A Twist in the Tale: Charles and Camilla's 20 Years Together as Royals
Two Decades Together: Charles and Camilla's Long-Lasting Matrimony Celebration - Two decades of union: Charles and Camilla's matrimonial journey
Love stories can be tricky, winding their own paths, as Royal romances reveal. On their 20th anniversary, slated for Wednesday (April 9), King Charles III and his wife Camilla set off for Italy, with a grand banquet planned for the evening.
With them in Rome's Quirinal Palace, the pair will sit side by side, smiles on, as photographers capture the moment. Yet, this wasn't always a sure thing.
The "Sunday Times" uses this milestone as a platform to reflect. Their journey wasn't easy, the paper notes, remembering Charles' first marriage to Princess Diana; their troubled relationship; Diana's heartbreaking demise in a Paris car crash in '97; and the lasting public angst.
"The 'Fred' and 'Gladys' Saga"
It wasn't a walk in the park, the paper asserts, making it worth celebrating. "Fred" and "Gladys," their affectionate nicknames, are reminiscent of old-fashioned charm— just like their palpable joy in each other's company.
To onlookers, Charles (76) and Camilla (77) exude a solid unity. When Charles stepped back temporarily due to his cancer diagnosis, Camilla took the reins in representing the royals in public. Today, she's widely accepted and respected, even after being accused, for years, of blighting Charles' first marriage. "There were three of us in this marriage," Diana once mused, "so it was a bit crowded."
"What Would Diana Say?"
"Back then, the idea of this 'villainess', this 'wedding-wrecker', ascending the throne was more fantasy than reality," explains former BBC correspondent Jennie Bond. Raging Diana fans could never forgive Camilla, but over time, most rational hearts came around to understanding Charles and Camilla's deep and enduring love for each other.
Charles and Camilla have surpassed the duration of their first marriages even before divorcing. Their history reaches back half a century to their initial meeting at a polo game in 1970. Their love story took several detours – marriages to others, scandals, and a makeover dubbed "Operation Ritz."
This was their first public appearance, carefully orchestrated. When the engagement was revealed in '05, headlines were divided – some lauded "Charles Putting His House in Order," while others accused the then heir apparent of dividing the nation and wounding the monarchy – "What Would Diana Say?"
Even within their own family, not everyone welcomed the marriage plans. In his memoir, Charles' younger son, Prince Harry (40), wrote that he and his brother, Prince William (42), begged their father not to marry Camilla. "Regardless of Willy and I's pleas, Pa was determined to proceed," Harry penned in "Spare."
Finally, the twosome said "I do" on April 9, 2005, in Windsor. Coincidentally, the anniversary this year coincides with a state visit to Italy, with visits planned for Rome and Ravenna. Originally, a meeting with Pope Francis (88) was planned, but had to be canceled due to his illness.
A 20th wedding anniversary is often referred to as the Porcelain or Thorn wedding, acknowledging the obstacles they've weathered, some leaving indelible marks. Camilla herself once described those years in a Vogue interview as challenging. She learned to live with the constant scrutiny, she said.
In that interview, she also discussed her marriage to Charles. They aim to meet each other at least once a day, she shared. If they found extra time, they'd enjoy quiet moments, each lost in a book in separate corners of their room. "It's incredibly relaxing," she said, "just knowing you don't have to chat."
- Camilla
- King Charles
- Princess Diana
- Italy
- Rome
- Marriage
- Love Story
- Royal Couple
- Fairy Tale
- Long-term Marriages
- Public Reactions
- Charity Work
- Shared Interests
- Gardening
- Classical Music
- Scandals
- Operation Ritz
[1] https://www.historymagazine.co.uk/the-queen-consorts-of-charles-iii[2] https://www.biography.com/royalty/camilla-duchess-of-cornwall[3] https://www.britannica.com/biography/Camilla-queen-of-the-United-Kingdom[4] https://www.telegraph.co.uk/women/life/2022/05/08/how-its-changed-camilla-role-queen-consort/[5] https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-56948678.amp
- King Charles and his wife Camilla, who were once the subject of public angst due to their relationship and the former's marriage to Princess Diana, are celebrating their 20th wedding anniversary on Wednesday in Rome, Italy.
- Despite the rocky start to their love story, King Charles and Camilla's enduring love for each other has surpassed the duration of their first marriages, their relationship being explored in a fairy-tale-like setting amidst the grandeur of a state visit to Italy.
- The royal couple's shared interests, such as gardening and classical music, and their commitment to charity work have contributed to the acceptance and respect they now receive from the British people, marking a new chapter in the love story of the king and his queen consort.
