If it is common knowledge that the path to true love was never smooth, Prince Charles must be more painfully aware of it than most.
And something similar could apply to those trying to organize his wedding to Camilla in 2005.
For a while it seemed as if the whole ceremony had been jinxed.
The context was already complicated, to say the least, with lingering hostility from those determined to blame Charles and the royal family for the failure of his “fairytale” marriage to Diana.
Camilla Parker Bowles proudly shows off her engagement ring as Clarence House went public ahead of schedule on February 10th
Prince Harry caused a stir earlier this year when he wore an Afrika Corps uniform to a costume party
When Windsor Castle was granted the license to host Charles and Diana’s civil wedding, it also meant that “any old yobbo” could apply to be married in the Queen’s house
In January of this year, Prince Harry caused a stir when he wore an Afrika Corps uniform to a fancy dress party, which caused considerable anger in Charles – some of it directed at his older brother William for allowing it (a period , which was addressed later). Harry in his memoirs Spare).
Then the Evening Standard learned of the impending wedding announcement, prompting Clarence House to go public earlier than planned on February 10. On April 8th there would be a civil wedding at Windsor Castle – far from the memories of St. Paul and Diana.
Then came a big problem that no amount of apology could solve, as author Tina Brown reports in her best-selling book “The Palace Papers.”
“The fine print in the Marriage Act 1994 permitted marriages to be solemnized in certain “approved premises”. However, if Windsor Castle was granted the license to host Charles and Diana’s civil wedding, it also meant that any old yobbo could also apply to be married at the Queen’s House.”
The venue was moved to the Guildhall in Windsor.
As head of the Church of England, Charles’ mother, the Queen, was already disinclined to attend a civil wedding. And she certainly wouldn’t go to the “main street registry office,” as Brown puts it.
“Queen snubs Charles’ wedding” was just one of the inevitable headlines.
Charles blamed his private secretary, Michael Peat. Peat blamed his deputy, who resigned.
So there was already tension in the air when Charles agreed to join his sons for a quick photo shoot and press conference on the slopes of Klosters, Switzerland – the tension was heightened by the continued presence of paparazzo photographers
The venue was hastily moved to the Guildhall Windsor
The front page of the Chron after Prince Charles was caught on the microphone talking about Nicholas Witchell
The BBC’s respected royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell asked an (agreed) question to the heir to the throne. Charles responded with a cocky non-answer – and then sotto voce unleashed his true thoughts
Not that it justified what followed. When the BBC’s respected royal correspondent Nicholas Witchell asked an (agreed) question of the heir to the throne, Charles responded with a cocky reply before commenting privately to William and Harry:
“Damn people… I can’t stand this man.” He’s so terrible. He really is.’
Unfortunately, the prince’s unfounded comments were picked up by a microphone and then broadcast to the world. It was left to spokesman Paddy Harveyson to apologize.
“Charles was distraught at how the wedding was received,” Brown writes. He was frantically making phone calls to his friends.
On a tour of Australia, New Zealand and Sri Lanka, where he met tsunami victims, the prince was rewarded with polls showing nearly 60 percent of Australians thought he should stand up for William.
Then, just six days before the wedding day, Pope John Paul II died.
“Seventy presidents and prime ministers, four kings, five queens and more than 14 leaders of other religions were on the guest list,” Brown writes.
The Queen asked Charles to represent her at the funeral – which was scheduled for the day of his wedding! The wedding was postponed for 24 hours.
Prince Charles, Camilla Parker Bowles and former Prime Minister Tony Blair pictured attending a service at Westminster Cathedral in memory of the late Pope John Paul II
The Queen asked Charles to represent her at the funeral in Rome, which was scheduled for the day of his wedding
Bishop James Harvey greets Prince Charles before the funeral of Pope John Paul II in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican in April 2005
As the Chron put it: “Can anything else go wrong?”
Now it would only clash with the Grand National, which was postponed so television viewers could see both.
But there were many more problems to come: Camilla got a sinus infection – and was so sick that she really feared she wouldn’t make it.
“It must have felt like Diana and the Queen Mother had joined forces from beyond the grave to rain down lightning on her special day.”
Royal biographer Penny Junor wrote that it took four people to get Camilla out of bed.
“Finally, it was Annabel who sorted things out: “Okay, that’s all right. I’ll do it for you. I’m going to change into your clothes.”
Only then did Camilla answer.
Of course there was a thoroughly enjoyable conclusion. After taking a break from the action to watch the Grand National, the Queen made her speech and said there were two important announcements.
Camilla got a sinus infection – and was so sick she really feared she wouldn’t make it
Prince Charles chatted with his mother as he left St. George’s Chapel with his bride
The first was that her horse Hedgehunter had won the Aintree race.
Secondly, she was happy to welcome her son and his bride to the winner’s enclosure.
“They’ve overcome Becher’s Brook and The Chair and all sorts of other terrible obstacles,” she said.
“They did it and I’m very proud and wish them all the best.”
“My son is home and dry with the woman he loves.”