The marriage of King Charles and Queen Camilla on April 9, 2005 marked a significant moment in the contemporary history of the British monarchy.
The ceremony, which took place at Windsor Guildhall, was a discreet and civil event, in contrast to the lavish royal weddings to which the public was accustomed.
Despite its intimate nature, the wedding was an event of great public interest and symbolism.
Charles and Camilla’s Wedding
The civil wedding took place at Windsor Guildhall, an iconic venue near Windsor Castle.
Among the 28 guests were Prince Charles’ sons, Prince William and Prince Harry.
The event was notably more modest than other royal weddings, with Prince Charles opting for a morning suit instead of his military uniform, and Camilla wearing an elegant silk chiffon dress and a Phillip Treacy-designed hat.
A religious blessing was then held at St. George’s Chapel, led by the Archbishop of Canterbury.
During the ceremony, the newlyweds made a public confession of their “manifold sins and wickedness,” an act of humility and repentance reported by The Guardian.
Despite the lack of royal pomp, as many as 20,000 people gathered in the streets to see the couple, demonstrating the public’s interest and affection for them.
After the blessing, King Charles and Queen Camilla posed for wedding portraits in the White Drawing Room of Windsor Castle, captured by photographer Hugo Burnand, who was later chosen to document their coronation in May 2023.
Why Queen Elizabeth did not attend Charles and Camilla’s wedding
One of the peculiarities of this union was the absence of Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh.
As sovereign and head of the Church of England, Queen Elizabeth decided not to attend the wedding of two divorcees, a decision that reflected the complexities of tradition and royal protocol.
People magazine reported that the decision was based on the queen’s position as religious leader and the bride and groom’s background.
Queen Camilla Engagement Ring
Queen Camilla’s engagement ring is a piece of jewelry with a rich history and stunning design.
The ring is Art Deco in style and features a 5 carat center diamond flanked by three tapered diamond baguettes on each side.
The ring is set in platinum, allowing the stones to take center stage.
The provenance of the ring is unknown, but it is believed to have belonged to Prince Charles’ maternal grandmother, Isabella Bowes-Lyon.
King Charles’ relationship with his grandmother was very close, and their bond helped him withstand the pressures of growing up under public scrutiny.
This makes the fact that this particular ring was the piece of jewelry he chose for his fiancée all the more significant.
The ring is estimated to be worth approximately $266,196, and prior to adorning the Queen Consort’s finger, the platinum piece was prominently worn and photographed by its previous owner in the 1980s.
The classic cut has been chosen by many prominent women as their engagement ring style.
Over the years, King Charles and Queen Camilla have maintained a close relationship and worked together in their royal duties.
Although they did not release a photo in honor of their recent wedding anniversary, Queen Camilla has publicly expressed her affection for their marriage, suggesting a union based on mutual support and deep understanding, now even more so as they face the great challenge of overcoming King Charles’ cancer.