The weather held for the wedding of Prince Charles and Camilla Parker Bowles at 12.30 at the Guildhall registry office on April 9. Over 15,000 people thronging Windsor cheered the couple as they drove in the Queen's old Phantom Rolls VI from the 900-year-old Windsor Castle to the Guildhall Registry for civil ceremony.
There were a couple of boos but nothing more serious or violent display marred the occasion, described as an extraordinary chapter in the extraordinary history of their love story, enduring their previous marriages and the antipathy of Princess Diana's fans.
Wearing an oyster silk coat and chiffon dress Camilla kept a discreet distance from Charles in a morning coat when they went into the registry office where Prince William and Harry along with the immediate Royal family waited for them.
Half-an-hour later Camilla Parker Bolwes emerged as the Duchess of Cornwall and Consort to the Prince Royal, noticeably holding Charles's arm. The couple did not opt for a walk to meet the people crowding near the registry office.
The actual civil ceremony was held in private, but it was said that William and Tom Bowles, eldest son of Camilla acted as witnesses. William also carried the ring.
The end of the ceremony must have brought " collective sigh" to Charles's aides, that after all the hitches over the weeks everything had gone as per plan. There was no show of animosity from Diana fans but surely there was no wallowing exuberance either. People were not hanging out of windows or shouting the Royal couple's names. As Camilla had reportedly said earlier two middle-aged people were getting hitched.
Piers Morgan, the former Editor of The Mirror said Camilla should not after her marriage be thrust on the public. She must not explain or complain about anything. Nothing would be gained by it. People are not as yet ready for her.
Paddy Harverson, the Prince of Wales's communications secretary, said there would be no publicity campaign to promote Mrs Parker Bowles once she was married. He said he was sure that once people got to know Mrs Parker Bowles for the "generous" and "down-to-earth" person that she was, they would soon warm to her.
In comparison to the Prince of Wales' wedding to Diana Spencer in July 1981,
The end of the ceremony must have brought " collective sigh" to Charles's aides, that after all the hitches over the weeks everything had gone as per plan. There was no show of animosity from Diana fans but surely there was no wallowing exuberance either. People were not hanging out of windows or shouting the Royal couple's names. As Camilla had reportedly said earlier two middle-aged people were getting hitched.
Piers Morgan, the former Editor of The Mirror said Camilla should not after her marriage be thrust on the public. She must not explain or complain about anything. Nothing would be gained by it. People are not as yet ready for her.
Paddy Harverson, the Prince of Wales's communications secretary, said there would be no publicity campaign to promote Mrs Parker Bowles once she was married. He said he was sure that once people got to know Mrs Parker Bowles for the "generous" and "down-to-earth" person that she was, they would soon warm to her.
In comparison to the Prince of Wales' wedding to Diana Spencer in July 1981,
Saturday's papers were muted in their approach to the royal celebration. While the Daily Mail wished the royal couple the "best of luck", the offered former royal butler Paul Burrell a front-page platform to call on Prince Charles to step down as heir to the throne.
But after Charles slipped the wedding ring crafted in Welsh gold, Camilla became the second most senior and important member of the Royal Family. The blessing service at the 15th century St George's Chapel, attended by the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh at 2.30 pm, and watched by 800 guests, including two dabbawallahs from Mumbai, would be remembered for the apology by the newlyweds for their sins.
Prime Minister Tony Blair, a host of foreign royals and dignitaries and an array of showbiz names will be among the 800-strong congregation. Hundreds of officers are patrolling Windsor Castle, as part of a major security operation by the Metropolitan and Thames Valley police forces. Three objections lodged today against the royal wedding were dismissed by the deputy registrar general Dennis Roberts, said a statement issued on his behalf.