Camilla's 'terror' on her wedding day to Prince Charles over heartbreaking worry

Duchess Camilla feared she would be 'booed' by the public at her wedding to Prince Charles in 2005

Camilla's 'terror' on her wedding day to Charles over heartbreaking worry
(Image credit: Getty)

Camilla Parker Bowles was terrified that nobody would attend her wedding to Prince Charles, a royal correspondent has revealed.


The Duchess of Cornwall feared that the public wouldn't show up to her wedding to Prince Charles, a royal expert has revealed. 

Camilla Parker Bowles married the eldest of the Queen's children on April 9, 2005, in a civil ceremony that officiated her relationship with the future King after a decades-long romance. 

The wedding, which was held at the townhouse of Windsor Guidhall in Berkshire, was witnessed by the families of both Camilla and Charles—with the exception of the Queen and the Duke of Edinburgh. As Head of the Church of England, Her Majesty decided against attending the secular ceremony because of her devout faith. She did, however, go to the religious service held directly after the nuptials at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle

The historic day turned out to be a huge success, with over 800 guests attending the wedding and up to 20,000 royal fans flooding the Berkshire streets to wish the newlyweds well. 

Charles and Camilla

Prince Charles and Duchess Camilla married in 2005 

(Image credit: Getty)

However, Duchess Camilla reportedly had nerves about the public's reaction to the event. It's understood that she was afraid people wouldn't accept their marriage out of loyalty to Prince Charles' first wife, Princess Diana. The Princess of Wales, who died in a tragic car crash in 1997, was widely considered to be Britain's favorite royal —while Camilla was often blamed for the breakdown of the late royal's marriage. 

Lady Diana Spencer and Camilla Parker-Bowles at Ludlow Races where Prince Charles is competing, 1980.

Princess Diana and Camilla Parker Bowles in 1980 

(Image credit: Getty)

"She [Camilla] was terrified no one would come. She was terrified she’d be booed," Carole Malone said during the 2021 Channel 5 documentary, ‘Charles and Camilla: King and Queen in Waiting’. 

“I remember seeing film footage at the time, it was about 6am, and there was no one on the streets of Windsor. It was freezing as well, it was a really, really cold day," she added. 

“As a journalist, I was looking at it and thinking the only reaction to this is going to be national apathy, which is kind of almost as bad as protest.” 

The Duchess of Cornwall has since become a highly-regarded member of the Royal Family, attending dozens of domestic and overseas events every year on behalf of Her Majesty. The Queen confirmed that Camilla will become Queen Consort when Prince Charles ascends the throne, bringing an end to years of speculation over the 74-year-old's future in the British monarchy. 

Emma Dooney
Lifestyle News Writer

Hailing from the lovely city of Dublin, Emma mainly covers the Royal Family and the entertainment world, as well as the occasional health and wellness feature. Always up for a good conversation, she has a passion for interviewing everyone from A-list celebrities to the local GP - or just about anyone who will chat to her, really.

Emma holds an MA in International Journalism from City, University of London, and a BA in English Literature from Trinity College Dublin.