Charles and Camilla Celebrate 20 Years of Marriage

After more than five decades of knowing each other, Charles and Camilla celebrate two decades of marriage. Despite their significant milestone, the couple will have limited private time as they attend various events during their four-day state visit to Italy. Following a busy schedule, they are honored guests at a banquet.

To mark the occasion, the royal couple released three official photographs, taken at the official residence of the UK ambassador to Italy, sharing their joy with followers on Instagram. The post expressed their excitement: "We are so looking forward to celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary in such a special place and with such wonderful people!"

Since February 2024, King Charles, 76, has been undergoing treatment for an unspecified cancer. Despite a recent hospitalization for side effects, he continued the state visit with Camilla, 77, whom he affectionately refers to as his "beloved wife." They share a close bond, supported by a mutual sense of humor, which has been vital during challenging times, according to royal expert Richard Fitzwilliams.

The couple's marriage, following a controversial affair that began while Charles was married to Princess Diana, faced significant constitutional, political, religious, and familial challenges. At the time of their wedding in 2005, public opinion was largely against the union, with 70 percent opposing the marriage due to Camilla's association with Diana's infamous "rottweiler" label.

Charles’s mother, Queen Elizabeth II, took time to accept Camilla. Constitutional questions about the possibility of a future king marrying a divorced woman also stirred debates. The Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, declined to marry the couple due to their divorces, but when Charles became king, Camilla was referred to as "princess consort" rather than queen.

Their civil marriage on April 9, 2005, at Windsor Town Hall was a low-key affair, attended by close family, including Princes William and Harry. Queen Elizabeth, however, did attend a blessing at St George's Chapel and hosted a reception for the couple. In her toast, she acknowledged the "terrible obstacles" her son had overcome to marry the woman he loved.

Charles met Camilla in the early 1970s and was immediately drawn to her. Their brief romance ended when Charles joined the Royal Navy, and Camilla married army officer Andrew Parker Bowles in 1973. Charles married Diana Spencer in 1981, but the union was troubled. Following Diana’s tragic death and ongoing media attacks on Camilla, Charles and Camilla eventually rekindled their relationship.

In 1995, Camilla divorced, and Charles separated from Diana in 1992, finalizing their divorce in 1996. The couple’s journey to public acceptance included careful media management, including their first public appearance together in 1999 and Camilla’s first meeting with the queen in 2000.

After Charles’s coronation in 2023, he praised Camilla for her unwavering support, acknowledging her role in his life. "She has been my steadfast support throughout, and I am deeply grateful to her," he said. Camilla, reflecting on their journey in 2022, shared, "We’ve been through a lot together... We support each other, and that’s very important."