The then Prince of Wales married for a second time in April 2005, nearly eight years after the death of William and Harry’s mother Princess Diana. Charles and Diana’s divorce had been finalised in August 1996, 12 months before she died.
But amid the happy ending for the couple, whose romance originally began before either were married for a first time, his royal sons advised Charles not to get wed again for the sake of everybody involved.
Did Prince William and Prince Harry ask Charles not to marry Camilla?
According to Prince Harry, he and his elder brother formally met Camilla for the first time at Highgrove in 1998.
Prince Harry claimed that he and Prince William reportedly promised Charles after the meeting that they would welcome Camilla into the family.
Just please don’t marry her. Just be together, Pa.
However, Prince Harry also indicated they pleaded with their father to not marry her.
Prince Harry wrote in his 2023 book: “We support you, we said. We endorse Camilla, we said. Just please don’t marry her. Just be together, Pa.”
Prince Harry ‘opposition’ to Camilla marriage
Charles’ second son claimed this was due to a belief any marriage would create controversy.
Prince Harry reasoned: “It would incite the press. It would make the whole country, the whole world, talk about Mummy, compare Mummy and Camilla, and nobody wanted that. Least of all Camilla.”
However, it is said Charles did not reply. But, in Prince Harry’s view “the long game” began, involving “a campaign aimed at marriage and eventually the Crown”.
Prince Harry also claimed details from Camilla and Prince William‘s meetings were later leaked to reporters. And he alleges that came from the now Queen.
What did Prince Harry say about Camilla?
The Duke of Sussex also alleged he became “collateral damage” as a PR campaign orchestrated by “the new spin doctor Camilla had talked Pa into hiring” got underway.
This media blitz was said to include coverage of Charles’ first photographed public appearance with Camilla at the Ritz Hotel in January 1999.
They also attended other public events in each other’s company in order that by the time of their civil ceremony at Windsor Guildhall – following by a blessing at St George’s Chapel at Windsor Castle – any heat of public opinion towards Charles and Camilla had been extinguished.
There was still a bump in the road ahead of the couple’s wedding day, however. Their nuptials were delayed by a day at short notice after Charles was requested to attend the funeral of Pope John Paul II.
But their wedding otherwise went off without any significant hitches. And twenty years on, King Charles rules with Queen Camilla at his side.
