The first episode of the sixth season of The Crown, premiered this Thursday, November 16, through the Netflix platform.
The episode recalled the grand plan orchestrated by then Prince Charles to celebrate the 50th birthday of his partner, Camilla Parker Bowles, on July 17, 1997.
Although today the kings of England are happily married, that was not their status in the mid-1990s, shortly after Charles officially divorced Diana of Wales.
The Crown s06e01: Queen Camilla’s 50th Birthday
As the episode recalls, the lovers were still in a media battle to get the British and world press to approve of their relationship.
Also, one scene shows the moment when Charles played by Dominic West personally visits his mother, Queen Elizabeth II of England played by Imelda Staunton, to ask her to attend the celebration.
His presence, West’s character says, would contribute favorably to Camilla’s image, but the sovereign declined the invitation.
Meanwhile, Diana played by actress Elizabeth Debicki copes with the situation by going on a trip with her children thanks to an invitation from tycoon Mohamed Al-Fayed, played by Amir El-Masry.
What was Camilla’s 50th birthday party like in real life?
Camilla Parker Bowles’ birthday celebration included 80 guests and drew a lot of interest from the UK public.
The press reported at the time that, Charles had painstakingly prepared the celebration and it cost £50,000.
The party was entertained by New Zealand soprano Kiri Te Kanawa. Guests gathered under a huge marquee set up in the garden of Highgrove, Charles’ Gloucester County residence.
Photographs of Charles and Camilla leaving the party together, where she wore a sparkling black sequined dress and a diamond choker, are circulating on the Internet.
Queen Camilla is now 76 years old and finally married Charles on April 9, 2005.