King Charles has always had a close relationship with his son and daughter-in-law and the monarch is said to have grown even closer to the Princess of Wales over their shared cancer diagnosis.
But many royal watchers are unaware of the role Charles played in the royal nuptials more than ten years ago.
As father of the groom, then-Prince Charles played a pivotal role in the 2011 royal wedding and even chose the wedding music.
Charles relied on his knowledge of classical music to make his decisions, he revealed to Alan Titchmarsh on Classic FM in 2020.
He said: ‘I love trying to arrange some interesting pieces of music, I hope, for certain occasions, especially weddings, if people so wish.
“I know my oldest son was very understanding and delighted that I suggested some pieces for his wedding.”
King Charles has always had a close relationship with his son, Prince William, and his wife, Kate Middleton, and played a very special role in their 2011 wedding.
As father of the groom, Prince Charles played a pivotal role in the 2011 royal wedding, but the then-Duke of Cornwall went beyond that role by choosing some of the music.
For William and Kate’s nuptials at Westminster Abbey, guests arrived to organ music by Johann Sebastian Bach and orchestral pieces by Edward Elgar, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies and more.
For William and Kate’s nuptials at Westminster Abbey, guests arrived to organ music by Johann Sebastian Bach and orchestral pieces by Edward Elgar, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies and more.
The couple chose ‘Farewell to Stromness’, ‘Touch Her Soft Lips and Part’ and ‘Romance for String Orchestra Op. 11’ as a nod to Charles and Camilla, then Duchess of Cornwall, as the songs were played at their 2005 wedding .
Charles added that he hoped his recommendations would “give some people pleasure” and said he, for one, enjoyed it.
The King inherited his passion for classical music from the Queen Mother, his grandmother.
He fondly recalled: ‘My grandmother used to play quite a bit of music, so I would listen to some of it there.
“But I suspect the first time I really realized it was when my grandmother, Queen Elizabeth, took me to Covent Garden when I was seven, I think.
He remembers a particular event that made him fall in love with classical music.
‘It must have been in 1956 when I saw the Bolshoi Ballet perform.
‘It was his first visit to the UK and I will never forget that incredible occasion. “I was completely inspired by it.”
Charles and Kate (seen at the Commonwealth Service at Westminster Abbey in March 2022) now sadly share a shared experience of cancer.
The wedding of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge, at the time, was one of the biggest events of 2011 and was declared a bank holiday, with some 26 million people tuning in to watch it.
The ratings were only surpassed by the groom’s parents, Princess Diana and Charles, which attracted 28.4 million viewers 30 years earlier.
After the 2011 ceremony, the newlywed couple traveled in a horse-drawn carriage procession to Buckingham Palace and were greeted in the streets by the public.
The newlyweds also appeared on the balcony of Buckingham Palace alongside the late Queen and other members of the Royal Family.
Thereafter, Prince William’s full title became Duke of Cambridge, Earl of Strathearn and Baron Carrickfergus, while Kate became HRH The Duchess of Cambridge.
They are now the Prince and Princess of Wales and their relationship with the Prince’s father is becoming stronger than ever after the shocking cancer diagnosis that both he and Kate received since the beginning of the year.
The Princess of Wales was inspired to reveal hers after the warm response to the King doing the same six weeks earlier, royal experts have claimed.
It is said to have “cemented” their relationship, 13 years after Kate’s formal introduction to the Royal Family.
Both royals were at the London Clinic for operations at the same time in January, before they both received a diagnosis in February, although Kate delayed her announcement for a further month to tell her and William’s children at the appropriate time. .
Kate and Charles’ joint fears underscore their ad’s message that cancer sufferers “are not alone.”
Speaking about why Kate decided to go public, royal commentator Michael Cole told MailOnline today: “The decision was hers alone and she was encouraged to make it by witnessing the public reaction to the news of the King’s cancer, published by the Palace of Buckingham.”
“The outpouring of concern around the world, with messages of support flowing in an endless stream of kindness and encouragement, took the King by surprise, as did Queen Victoria, who wrote in her diary how shocked she was when people shouted that loved her as she led the crowds to her Golden Jubilee in 1887.’
Kate and Charles during a visit to a medical rehabilitation center in Loughborough in 2020
Charles and Kate (seen in 2012) also share a love of art, gardening and the outdoors, but now, sadly, their bond extends to a shared cancer diagnosis and ongoing treatment.
Cole, a former BBC television royal correspondent, added: “Kate has grown closer to the king, who has repeatedly referred to her as ‘my beloved daughter-in-law.'” As such, she was acutely aware of the public’s response to the revelation of the King’s cancer and how it had affected him.
“The King was one of the few people who could see the young woman, sitting alone on a bench in her Breton sweater and blue jeans, in front of daffodils in full bloom, a traditional symbol of spring and new life.”
Charles and Camilla have publicly offered their love and support to Kate, the Prince of Wales, Prince George, Princess Charlotte and Prince Louis as the family tries to come to terms with the news.
The monarch, 75, feels great affection for the princess, who has been part of the life of his eldest son, the Prince of Wales, for more than 20 years.
Charles and Kate also share a love of art, gardening and the outdoors, but now, sadly, their bond extends to a shared cancer diagnosis and ongoing treatment.
The King returned to work as he appeared in a series of photographs released by Buckingham Palace in March.