King Charles’ former butlers have recalled touching memories of the monarch and Queen Camilla’s wedding day as they celebrate 19 years of marriage.
The former royal butler worked in Charles’ household for seven years between 2004 and 2011, and was invited to the ceremony in Windsor on April 9, 2005.
Charles and Camilla, who had previously been married, opted for a civil ceremony at Windsor Guildhall followed by a religious blessing at St George’s Chapel.
Grant, 45, is now an etiquette expert and broadcaster, while his client list also includes Prince William, Prince Harry and the late Queen Elizabeth II herself.
As the royal couple celebrates 19 years of marriage on Tuesday, Grant reminisced about the ceremony and shared how the late Queen Elizabeth was heavily involved in planning the wedding.
Former royal butler Grant Harrold revealed Queen Elizabeth’s show of support for Charles and Camilla at their wedding in 2005 (pictured)
The Queen and Prince Philip did not attend Charles and Camilla’s civil ceremony at Windsor Guildhall, but were joined later for the religious blessing at St George’s Chapel (pictured).
He revealed that the late monarch organized important wedding details that day, from the flowers to Charles and Camilla’s wedding rings, and even gave a comical speech at the newlywed couple’s reception.
The Queen and Prince Philip did not attend Charles and Camilla’s civil ceremony at Windsor Guildhall, but were joined later for the religious blessing at St George’s Chapel.
Speaking on behalf of wedding directory Guides for Brides (guidesforbrides.co.uk), he said: “The biggest misconception about the wedding is that the Queen didn’t enjoy it or support it – it’s complete rubbish.”
‘There was talk about whether she would attend the service, but her appearance at the reception was joyous.
‘His attendance and speech would have been seen as an olive branch to Charles and Camilla: their blessing of the marriage. Royalty doesn’t do things lightly and she wouldn’t have attended if she hadn’t been happy to do so.
‘I remember walking to St George’s Hall for the reception, where they had a few drinks. The Queen did not attend the royal service, but she gave a speech at the reception, which was seen as a great sign of her approval of her marriage.
‘The Queen was incredible at the wedding, she gave a very funny speech, she was very happy as was Prince Philip. I don’t remember her exact words but she was funny. She compared her relationship to a Grand National horse race. She was a great comedian and had a way with words.
Following the blessing, the Queen hosted a lunch for foreign royals who had traveled to the United Kingdom at Windsor Castle.
The former royal butler worked in Charles’ household for seven years between 2004 and 2011, and was invited to the ceremony in Windsor on April 9, 2005.
The happy couple pictured with the Queen, Prince Philip, Prince William, Prince Harry, the bride’s father Bruce Shand, and Camilla’s children Tom Parker Bowles and Laura Lopes.
Queen Camilla is pictured waving to the crowd on her wedding day in April 2003. The couple became Duke and Duchess of Cornwall after their marriage.
The Queen photographed with the Royal Family on the steps of St George’s Chapel on Charles and Camilla’s wedding day.
Charles and Camilla are celebrating their 19th wedding anniversary (pictured attending a service on Easter Sunday)
The happy couple and their immediate family also posed for photographs in the White Drawing Room of the royal residence.
Charles and Camilla were joined by the Queen, Prince Philip, Prince William, Prince Harry, the bride’s father Bruce Shand (who died the following year) and their children Tom Parker Bowles and Laura Lopes.
Grant added that Camilla’s bouquet also included Sandringham myrtle, a traditional touch for royal weddings that the Queen would have been involved in, acting as a sign of her approval.
Charles and Camilla’s wedding rings were made from the Royal Family’s collection of Welsh gold, another item that would have involved the Queen.
On their wedding day, it was announced that the Queen had named Charles and Camilla the new Duke and Duchess of Cornwall, titles they held for the next 17 years.
Speaking about why the Queen didn’t attend the royal ceremony, Grant explained: “The Queen didn’t go to the royal Guildhall. The reason for this, we’re talking about 20 years ago, Charles was a divorcee.
‘So possibly the Queen felt that, being a traditionalist, she did not want to be at the blessing for personal reasons because her faith was so strong. She certainly was at the blessing in St. George’s Chapel.
The royal butler also reflected on the sweet moments between Queen Elizabeth and her son on their wedding day, saying it was full of “hugs” and she looked like a “proud mother.”
King Charles and Queen Camilla smile for the crowd moments after legally marrying in 2005.
King Charles and Queen Camilla photographed with their children from their first marriages on their wedding day in April 2005.
Harrold (pictured in 2012) said he did not expect to be invited to the wedding as he had worked for royalty for less than a year, but was invited as a friend.
‘Charles was smiling from ear to ear all day. He was very happy,” Grant said.
‘The Queen was wonderful to the two of them and very sweet to the two of them at their wedding reception.
‘There were hugs between Charles and the Queen and I’m sure between Camilla and the Queen. One of my fondest memories is of the Queen gathering outside with friends and family to see off the newlyweds in the car. She waved and smiled enthusiastically. She looked like any other proud mother.
‘What surprised me most about the wedding was how happy everything was and the real party atmosphere. The Queen giving a speech was a real surprise, you don’t expect it. “It was an incredible occasion and to be invited as a guest was an honour.”
The ceremony was notably less lavish than the July 1981 wedding of King Charles and Princess Diana, which was held at St. Paul’s Cathedral and watched by more than 750 million people around the world.
Camilla wore a white silk dress with scalloped trim, adding an elegant tailored white coat with a diamond feather brooch.
Charles, then Prince of Wales, was dressed smartly in a long black jacket and gray striped trousers.
The couple’s wedding ceremony was attended by their children from previous marriages: Prince William, Prince Harry, Laura Lopes and Tom Parker Bowles.
Underneath her embroidered coat, Camilla wore a light blue chiffon dress. At this time of day she was carrying a small bouquet of flowers.
The late Queen photographed smiling at Prince Harry after Charles and Camilla’s religious blessing
Unlike Charles’s first wedding, the civil ceremony was kept private. Buckingham Palace announced there will be no music or readings in the order of service.
After the ceremony, the royal newlyweds took time to greet royal fans who had gathered on the streets of Windsor to celebrate their marriage.
The couple then took a two-minute drive to St George’s Chapel for their religious blessing, which was attended by several members of the Royal Family.
For the second part of the day, Camilla donned another outfit designed by Anna Valentine and Antonia Robinson.
The Queen wore a long-sleeved light blue coat with gold embroidery and a matching chiffon dress underneath.
Grant revealed that he initially thought he would not be able to attend the wedding as staff were only invited if they had worked for the family for at least a year.
The ceremony was notably less lavish than King Charles’s wedding to Princess Diana in July 1981.
But he was “thrilled” when Charles and Camilla invited him as a friend to ensure he was there – a touching tribute to his service and a “fantastic honour”.
Their 19th anniversary will likely be slightly different to usual this year, as Queen Camilla supports her husband as he undergoes cancer treatment.
Grant said: ‘Charles and Camilla are very, very close. Charles gets her opinion and seeks guidance from her on things, he says that he doesn’t know what he does without her.
“They are a team and I think that shows, they communicate a lot and that’s great, that’s what a couple should be like.”