If it’s no secret that the road to true love is never easy, then Prince Charles must be more painfully aware of this than most.
A similar situation may have applied to those who tried to organize his wedding to Camilla in 2005.
For a while, the whole ceremony looked like it was going to be terrible.
The situation was already complicated, to say the least, with continued hostility from those determined to blame Charles and the royal family for the collapse of his “fairytale” marriage to Diana.
Clarence House launches early on February 10, Camilla Parker Bowles proudly shows off her engagement ring
Prince Harry caused uproar at the start of the year when he attended a fancy dress party wearing an Afrika Korps uniform
If Windsor Castle is given permission to host Charles and Diana’s civil wedding, it would also mean “any old guy” could apply to get married at the Queen’s home
In January of that year, Prince Harry caused an uproar for wearing an Afrika Korps uniform to a fancy dress ball, causing Charles a great deal of anger – some of which was directed at his brother William for allowing this to happen (a point that was later touched upon). in his memoir Spare).
The Evening Standard then learned of the impending wedding announcement and had Clarence House listed on February 10, earlier than originally planned. There will be a civil ceremony at Windsor Castle on April 8 – a far cry from St Paul’s Cathedral and the memory of Princess Diana.
Then a major problem arose that, as author Tina Brown describes in her best-selling book “The Palace Papers,” no amount of apologies could solve it.
By-laws in the Marriage Act 1994 allow weddings to take place in certain “approved venues”. In other words, if Windsor Castle obtains permission to host Charles and Diana’s civil wedding, it also means that any old nobleman can also apply to get married at the Queen’s home.
The venue was changed to Windsor Town Hall.
As head of the Church of England, Charles’ mother the Queen has been reluctant to attend civil ceremonies. She certainly wasn’t going to the “Main Street register,” as Brown puts it.
“Queen snubs Charles’ wedding” is just one of the inevitable headlines.
Charles blamed his personal secretary, Michael Pitt. Pate blamed his deputy, who resigned.
So when Charles agreed to briefly pose with his sons and hold a press conference on a hillside in Klosters, Switzerland, there was already tension in the air – heightened by the constant presence of paparazzi photographers atmosphere.
The venue soon moved to Windsor City Hall
Daily Mail front page after Prince Charles was caught on microphone talking about Nicholas Witchell
Nicholas Witchell, the BBC’s respected royal correspondent, asked the heir to the throne an (agreed) question.Charles haughtily made no reply – then whispered what he really thought
Not that it justifies what follows. When the BBC’s respected royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell posed a (agreed) question to the heir to the throne, Charles haughtily refused to answer, then privately asked William and Harry Advice:
“Damn man…I can’t stand that man.” He’s horrible. “He is.”
Unfortunately, the prince’s unwarranted remarks were caught on a microphone and subsequently broadcast to the world. Finally, Paddy Harvison came to apologize.
“Charles was distraught at the reception to the wedding,” Brown wrote. He called friends in France.
During a visit to Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka, where he met with tsunami victims, the prince received polling showing that nearly 60 per cent of Australians thought he should support William.
Then, just six days before the wedding, Pope John Paul II died.
“The guest list included seventy presidents and prime ministers, four kings, five queens and more than 14 other religious leaders,” Brown wrote.
The Queen asked Charles to represent her at the funeral – scheduled to take place on her wedding day! The wedding was postponed 24 hours.
Prince Charles, Camilla Parker Bowles and former Prime Minister Tony Blair attend a service honoring the late Pope John Paul II at Westminster Abbey
The Queen asks Charles to represent her at the Roman funeral – scheduled to take place on her wedding day
Bishop James Harvey welcomes Prince Charles before the funeral of Pope John Paul II in St. Peter’s Square in Vatican City in April 2005
As the Daily Mail put it: “What else could go wrong?”
Now it will only clash with the national contest, which has been postponed so television viewers can watch both.
But there were more troubles to come: Camila had sinusitis so badly that she was genuinely worried she might not make it through.
“It felt like Diana and the Queen Mother joined forces from beyond the grave to send down thunder and lightning on her special day.”
Royal biographer Penny Junor wrote that it took four people to get Camilla out of bed.
” In the end, it was Annabelle who settled the matter: “Okay, it doesn’t matter. I will do it for you. “I’m going to put on your clothes.”
Only then did Camilla react.
Of course, it’s a completely happy ending. The Queen spoke after a break while watching the Grand National Assembly and said she had two important pieces of news.
Camilla had sinusitis – so ill that she was really worried she might not survive
Prince Charles talks to his mother as he leaves St George’s Chapel with his bride
First his horse Hedgehog won the Aintree Derby.
The second was her delight in welcoming her son and his bride to the winners’ enclosure.
“They overcame becher brooks and chairs and all kinds of other scary obstacles,” she said.
“They have pulled through and I’m very proud and wish them all the best.
“My son is home with the woman he loves.”