicated to saving the Asian elephant from extinction.
Download the free app - The Big Egg Hunt on Apple App Store – and get cracking looking for some or all of them!
The King plays a carrot
Admittedly, it’s not a headline we thought we would ever write, but Charles proved what a good sport he is on Thursday, when he joined the London Vegetable Orchestra and played a tune on a carrot, no less. The King had a go at Twinkle Twinkle Little Star, at the reception at Windsor Castle. Laughing in delight, he took home his souvenir and said he was going to eat it, afterwards.