Duchess Camilla ‘had to be coaxed out of bed’ for wedding to Prince Charles
Camilla Parker Bowles reportedly suffered a 'meltdown' ahead of her wedding to Prince Charles after the ceremony was struck by misfortune
The Duchess of Cornwall went into 'meltdown' and had to be 'coaxed' from bed on the morning of her wedding to Prince Charles, a royal biographer has claimed.
- Camilla Parker Bowles had to be 'coaxed' from her bed to attend her wedding to Prince Charles, a new royal book has claimed.
- The Duchess of Cornwall reportedly suffered a 'meltdown' before her nuptials to the Queen's eldest son in April 2005, after the couple's plans to marry were uprooted by external factors.
- In other royal news, Lady Louise climbs the ranks at important event following Prince Philip's memorial.
It may have looked idyllic from the outside, but Camilla Parker Bowles's wedding to Prince Charles didn't get off to the fairytale start you might have pictured.
The Duchess of Cornwall tied the knot with the Prince of Wales in a civil ceremony on 9 April 2005, over 35 years after the high-profile couple first laid eyes on each other.
The royal wedding, which took place in the Ascot Room at Windsor Guildhall, marked both Camilla and Charles's second time to say 'I do' after separating from their respective former spouses, Andrew Parker Bowles and the late Princess Diana.
It was witnessed by 28 guests, including Princes William and Harry, and celebrated by thousands of royal fans outside the Berkshire town hall and across the country.
As Head of the Church of England, the Queen—along with the late Duke of Edinburgh—decided not to due to the secular nature of the ceremony. They did, however, join the 800 attendees at St. George's Chapel at Windsor Castle afterwards to watch the future King and his consort receive a marital blessing from the Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr. Rowan Williams.
If the photos were anything to go by, the Duchess looked every inch the royal bride outside the town hall—waving gracefully and smiling for the cameras whilst linking arms with her new husband.
Sign up for the woman&home newsletter
Sign up to our free daily email for the latest royal and entertainment news, interesting opinion, expert advice on styling and beauty trends, and no-nonsense guides to the health and wellness questions you want answered.
However, according to an extract from Tina Brown's new book, The Palace Papers: Inside the House of Windsor—the Truth and the Turmoil, the VIP wedding didn't exactly get off to the best start.
Pope John Paul II's death on April 2 reportedly threw the couple's plans into total disarray, with the head of the Catholic Church's funeral now falling on the same day as Camilla and Charles' wedding. According to Brown, the Queen insisted that Prince Charles fly to the Vatican in Rome to represent her—forcing the royal heir to postpone his nuptials by 24 hours.
It didn't help that the press was simultaneously sensationalizing the monarch's refusal to attend the ceremony, with headlines like 'A Bloody Farce!' and 'Queen Snubs Charles’s Wedding!' splashing across nearly every British tabloid in the buildup to the occasion.
The stress reached a boiling point for the "otherwise stalwart Camilla", says Brown, causing her to spiral into a "meltdown" over the sequence of unfortunate events.
"She developed a chronic case of sinusitis and spent the week with girlfriends ministering to her shredded nerves," the royal biographer writes. "On the day of the wedding, she had to be coaxed out of bed."
Fortunately, Camilla's terror wasn't enough to make her jilt Charles at the altar. She quickly pulled herself together, slipping into a cream silk dress and matching coat by Anna Valentine—paired with that Philip Tracey hat—and got herself to the town hall in time for the ceremony at 12.30 pm.
"Aged 57, unvarnished, unblushing, unsvelte, she was someone that Diana had never been: the woman whom the Prince of Wales had wanted all along," Brown added.
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.
-
Recent weeks 'precious' for Kate Middleton with 'country walks and snuggles in front of the TV' with George, Charlotte and Louis
The Prince and Princess of Wales have been able to relish in precious family time over the Easter break, according to a royal expert
By Caitlin Elliott Published
-
I put the EcoAir DC12 MK3 dehumidifier to the test – and found it's perfect for bedrooms
This quiet dehumidifier punches above its weight when it comes to performance and usability, and won't break the bank.
By Amy Cutmore Published
-
Meghan Markle's squeaky snack is a mouth-watering classic and she knows straightaway if she's 'got the right kind'
Meghan Markle's squeaky snack is deliciously decadent and it seems she's a purist when it comes to one of the key ingredients
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
32 candid photos that capture the real Prince Philip - from having a belly laugh to meeting celebrities
We look back at some of Prince Philip's funniest (and most heartwarming) moments, from sharing a joke with other royals to getting very into sporting events
By Elena Kiratzi Published
-
32 candid photos of Prince Harry that show his goofy side, from questionable dance moves to being the family joker
From a young age, Prince Harry has always found time to lighten the mood...
By Jack Slater Published
-
The 32 funniest candid Royal Family balcony moments
We look back at some of the best candid royal family balcony moments from across the years
By Elena Kiratzi Published
-
The 52p ingredient King Charles has on his afternoon snack is such an aromatic addition and we can't wait to try it
There's a very affordable and unique ingredient King Charles reportedly has on his afternoon snack and it sounds so delicious
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
King Charles and Queen Camilla’s wedding day changed at the last minute as a royal ‘mark of respect’
King Charles and Queen Camilla's wedding day was postponed just days before out of 'respect' as the groom stepped up to put duty first
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
Kate Middleton and King Charles's 'strong relationship' has been 'cemented' by cancer diagnoses, expert claims
The Princess of Wales and King might reportedly find it 'comforting' to be able to 'confide' in each other at this challenging time
By Emma Shacklock Published
-
The significant family event Meghan Markle has always missed out on since becoming a royal
The Duchess of Sussex has always missed out on one particular royal occasion over the years despite experiencing so many others
By Emma Shacklock Published