How the Queen left Camilla “livid” on her wedding day
From an outsider’s perspective, the royal family looks happier than ever. But 13 years ago, when Prince Charles and Camilla tied the knot in a civil ceremony, the royals were anything but.
The Queen did not attend the ceremony, however she was present at their Windsor Castle service afterwards, and she certainly left her mark.
According to a new book by investigative journalist and biographer Tom Bower, titled Rebel Prince: The Power, Passion and Defiance of Prince Charles, Her Majesty, an avid horse racing enthusiast, was keen to leave the service as soon as possible so she could watch the Grand National horse race.
At the reception, she reportedly made a speech that left Camilla fuming.
“I know you will want to know who was the winner of the Grand National. It was Hedgehunter,” the Queen said, according to Bower.
“Secondly, having cleared Becher’s Brook and The Chair and all kinds of other terrible obstacles, they have come through and I’m very proud and wish them well.
“My son is home and dry with the woman he loves. They are now on the home straight; the happy couple are now in the winners’ enclosure.”
Camilla was reportedly “livid” because Her Majesty refused to address her by her name. She allegedly stormed off and vented to her friends about the Queen’s open distaste for her.
It’s believed the Queen never approved of Charles and Camilla’s relationship, blaming the Duchess of Cornwall for the collapse of Charles and Diana’s marriage.
However, she’s said to have come around to the idea when the Queen Mother passed away in 2002 and she finally saw how much Charles loved Camilla.
Despite her eventual acceptance of their romance, Her Majesty still refused to attend their wedding, a decision which Bower says left Charles “inconsolable”.
Although, the Queen could not have gone even if she wanted to, according to The Telegraph. “I am not able to go. I do not feel that my position [as Supreme Governor of the Church] permits it,” she reportedly told a friend.