When King Charles and Queen Camilla tied the knot in 2005, there were rumours that his two sons Prince William and Prince Harry were dead set against the marriage
Claims that Princes William and Harry were against their father Charles’ wedding to Camilla have been vehemently denied by a Royal butler. Grant Harrold, who served as Charles’ butler, insists that the princes were not unhappy about the union.
In fact, Prince William even took on the prestigious and sought-after role of best man at the 2005 ceremony.
Mr Harrold recalls: “It was also complete nonsense that William and Harry were unhappy. I promise you that wasn’t the case. I was there.”
The wedding of Charles and Camilla on April 9, 2005, remains a memorable event for Royal fans worldwide, nearly 25 years after the couple first went public with their relationship. The pair reportedly paid just £285 to hire the Ascot Room at Windsor Guildhall, a high street register office, for their vows.
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Despite the modest venue, around 20,000 well-wishers gathered outside in anticipation. Robert Hardman, author of Charles III: The Inside Story, said: “Their wedding was a huge turning point in many ways,” adding, “These are the moments that punctuate our royal history. There was a great buzz about it.”
Arriving together in a Rolls-Royce Phantom IV, lent by the Queen, the couple were greeted by a band playing Congratulations outside the Guildhall for the 12.30pm ceremony. Charles was dapper in a morning suit with a silver-grey waistcoat and grey striped trousers, while Camilla dazzled in an elegant cream silk ensemble by Anna Valentine, topped off with a Philip Treacy hat, according to OK!.
The intimate 20-minute ceremony saw just 28 guests in attendance, including their children, Tom and Laura Parker Bowles, as well as Princes William and Harry.
Prince William, acting as best man, was tasked with safeguarding the wedding rings, crafted from Welsh gold. However, due to both Charles and Camilla being divorcees, the late Queen Elizabeth, as head of the Church of England, and Prince Philip were notably absent from the Guildhall ceremony.
Following the private, untelevised nuptials, the newlyweds emerged arm-in-arm to the jubilant cheers of onlookers, before retreating back to Windsor Castle, where Camilla slipped into another chic outfit by Anna Valentine. The couple then made their way to St George’s Chapel for a 45-minute religious service of prayer and dedication, presided over by the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams.
The Queen and Prince Philip were present for this service, joining a crowd of 800 guests that included a mix of royals, politicians, religious leaders and a sprinkling of celebrities among them Joanna Lumley, Rowan Atkinson, Kenneth Branagh, Stephen Fry and Phil Collins.
